They didn't stand in the way of the Civil Rights Act because they were democrats, but because they were southerners. At the time, of course, the south was wholly, bitterly democrat, which it had been ever since the end of the Civil War and Reconstruction. You'd be hard pressed to find a Republican senator or congressman from the south who stood up and fought for the Civil Rights Act. Mainly because there were no republicans from the south in Congress. You would, of course, have to stand up and take your hat off to the great Lyndon Baines Johnson, the southern democrat congressman turned President who defied implacable southern segregationist tradition, and used the power of the office to make the Civil Rights Act happen. The greatest act of moral courage by a President since Lincoln.

There's a difference between excusing and forgiving.

Thinking of Byrd's early racist ties -His KKK participation isn't excuseable, the philospophy and actions of the KKK offend every moral principle I grew up with. Up here we had not lost the war and seen our subjects and servants raised up to be our equals at its end. In that war of cultures, our side won, and imposed ours over theirs, and afterward a cultural guerilla resistance spread through southern culture in response. That was the whole obsession with states rights, and Jim Crow. Where black people had been objects of condescension as owned servants, freed they became symbols of the south's defeat, and objects of hatred. The Civil Rights Act was maybe the last battle of the Civil War. And the south rose up to fight it. Lost again.

George Wallace was famously still fighting the battle when he fought against school and lunch counter integration. He's now famous for switching sides and embracing the change he fought against. Not that it matters to anyone, but I've forgiven George Wallace. And Robert Byrd too, for the same reason. In Byrd's case, I wonder how many there are who will never forgive him for switching sides.

Sooz.. I believe Dee stated that it was 24 hours 18 min., and she rarely has her facts wrong (past experience)... and you are correct, racism and bigotry are not party affiliated, they come in a package deal.. if people are involved, so will some with racist and bigoted beliefs.. it is universal, just like greed.. you will find, if you go back in history.. we just clarified the 3 major reasons that war exists.

"As an American, I am not so shocked that Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize without any accomplishments to his name, but that America gave him the White House based on the same credentials." - - Newt Gingrich

There are many that were opposed to the Iraq war.. I am not one of them. However, I am extremely opposed to the way Bush screwed it up. I have no problem with the US going in and deposing scum like Hussein.. the more, the merrier. But, to act like we are the saviors was BS.. if it is war you want, then fight a war... don't dance in the street with roses in your mouth. This country forgot how to fight a war in 1945.. we have played games and wasted soldiers lives ever since.. some of the wasted lives were very good friends, so I take it seriously. I wait for the day this country has the guts to go and really make a difference.

In as far as the speech given by Robert KKK Byrd.. any politician that starts a speech with his undying love for this country, and takes several minutes of flowers and roses to get to his point, is being a politician... plain and simple.. CRAP! If you have something to say, say it, get it on the record and move on.