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Former Exalted Cyclops of the KKK endorses Obama
by politisite | May 19, 2008 at 02:09 pm | 2637 views | 29 comments
by politisite
Former Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan endorses Obama
By Albert N. Milliron, Iron Mill Interactive Media, inc.
Some may say that it is a historic day in politics as Former Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia endorses Senator Barack Obama.
Senator Byrd stated, “I believe that Barack Obama is a shining young statesman, who possesses the personal temperament and courage necessary to extricate our country from this costly misadventure in Iraq, and to lead our nation at this challenging time in history"
Senator Byrd a major supporter of segregation in public policy and integration of military forces in his early career. He later renounced is Klan ties in 1952 while running for the House of Representatives. He was first elected to Office in 1962 and is currently the longest serving congressman in the senate.
His support of Senator Obama has put real teeth in his renunciation of his raciest views.
Other Obama Endorsements
Oprah Winfrey, television host, actress
Edward Kennedy, Massachusetts senator
Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John F. Kennedy
Deval Patrick, governor of Massachusetts
Federico Peña, Secretary of Energy under Bill Clinton
Theodore Sorensen, advisor to John F. Kennedy
Kathleen Turner, actress
Gary Hirshberg, CEO of Stonyfield Farm Yogurt
Bill Bradley, former senator from New Jersey, and player for the New York Knicks
John Kerry four-term junior senator from Massachusetts
Janet Napolitano, Governor of Arizona
Las Vegas Review-Journal Newspaper
Patrick Leahy, Senator from Vermont, chairman of the Judiciary Committee
Toni Morrison, author
Robert DeNiro, actor
Maria Shriver, wife of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
George Clooney, actor
David Wilhelm manager of Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign
Service Employees International Union
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
Sheila Crump Johnson, entrepreneur
Teamsters Union
Hulk Hogan, wrestler and TV host
Chris Dodd, Ohio senator
John D. Rockefeller IV, senator from West Virginia
Russell Simmons, rap and clothing mogul
Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam
Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico
Douglas Kmiec, Republican lawyer
Bruce Springsteen, musician
Robert Reich, former Clinton staffer
What others are saying:
Fox News
After losing the Mountain state by more than 40 percentage points, today Obama picked up the support of the state’s senior senator, Robert Byrd. “After a great deal of thought, consideration and prayer over the situation in Iraq, I have decided that, as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, I will cast my vote for Senator Barack Obama for President,” Byrd said in a statement.
The Wall Street Journal
n a statement, the 90-year old-Senate legend lauded Obama as a “shining young statesman” a “noble-hearted patriot” and a “humble Christian.” In particular, Byrd said that his shared opposition to the Iraq war with Obama was a key factor in his decision.
“After a great deal of thought, consideration and prayer over the situation in Iraq, I have decided that, as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, I will cast my vote for Senator Barack Obama for president,” Byrd said, adding that Obama “possesses the personal temperament and courage necessary to extricate our country from this costly misadventure in Iraq.”
The Associated Press
Sen. Robert C. Byrd endorses Obama
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Robert C. Byrd, a former member of the Ku Klux Klan and a one-time opponent of civil rights legislation, endorsed Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination on Monday.
Obama could become the nation's first black president.
Byrd's support comes almost a week after the Illinois senator's 41-point loss to Hillary Rodham Clinton in the longtime lawmaker's home state of West Virginia.
Byrd said he had no intention of getting involved while his state was in the midst of a primary. "But the stakes this November could not be higher," he said in a written statement.
CBS News
Barack Obama has picked up endorsements from eight superdelegates since the end of last week, the biggest of which is West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd, who made his endorsement in a statement today. While Hillary Clinton won West Virginia’s primary by 41 points last week, Byrd explained his decision to back Obama: "After a great deal of thought, consideration and prayer over the situation in Iraq, I have decided that, as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, I will cast my vote for Senator Barack Obama for President. Both Senators Clinton and Obama are extraordinary individuals, whose integrity, honor, love for this country and strong belief in our Constitution I deeply respect."
News Tools
May 19, 2008 at 02:09 pm by politisite, 2637 views, 29 comments
Author
Crowd Power
politisite
Columbia, South Carolina, United States
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Comments (29)
at 14:20 on May 19th, 2008
Hmm. Will this help Obama, in your view?
at 14:35 on May 19th, 2008
Sure, as Sen Byrd broke with the voters in his state to support Obama. It also says, that if Senator Byrd can endorse him, with his history, then anyone can.
at 15:40 on May 19th, 2008
You know sometimes, Politics make strange bedfellows, wonder if Byrds Klan sheets are now his bed sheets, with some material left over for curtains, and stars and bars for Pillow shams. But seriously, does Obama really need or want this guys endorsement? if so, does Obama think those victimized by Byrd association with the Klan have short memories? Does anyone think die hard Klansmen , once they read of Byrds endorsement will immediately drop their ingrained belief and remove the Lawn Jockeys off their Front Lawns? If Obama thinks that, perhaps someone's Momma, needs to have a sit down with their boy, and give him a good ole country "Bitch Slap upside their Haid"
at 16:17 on May 19th, 2008
Barry,
There was a Klan endorsement earlier in the year. I guess they hate Hillary more than Obama
Source: dailysquib.co.uk
at 16:23 on May 19th, 2008
Did they explain why they did not endorse McCain???
at 16:35 on May 19th, 2008
McCain was actually one of the sponsors of the Civil Rights Act of 1871 which helped the government go after the Klan.
at 16:41 on May 19th, 2008
Yes he was and don't let the Dems say he wasn't LOL
at 16:43 on May 19th, 2008
Because McCain is from the party of Lincoln and the KKK does not like Lincoln or his descendants. I Think most folks have forgotten that Republicans were the authors of civil rights
at 16:47 on May 19th, 2008
Forgot? I don't think that was part of the curriculum at my public school. But I did learn that George H.W. Bush was a racist who used Willie Horton in an ad. Neither fair, nor balanced.
at 16:46 on May 19th, 2008
Not sure why they don't support McCain (although I would be willing to bet that McCain would refuse their endorsement - unlike Obama) but it might be as simple as the GOP is the party of Lincoln. The guy who freed the slaves.
at 16:39 on May 19th, 2008
Well "Shut Ma Mouth", Ah do declare, "Ah Declares Ah is stunned by this new Revelation!"
at 16:45 on May 19th, 2008
Barry, don't mess with the south you great white northerner
at 17:24 on May 19th, 2008
WE may be Northern, but as you know Canada is a "Confederation", A Confederacy without all the inherent KKK policies, and Klans Lily White wardrobes, cause let's face, in winter you would never see us coming. hahaha.
Unless we were wearing our wool toques with the Pom Poms on top, that way the Beer Trucks don't run us over!.
at 17:36 on May 19th, 2008
Too Funny. I lived in Fairbanks for 4 1/2 years so I know what its like to have white on and not be seen. I also sported the white bunny boots
at 17:47 on May 19th, 2008
And I surmise you wore this white suit well past Labour Day... for shame Politisite, for shame. Couture Zero, Fashion sense "Well Below Zero"
at 15:13 on May 19th, 2008
What strange news! Thanks for rounding up the write-up on the story.
at 16:15 on May 19th, 2008
I guess this will help deliver the all-important recovering clansmen vote.
at 16:19 on May 19th, 2008
Yeah BigT they all attend KA meetings and read, I am powerless over African-Americans and my life is unmanageable"
at 18:05 on May 19th, 2008
I am almost sure that there are plenty of KKK members out there who would 'not' endorse anyone with black skin no matter who they are. Correct me if I am wrong, but would that not go against the KKK's core beliefs?
at 18:20 on May 19th, 2008
Unless they didn't know the person they're endorsing had black skin - remember the Dave Chappelle skit?
at 18:30 on May 19th, 2008
Know it well.
at 05:26 on May 20th, 2008
I friggin Loved the Dave Chappelle Skit, truly genius
at 18:16 on May 19th, 2008
You know America is the Land of Opportunity whan a former senior KKK member can become Senate Leader. Talk about getting a second chance!
at 18:34 on May 19th, 2008
Getting a second chance is right. How about 70 years ago when a KKK member did not have to be a former member to join politics? A KKK active member could become a supreme court judge or elected government house official.
at 18:44 on May 19th, 2008
Wow! So the US of old is kinda like Zimbabwe of today. Mugabe and his "War Vetrans" are not much different from the leaders of the KKK except the racial minorities they target are whites and members of other political parties. Maybe in 70 years Zimbabwe will be like the US.
at 22:18 on May 19th, 2008
politisite, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Had it submitted to Digg: http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Former_Exalted_Cyclops_of_the_KKK_endorses_Obama
at 05:24 on May 20th, 2008
The Democratic Party is staring into a huge fissure, characterized by a view that has the appearance of division along racial lines, which in turn, is hemorrhaging White voters.
As each primary concludes, pundits and analysts have been quoting statistics that indicate a split, within the demographics among White voters, with the same analysts pondering aloud Senator Obama's ability to draw those same voters to the Party if Senator Clinton is not the Democratic Party nominee.
There are differences between the two remaining candidates yet, as Democrats they would be more similar than dissimilar in their approach to national issues.
CNN reported, when former presidential candidate Senator John Edwards came forward throwing his support behind the Obama campaign, that, privately, Senator Edwards was concerned with the talk that Senator Obama would be unable to win a large enough White voter base in the fall if he were to become the Party nominee.
Aside from being the Black candidate in this contest, Barack Obama has sworn his allegiance to the Democratic Party.
If he maintains the lead in pledged delegates, Super delegates will be hard pressed to overthrow the electorate who have, through apportionment, given their support to the Obama candidacy.
Wanting to avoid the appearance of a coup, the Democratic Party is pulling out all the stops, with many Super delegates still avoiding announcing their choice for nominee.
As it stands, Michigan and Florida not withstanding, this contest will still come down to the Democratic Party's Super delegates and it's ability to craft a strategy that will mobilize Clinton Democrats to go to the polls and vote as Obama Democrats, if he is the Party nominee.
Senator Byrd's endorsement may be one of returning the favor, since Senator Obama campaigned for him in 2006 or it may be another step toward an attempt to close the fissure.
at 06:47 on May 20th, 2008
Well, Obama does have massive support among higher educated whites, and younger college-age white Americans. Hillary just happens to have large support among blue collar Americans, which happens to make up a large part of the Democratic base. To characterize it as white in Hillary's corner, and black in Obama's is to simplify things a little.
at 06:55 on May 21st, 2008
Hi, Drew. Yes, I agree that characterization oversimplifies yet, that is the spin being put forward, week after week quoting over 90% support among the Black demographic are supporting Senator Obama and within the White demographics, higher educated and younger White voters are going for Senator Obama, with White blue collar voters, the base of the Party, going for Senator Clinton.
That is the toss up that is acknowledged by the Democratic Party, that the majority of the Democratic Party is its blue collar base, which is overwhelmingly supporting Senator Clinton.