Media Silent on Dodd Comments, Intense When Covering Lott

[kruser79]

Media Silent on Dodd Comments, Intense When Covering Lott
By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
April 8, 2004

WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- One week after a Democratic senator made remarks praising a colleague who was once part of the Ku Klux Klan, the mainstream media have been noticeably silent, especially when compared with the coverage of similar statements that toppled former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) from his leadership position in 2002.

Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) made a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate last Thursday commemorating the 17,000th vote made by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV).

In his extended comments about the longtime Democratic senator, Dodd began by giving cursory adoration for what he believes Byrd has accomplished during his tenure in the Senate.

"It has often been said that the man and the moment come together," Dodd said. "I do not think it is an exaggeration at all to say to my friend from West Virginia that he would have been a great senator at any moment. Some were right for the time. Robert C. Byrd, in my view, would have been right at any time."

Continuing with his theme that Byrd's service would have been recognized "at any time" in America's history, Dodd imagined what role Byrd would have during the "founding of this country" and beyond.

"He would have been in the leadership crafting this Constitution," Dodd expressed. "He would have been right at the great moments of international threat we faced in the 20th century."

However, in delivering his speech extemporaneously and without the use of any notes, Dodd slowly ventured into controversial territory.

He said of Byrd, "You would have been right at the founding of this country, right during the Civil," pausing momentarily to think of what to say next and then uttered, "War."

In fact, Dodd went on to say in his adoration of the West Virginia Democrat that Byrd "would have been right at anytime."

Dodd encapsulated his remarks about Byrd when he said, "I cannot think of a single moment in this nation's 220-plus year history where [Byrd] would not have been a valuable asset to this country."

He added, "Certainly today that is not any less true."

But the problem some critics have had with Dodd's comments is that Byrd was once a member of the Ku Klux Klan during the 1940s.

He was also a staunch, vocal opponent to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and holds the distinction of being the only senator in U.S. history to vote against both the nomination of the late Thurgood Marshall as well as Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court, the only two blacks ever appointed to serve on the nation's highest court.

More recently, Byrd told Tony Snow on "Fox News Sunday" in March 2001 that he believes "there are white [n-word]."

"I've seen a lot of white [n-word] in my time, if you want to use that word," Byrd stated to Fox News. "But we all -- we all -- we just need to work together to make our country a better country and I -- I'd just as soon quit talking about it so much."

Nevertheless, succumbing to public pressure about his outrageous remarks, Byrd quickly issued an apology for what he had said.

"I apologize for the characterization I used on [the Fox News] program," Byrd said in a statement at the time. "The phrase dates back to my boyhood and has no place in today's society. As for my language, I had no intention of casting aspersions on anyone of another race."

Consequently, Byrd was never reprimanded by fellow members of the Democratic Party for what he said.

The latest statements made by Dodd, though, are strikingly similar to comments made by Lott in December 2002 at the 100th birthday party for the legendary South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond.

Lott honored Thurmond at that time by asserting that if he had been elected president in 1948 running as a member of the segregationist Dixiecrat Party, then "we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years."

Over the next few weeks in the mainstream media, Lott's remarks and subsequent apologies were widely broadcast and debated in various mediums, including Black Entertainment Television. The story was elevated to front-page status by nearly every radio, print, television, and Internet news outlet.

However, in what appears to be a clear example of the double standard in the mainstream press, Dodd comments have been reported in just a few news sources in entire week since they were uttered on Capitol Hill.

Robert Traynham, communications director for Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and the highest-ranking black Republican staffer in Washington, openly urged Democratic leaders to publicly reject Dodd's statements on Tuesday.

However, his suggestion has gone unheeded thus far.

Conservative black commentator Armstrong Williams accused Dodd of being much more blatantly racist than Lott.

"What [Dodd] said was worse than what Trent Lott said. It's raw racism," Williams exclaimed in a statement. "The fact that the Democrats have said nothing about his racist, bigoted comments shows that when Republicans say something they get tossed out of office -- but Democrats get away with it."

In fact, other than these few conservative black commentators and Republican lawmakers, Dodd's statements have gone completely unnoticed by the vast majority of the mainstream media and members of the U.S. Senate.

However, Dodd's own words about Lott in 2002 may come back to haunt him in 2004 in light of his ill-advised praise of Byrd.

In December 2002, Dodd told United Press International regarding the comments made by Lott about Thurmond, "If a Democratic leader had made [Lott's] statements, we would have to call for his stepping aside, without any question whatsoever."

He continued, "If Tom Daschle or another Democratic leader were to have made similar statements, the reaction would have been very swift. I don't think several hours would have gone by without there being an almost unanimous call for the leader to step aside."

Actually, Dodd was at the forefront of the movement to have a "bipartisan" censure of Lott to make him face the "reality" of what he had said.

Even likely Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry said in December 2002 during the Lott debacle that "there can never be an appearance of racism or bigotry in any high position of leadership."

At press time, no Democrats have come forward to denounce Dodd's controversial comments about Byrd.

Copyright © 2004 Talon News -- All rights reserved.

[cb88]

I saw this article the other day (or a story relating to it).


You know they won't speak against their own.

But, hey, you know, Dane....the KKK ain't so bad, they do a lot of good things too.

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by kruser79

Continuing with his theme that Byrd's service would have been recognized "at any time" in America's history, Dodd imagined what role Byrd would have during the "founding of this country" and beyond.

"He would have been in the leadership crafting this Constitution," Dodd expressed. "He would have been right at the great moments of international threat we faced in the 20th century."

Something I agree with here...he would have fit in with the group that allowed slavery. I can see him fitting in just fine there.

However, in delivering his speech extemporaneously and without the use of any notes, Dodd slowly ventured into controversial territory.

He said of Byrd, "You would have been right at the founding of this country, right during the Civil," pausing momentarily to think of what to say next and then uttered, "War."

Yep, he'd have fit in fine here fighting for the South and slavery. I can see him as one of the leaders founding the KKK and burning crosses and hanging blacks. Fine man (she says dripping with sarcasm).

But the problem some critics have had with Dodd's comments is that Byrd was once a member of the Ku Klux Klan during the 1940s.

Once a member? How abour once a leader of that ****ed movement.

I grew to hate the white supremist movement (and the KKK) during the 60's. I remember my female friend and i going to Reno with a black couple who were friends of mine. My friend and Pat (the wife) were interested in gambling and Lloyd and I wanted to see the shows so we split up. Lloyd and I went to a show. We got a table close to the front and were talking and enjoying a drink. Now Lloyd was very black and I'm very light (pale skin and red hair). As we were sitting there laughing and talking, I saw people pointing at us in shock and some glaring. Naturally, Lloyd and I put a show on for them. He put his arm around me and nuzzled my neck etc. **** bunch of bigots!

The KKK and the rest of the supremists are hatefilled organizations. Bryd was a leader.

[Hoss68]

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

Something I agree with here...he would have fit in with the group that allowed slavery. I can see him fitting in just fine there.

Ain't that the truth!

The media is full of hypocrits... I don't care that Byrd has supposedly "changed", in his heart he is still a bigot. And praising a man like that is just as ignorant. We didn't vote for them either, did we?

[cb88]

Originally Posted by Hoss68

Ain't that the truth!

The media is full of hypocrits... I don't care that Byrd has supposedly "changed", in his heart he is still a bigot. And praising a man like that is just as ignorant. We didn't vote for them either, did we?

who, the media???? GOD I WISH!!!

Wouldn't that be cool if we could vote the media in and out????

[Hoss68]

No, I meant Byrd, Dodd, Lott, Kennedy... Those yahoos.

[cb88]

Originally Posted by Hoss68

No, I meant Byrd, Dodd, Lott, Kennedy... Those yahoos.

Please don't insult Yahoo like that. I mean, gosh, Yahoo is a fairly decent company and I don't think it deserves to be lumped in with the 4 stooges you mentioned.