Dean Still Recovering From Melt-Down

I remember the melt-down of Howard Dean, past Governor of Vermont, during his bid to be president. He was screaming in-coherently, nearly foaming at the mouth. Apparently he hasn’t gotten over it.

Today he is being quoted from a speech he gave on Black History month at a university. He is quoted as saying, “that with a woman and an African-American as the two front-runners, the Democratic field “looks like America,” while the all-white male Republican field “looks like the 1950s and talks like the 1850s.”

Howard Dean, like most Democrats, just keeps re-writing history. They completely ignore their own failure in their self appointed and oft referenced role as savior and benevolent benefactor for African Americans.

In the 1850’s it was the Democrats that espoused slavery and violently enforced segregation. Fast forward to the 1950’s and it is the Democrats who hold a majority of governorships in the south and border states. They were called ‘Dixiecrats” and were segregationists. Segregation is again violently enforced by…who?….anyone?….anyone?….Democrats. In the 1960’s the Democrats couldn’t pass the Civil Rights Amendment because it was what party that held control of Congress but couldn’t muster a majority?….anyone?….anyone?….Democrats. They needed Republican support to pass the most important Civil Rights Legislation of the 20th Century. But let’s be honest. Neither party can claim purity of intent or effectiveness of action when it comes to civil rights in either the 19th or 20th Century.

It is the Democrats though that repeatedly hold themselves up as the party of the African American. The truth is somewhat different, though. They do not support African American candidates for political office unless they are liberal candidates. For example look at J.C. Watts of Oklahoma. A brilliant man who was excoriated by the Democrat Party and particularly by African American Democrats. Lynn Swann did not get any support by the Democrats who in fact supported a white candidate and worked aggressively to defeat him in a recent bid for political bid. The Democrats attacked Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas with a force and vehemence that would never be tolerated by them or the press if it was Republicans attacking an African American nominee.

Who is the longest serving Democrat in Congress? Robert Carlyle Byrd, the Senior Senator from West Virginia. This man has held office since January of 1959! Let’s take a look at this Democrat. Since he’s the longest serving member of Congress he must be representative of Democrats in Congress, right?

He was unanimously elected “Exalted Cyclops”, or leader of his local Klu Klux Klan chapter. This was after he was a recruiter or “Kleagle”. This was in 1942 when he was 24.

While running for office in 1952 Byrd announced “After about a year, I became disinterested, quit paying my dues, and dropped my membership in the organization. During the nine years that have followed, I have never been interested in the Klan.” . However, when he was 28 he wrote to Senator Bilbo, Democrat of Mississippi (a noted segregationist), “Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds.” This was after an ealier communication to Bilbo where he stated, “”I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side”.

In 1946 or 1947, when he was 29 years old, he wrote to a Grand Wizard stating “The Klan is needed today as never before and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia” and “in every state in the nation.” Senator Byrd did, particularly after the turn of the century, repeatedly apologize for his involvement with the Klan. I give you all this history to point out that when it mattered, really mattered, this Democrat and his colleagues in Congress were found sorely wanting in the fight for Civil Rights.

In 1964 Byrd led the DEMOCRATS is their filibuster against the Civil Rights Act, personally filibustering for 14 hours. He also voted against the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

Howard Dean should be careful and do some homework before he makes such sweeping claims against Republicans. African Americans have not been served all that well as a result of their support of Democrats. Again, let’s look at Senator Byrd.

West Virginia is one of the poorest states in the union. However, Senator Byrd has been called the “King of Pork” and even referred to himself as “Big Daddy” because of his ability to bring federal money to his home state. He has reportedly brought well over 1billion dollars to Virginia…there are over 30 federal projects that bear his name. All in the name of “public works”. How much better off are the African American any voter in one of the poorest states, as a result of his stewardship? Pretty well off if they have contracts or interests in that one billion dollars!