President Obama: Byrd had courage to change

[cal04]

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/105879-obama-byrd-had-courage-to-change

President Barack Obama said Monday that America “has lost a voice of principle and reason” with the death of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.).

The nation’s first African-American president hailed Byrd’s life story as “uniquely American,” and did not mention the senator's time as a member of the Ku Klux Klan when he was younger.

Obama did say that Byrd had “the courage to stand firm in his principles, but also the courage to change over time.”

(snip)
“His profound passion for that body and its role and responsibilities was as evident behind closed doors as it was in the stem-winders he peppered with history,” Obama said. “He held the deepest respect of members of both parties, and he was generous with his time and advice, something I appreciated greatly as a young senator.”



Statement of the President on the Passing of Senator Byrd
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/statement-president-passing-senator-byrd

[VMI Dem]

1. Bryd changed in that he was a little less vocal about his bigotry.

Other than that, he was the same.

[WI_DEM]

2. You know that for a fact?

[VMI Dem]

4. He still made racial slurs and vocally opposed gay rights.

So yeah, I know that.

[phleshdef]

3. So endorsing a black man to hold the highest public office is just being less vocal?

If actions speak louder than words, Byrds actions show a person that did not consider black people lesser human beings than white people when all was said and done.

[thereismore]

5. Geewiz, you know a lot about the thoughts of that man. Your comment is kinda douchy. nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. True, and I respected him immensely for it. (nt)