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The Spectacle Blog
I keep reading that the late Sen. Robert Byrd was a “defender of the Constitution.” Nothing better symbolizes Byrd’s idiosyncratic definition of constitutionalism than his national Constitution Day. It required public schools to instill reverence for the Constitution — via an unconstitutional federal program.
View all comments (16) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/06/28/robert-byrd-defender-of-the-co
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Just A. Pointman| 6.28.10 @ 6:50PM
You know I liked Byrd and I am a republican. And before anybody says its because he was in the KKK, that's not true. He is a man of principle and conviction. He stuck to the constitution, without equivocating. He would have been against the Arizona Law but he had better things to worry about since the courts would strike it down, according to this post which seems to brief on why the Arizona Law will not last
http://apleblog.com/2010/05/30.....itutional/
ggoblue| 6.28.10 @ 7:56PM
there is only one reason that arizonas law will be struck down...an activist democrat appointed judge.
127 days until the democrats are 'struck down'
Madison Federalist | 6.28.10 @ 11:58PM
So, Mr. Pointman, and all other alleged rinos, you admire a man who believed the following?:
"I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side... 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." - Robert Byrd in letter to Mississippi Senator Theodore Bilbo in 1944.
Did the late Senator ever recant this vile testimony? God may forgive him, but I, for one, will not allow true history to be distorted by politically correct populism!
---------------------------------------------------------
http://www.examiner.com/x-3762.....-US-Senate
Sen. Byrd hospitalized in DC: From the KKK to the U.S. Senate by Jim Kouri
"While well-respected by the Democrat Party and liberals, Byrd is often given a 'pass' on his earlier affiliation with a white supremacist group. Senator Byrd served as an active member of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) attaining the offices of Kleagle (recruiter) and Exalted Cyclops."
Alan Brooks| 6.29.10 @ 8:03AM
To say that since not all KKK members were or are terrorists is like saying not all Weather Underground members were terrorists. If the KKK is a bad cause then we can use our first amendment rights to criticize the KKK, as the KKK has a right to propagandize.
What is unfair is when Clinton dies some of you will break out the jokes: "Clinton was on his way to Hell when he stopped off to purchase a 99 cent cigar",
but wont tolerate a sheet joke about Byrd.
Alan Brooks| 6.29.10 @ 8:10AM
"there is only one reason that arizonas law will be struck down...an activist democrat appointed judge.
No, you know there is another reason; you know very well many rightwing businesses in AZ want cheap latino labor. I was in Phoenix and Scottsdale and saw what the situation is.
Roy| 6.29.10 @ 9:04AM
"Rightwing" businesses? How about "businesses"?
Alan Brooks| 6.29.10 @ 10:30AM
Oh, great, that is really encouraging that not only the more laissez faire businessmen but also the others are contributing to the mess that AZ is becoming. I was there an entire winter, it is heading for chaos; you had better HOPE Obama declares a regional emergency at some point and calls out the Guard.
Dixie Pixie| 6.28.10 @ 8:27PM
Is it just me or did it seem that Senator Byrd had the following priorities:
[ 1 ] His position in the Senate.
[ 2 ] The Senates position in the constellation of Federal government.
[ 3 ] West Virginia interests in the Federal government.
[ 4 ] The Constitution.
[ 5 ] The History and Traditions of the Senate.
ncatty| 6.29.10 @ 1:06PM
Agreed but I would switch 4 and 5.
Gary Kaasa| 6.29.10 @ 7:05AM
Byrd's only motive was to stay in office and stay in power. He chose the angle that kept him in the picture. He was a chameleon 4 self aggrandizement, a typical "politician" rather than principled representative of the people.
Richard Baker| 6.29.10 @ 7:49AM
Whose Constitution?
tonypal| 6.29.10 @ 8:34AM
Baloney. He was a defender of senate procedure, but not the Constitution. I could give many examples, but two shall suffice. Byrd was a supporter of the so-called "woman's right to choose." In other words, he supported an unconstitutional mandate handed down by 7 law school grads. Roe v Wade was quite simply the greatest act of lawlessness by the Supreme Court in the 20th century.
Also, I don't recall Byrd making much of a stink about the Kelo decision, whereby 5 law school grads literally rewrote the 5th amendment's takings clause. Defender of the Constitution my ass.
Eric Christensen| 6.29.10 @ 9:11AM
It's total BS to say that Byrd or any other current Democrat senator was or is a defender of the constitution since every one of them voted for that vile, despicable, and totally unconstitutional health care bill.
tonypal| 6.29.10 @ 1:46PM
Eric, another excellent example. Within that monstrosity, for which that vaunted defender of the US Constitution Robert Byrd voted, is the individual mandate, which requires citizens to purchase a good. Where exactly in the US Constitution is the federal government empowered to require citizens to purchase goods and services?
In fact, now that the bill is passed, the argument being made by the Obama administration in response to individual state lawsuits challenging the law's constitutionality is that the mandate is really a tax. Interesting argument, especially when you consider Obama vehemently denied prior to the bill's signing that there would be a tax.