NPR: Senator Byrd Endorses Barack Obama

Senator Byrd Endorses Barack Obama

Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) makes opening remarks on Capitol Hill on May 15, 2008.

Tim Sloan, AFP/Getty Images

The oldest serving Senator in U.S. history (and former KKK member), Robert Byrd of West Virginia, has officially endorsed Barack Obama for president.

The 90-year-old Senate icon's support comes a week after Hillary Clinton's 41-point victory over Obama in the West Virginia primary. According to The Charleston Gazette, Byrd said:

"I had no intention of involving myself in the Democratic campaign for President in the midst of West Virginia's primary election. But the stakes this November could not be higher."

"Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support," Byrd concluded.

Primary in Byrd's endorsement was the fact that Barack Obama shares his firm stance against the war in Iraq, and has from the beginning. Here's more from the Washington Wire:

"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."

What do you make of this endorsement?

Geoffrey Gardner

Tags: Barack Obama | Byrd endorses Barack Obama | Sen. Robert Byrd | West Virginia | endorsement Byrd Obama

6:35 PM ET | 05-20-2008 | permalink

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Isn't this endorsement about a week late?

Sent by Pete Wilson | 7:15 PM ET | 05-20-2008

A week late for the WV primary (which wouldn't have changed the outcome anyway) but certainly not for the general when all hands will be in the batter's box waiting to take their swings at the Republicans. It's just another sign of the party coming together for the coming battle.

Sent by Thomas B | 7:48 PM ET | 05-20-2008

I think this is a full circle moment. This man who was a klan member and participated in taking away civil rights is now endorsing a black man to the worlds highest office. It really states how far we have come even thought we have so much far to go.
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Sent by Kimberly Coleman | 5:02 PM ET | 05-21-2008

Senator Byrd's endorsement together with Obama's candidacy are a emblematic of the growth of our country. A beautiful statement. Senator Byrd showed courage, but most of all he symbolizes the fact that as humans we can grow beyond our origins.

I don't feel that he should have endorsed earlier. WV would still have gone for Clinton in a landslide. And that would have been perceived as a weakness on Senator Byrd's part.

I think this endorsement speaks to other SD who may be weak kneed over the race issue.

Sent by Miss T | 6:52 PM ET | 05-21-2008

Byrd epitomizes the tragic demise of our once great civilization, and the delusional, wishful-thinking that afflicts Whites, liberal and conservative alike. It is utterly pathetic for Senator Byrd, a wasted old shell of a White man, to call Obama "a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian." Obama is a virulent leftist socialist, the emotionally disturbed, educated bastard offspring of an alcoholic polygamist African tribesman and a white Marxist slut. He despises America's Anglo-European founders and our proud history. For him, the "sin" of slavery, coupled with the refusal of Whites to commit racial suicide through misogynation, irredeemably blight the accomplishments of the White Race (aka Western Civilization). For him, White Americans are forever indebted to darkies, and have only two possible means of redemption: (1.) embrace their death and merge into mulatto-hood, the way his white Marxist mamma did; or (1.) reparations forever. Apparently, old man Byrd is coping with the horror of seeing America crumble ignominiously into the hands of Negroes by telling himself it just ain't so...horribly, horribly bad.

Sent by pollyinkorekt | 11:13 PM ET | 05-21-2008

THERE'S SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT THIS ENDORSEMENT.I AM AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT MOST OF US DON'T. IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS THERE'S US(WHITES AND BLACKS) AND THEN THERE'S THEM ( THE OTHER WHITES AND BLACKS)...

Sent by WILLIAM JOHNSON | 7:41 PM ET | 07-30-2008

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