Pelosi Defends Ex-Klansman's Assault on Condi

Via Brothers Judd

Rep. Pelosi insisted that Byrd's extraordinary move had nothing to do with his long history of public racism, but was instead a reflection of his opposition to the Iraq war.

"They're confirming a Secretary of State in a time of war. [Byrd's] views on the war and his opposition to it are well known," she said.

Still, Byrd's "sad history," as Pelosi described it, makes him a particularly bad choice to lead the assault on Rice.

As recently as 2001, the West Virginia Democrat was forced to apologize after blurting out during a nationally televised interview, "There are white n****rs, I've seen a lot of white n****rs in my time. I'm going to use that word."

In 1972, Byrd pushed to have the Senate's main office building named after Dixiecrat Sen. Richard Russell - a leading opponent of anti-lynching legislation who Byrd called "my mentor."

Byrd filibustered the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act for 14 straight hours.

Pelosi defends Byrd