Sheikh bin al BaraBitterBlackHusseinMadrassaJeremiahHusseinNotQuiteaBrothuhOsamaBama marches on.

it's when he talks about his past. He hits the nail right on the head. He's apologized a thousand times, and he'll apologize a million times more. He's unique in that regard, considering we can't get Bush, McCain or any other republican to even ADMIT to a mistake let along attempt to make good on it.

Well, except Bush quit golfing.

"As Republicans are fond of pointing out, Byrd was once a member of the Ku Klux Klan"

And they're still members. Is that what the problem is?

Interesting, particularly when one considers that Senator Obama devoted almost an entire chapter in Audacity of Hope to his meeting with Senator Byrd. Senator Byrd's endoresement is a wonderful sybol of our country moving beyond the tolls of the 20th century into a cenury of hope.

At what cost is Obama accumulating the support of these superdelegates? Byrd is one of the worst abusers (if not the worst) of Congress' budgetary powers. He is famous for the pork $ he has sent West Virginia's way and the number of taxpayer funded projects bearing his name should embarrass him (http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_byrddroppings) I hope that Obama has obtained and accepted his support with no strings attached.

The press has been silent on the backroom dealings that must be going on as Obama and Clinton vie for the remaining superdelegates. While I have been an Obama supporter I am increasingly concerned with how many favors the eventual Democratic nominee will owe. Obama was supposed to represent a new type of politics but I'm afraid that, because of the ridiculous nomination process created by the Democrats, President Obama will owe more favors than any president in history. I hope his message, goals and relative independence are not compromised.

Ooh, that's got to hurt in the State of what one of my favorites posts of all time declared as (don't remember the poster's name) "Inbred Transylvania". West Virginia you could learn a lot from one of your own. Obama please throw some water on the wicked witch already!

So it's Republicans who are found of pointing out that Byrd is former KKK?

Ever think about who will be calling in political debts from McCain?

"While I have been an Obama supporter I am increasingly concerned with how many favors the eventual Democratic nominee will owe. Obama was supposed to represent a new type of politics but I'm afraid that, because of the ridiculous nomination process created by the Democrats, President Obama will owe more favors than any president in history. I hope his message, goals and relative independence are not compromised."

Kids, this is a great example of what's called a "concern troll." Under the guise of being "so concerned," the poster actually gets to smear the the person they're "so concerned about."

Note the classic "While I have been an Obama supporter...." Another way to do this is, "While I think highly of Senator Obama...." Cf. Joan Walsh columns for another teachable moment in concern trolling!

Anyway, now that we have Byrd, and Jeremiah Wright, and the Daley Crime Family of Chicago, led by Dickie "The Enforcer" Durbin, not to mention Hizbullah, all supporting Obama, how can we go wrong?

You people aren't even ashamed of this crap anymore. I love it.

Is the Klan angle really relevant here? Honestly, hasn't that been beat to death a thousand times over, and hasn't Byrd done enough to make up for the sins of his incredibly far distant (like twice-as-old-as-me-and-I'm-thirty) past?

Senator Clinton was 99% of the way to losing Senator Byrd's support the day she voted for the Iraq war, which he vehemently and eloquently opposed. Most of the where-did-she-go-wrong analyses of her campaign start with tactical decisions made in 2007, but she made her biggest single mistake in 2003.

when byrd was in the klan, over fifty years ago, the KKK had 20 million members out of a population of 120 million. vile as it was, it was, in many communities (and not just the south, bucko) the elks club of its day, only with cross burnings instead of pancake breakfasts. read some history. moron.

Hillary was lathering much praise on Senator Byrd on stage at her small victory in WV. I guess this must be another blow for her. I find it very curious that Senator Clinton has very few endorsements and support from fellow Senators.

I have long admired Senator Byrd's respect for the U. S. constitution. He has always stood up strongly against attacks on the constitution,with great oratory. The fact that Obama is strong in constitutional law was also probably a factor.

Byrd is pretty old, so you can expect his past would be marred with racism. White boys could not get ahead in politics in the south in the early days without be a member of the KKK. Obama however looks forward, not to the past.

This may help Obama in Kentucky. I don't expect Obama to win in Kentucky, but he will not have the Big defeat as he did in WV.

Thank you for the message board lesson on "concern trolling", I often wondered what the term really meant and even teh wiki left me somewhat perplexed. Obviously I have to brush up on my skills but I'll be trying harder now to spot and point out the concern trolls. Joan Walsh anybody?!

Is the Klan angle really relevant here? Honestly, hasn't that been beat to death a thousand times over, and hasn't Byrd done enough to make up for the sins of his incredibly far distant (like twice-as-old-as-me-and-I'm-thirty) past?

In this particular instance, it's extremely relevant, and not in a negative way. It's a mark that the man has come full circle -- from being an influential member of one of the nation's most vile, racist organizations to endorsing someone who may well be the nation's first black president. That's a testament that people can change, and in this particular instance, how profound that change can be. Byrd's story has come full circle.