I don't know what to think of Byrd. On the one hand, he fillibustered the equal rights act, and was a KKK member, but on the other hand, he later renounced those actions. So far, so good.
However, in 2001, which is about the same time that Paul is accused of racially insensitive remarks, he said this (links from Wikipedia):
In a March 4, 2001 interview with Tony Snow, Byrd said of race relations:
| “ | They're much, much better than they've ever been in my lifetime ... I think we talk about race too much. I think those problems are largely behind us ... I just think we talk so much about it that we help to create somewhat of an illusion. I think we try to have good will. My old mom told me, 'Robert, you can't go to heaven if you hate anybody.' We practice that. There are white niggers. I've seen a lot of white niggers in my time, if you want to use that word. We just need to work together to make our country a better country, and I'd just as soon quit talking about it so much.[58] | ” |
So if Byrd is in the clear, I don't think Paul should be held to a higher standard than an ex KKK member, when it comes to race relations.
It would seem to me, that he should have realized this, sooner than 1982, as well:
Byrd also said that his views changed dramatically after his teenage grandson was killed in a 1982 traffic accident, which put him in a deep emotional valley. "The death of my grandson caused me to stop and think," said Byrd, adding he came to realize that black people love their children as much as he does his.[52]
