The Chris Matthews Show holds Season Pass status on my TiVo. But Mr. Matthews gets a little carried away sometimes, wistfully recalling the golden era of congressional politics -- the mid-20th century. Besides McCarthyism and the House UnAmerican Activities Committee, those were the days.
This past Sunday, Mr. Matthews was in rare form, praising John Warner (R-Virginia) and Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia), "two Senators of the old school" who "blew the whistle in the schoolyard" and forced a compromise on filibustering judges. Matthews said:
"For those who wonder what the Senate was like in the glory days, when men like Everett Dirksen and Richard Russell and Philip Hart strode the halls, when important issues, like Civil Rights, were battled and, yes, decided, I ask you to look at Senators Warner and Byrd, who, for a brief, shining moment this week, brought back the majesty."
What's the problem with this statement? When those Civil Rights were "decided" back in 1964, Byrd opposed them! Why is that praise-worthy? Senator Byrd is also a former member of the Ku Klux Klan. Setting aside the obvious question ("How is this guy still in the Senate?"), I'll ask, "Why didn't somebody on Mr. Matthews' staff bring up Byrd's checkered past before praising him for 'bringing back the majesty'?"
All right, back to the obvious question. I have no idea when/if Byrd will run again. For anyone in West Virginia who wants to run against him, I'll volunteer some free campaign ads. Wouldn't "It's not O-KKK anymore! Vote (your name here)" look great on a lawn sign in Wheeling?
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