Don't Quote A Klan Leader On The House Floor
It's just common sense that you probably shouldn't use the words of a former Ku Klux Klan leader to support your cause on the House floor. Apparently Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) didn't realize that when he misquoted a "successful Confederate general" that just happened to also be one of the original KKK Grand Wizard's.
POE: Mr. Speaker, does anybody realize there’s a war going out there in the desert sands of Iraq and the rough mountains of Afghanistan? Apparently not or Congress would be taking care of our troops. Mr. Speaker, the troops will be out of funds to carry the fight to the enemy by the end of June. So where’s the money? Spending money is what Congress does. Why hasn’t this body provided the funds for our troops and equipment and more personnel?
This is an emergency. Delay will put our troops at risk. We should authorize the funds now. Send equipment now. And if needed send more troops. The American people expect our military to do their duty. Well the American people expect us to do ours as well. Congress needs to quit talking about supporting the troops and put money where our mouths seem to be. Nathan Bedford Forrest, successful Confederate general, said it best about winning and victory and the means to do so. He said, “Git thar fustest with the mostest.”
Read More: Think Progress » Rep. Poe Quotes Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard On House Floor
3 comments:
When I was in school, we learned that the Klan was started to fight against the carpet baggers and the puppets installed by the north into government. During the reconstruction era, the north did everything in its power to rape the south.
Make no mistake, slavery was a very bad thing. The Civil War was about slavery and by losing the war, the south lost its bid to keep slavery.
Many things the Klan did were bad. But the origins of the Klan were not the same as what it is seen today.
An interesting read is Guns of the South, but Harry Turtledove. I heard parts of it read on NPR (yes, I listen to that once in a while) and I bought the book and read it. You see a very different side of the south. It's fiction, but based on a lot of fact.
a few hours sleep reminded me of a senator who once said "The Klan is needed today as never before, and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia,"
Why should he be allowed to serve in the senate? Research will tell you (he documented in his biography) that his father was Grand Cyclops of his local chapter(some references say Exalted Cyclops).
The senator was Robert Byrd....
I'd be lying if I said I didn't know about Byrd's Klan connection. In fact it was Robert Byrd, not his father (though he might have held the title too, I'm not sure), that held the title of "Exalted Cyclops". Byrd has also said "I know now I was wrong. Intolerance had no place in America. I apologized a thousand times . . . and I don't mind apologizing over and over again. I can't erase what happened." Byrd admittedly made several controversial moves in his youth and he's apologized for them. As long as he doesn't return to those former beliefs I'll continue to support him for all the good that he's done for his state.
I also never said that Rep. Poe should be required to resign, just that he slipped up.
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