Tuesday, June 10, 2008

 

This Day in the History of Democrats Standing Athwart History

On this day in 1964, the 71 day filibuster of the Civil Rights Act, which was perpetrated by Democrats (and only by Democrats) was ended by a cloture vote 71 to 29. The only Southern Democrat voting for cloture was Ralph Yarborough of Texas. The only 'Northern' Democrat voting against it was former KKK Kleagle Robert Byrd of West Virginia. Without very strong Republican support, this filibuster would never have been defeated. So of course the 'history' of the period is that the Democrats are the friends of the blacks and the Republicans are the racists. This entry is an effort to show real history, as if that mattered.

The bill passed 9 days later.

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