Reply #49: I don't give Byrd a pass on grounds of age

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He is very close in age to Kennedy and younger than Metzenbalm both of whom had good records on gay rights. But more largly, I think that people should be judged in total and thus Byrd is a better person than Buchanan. But on the issue of gay rights I fail to see any difference.

If Buchanan is able to persuade other people like him to oppose this war and thus end it sooner, then good. That won't make him a good person but it will make us better off. In the final analysis that is what I care about. I am not talking about making Buchanan Sec or State or otherwise giving him political power. But if his words can end this war, bully for him. He will still be an evil homophobic, racist, anti semite, the day after the war ends but the war will have ended.