Okay - Senator Bird is rabidly AGAINST dog fighting but abortion is okay? Baby...eh, but dog...an abomination?

Question

Dogfight: Michael Vick v. Robert Byrd
Share July 19, 2007 5:42 PM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports: Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Byrd is old and shaky, but he's still got the fire in his belly when he wants to call it up. That was on full display Thursday afternoon when this business of dog fighting drove the longest serving Senator to the Senate floor for a speech the likes of which other, younger senators might have liked to summon during the Iraq War debate this week.

He declared that he has seen one execution in his life -- a man put to death in the electric chair. "Its not a beautiful thing," he said. "I could say I could witness another one if it involves (long pause) this cruel, sadistic, cannibalistic, business of training these vulnerable creatures to kill."

Byrd outlines what happens in a dog fight, punctuating his speech with shouts of "SHAME! SHAME!" How inhuman! How dastardly!"

"God created the dog to be man's companion," Byrd cried.

"Two dogs are placed in a pit. placed in a pit. get that. and turned loose against each other. The fight can go on for hours," he declared. The fight can go on for hours. hear me? (whole body shaking). The fight can go on for hours!"

"Who are the real animals? Who are the real animals? The creatures inside the ring? Or the creatures outside the ring?"

"Barbaric. Barbaric! May god help those poor souls. Hear me."

Talking about why he loves dogs, Byrd said, "The mere petting of these social creatures can lower the blood pressure of humans."

Byrd said he is proud that people perpetrating dogfights "will have to answer to our judicial system. And may god help their souls."

Byrd has given impassioned homily's on Man's Best Friend before. In April of this year, he spent his time during a Senate hearing on the dog food recall talking about his Shih Tzu, Trouble, named by his late beloved wife Erma, who Byrd says said "here comes trouble" the first time she saw the dog coming.

Byrd calls the dog, which sleeps on his bed, Baby.

Wasn't this Democrat once a member of the KKK too?

Answer 1

the Judiciary Committee considered a bill to protect chickens, roosters, from being carried across State lines for use in illegal cockfighting. An amendment was offered on a similar ``cross State line'' issue, protecting minor girls from being carried across State lines for the purpose of having an abortion without their parents' knowledge or consent.
While the committee ultimately passed the animal protections, they wouldn't even allow a vote on protecting young girls. Even more outrageous, the substance of the rejected amendment has passed twice in the House last year, with large bipartisan majorities.
In case anyone is having trouble following this, let's summarize: by rejecting this amendment, Democrats saw fit to provide greater protections to birds than to minor girls and their parents and unborn children. It is as simple as that. This is supposed to be the year of the children? Not all of the children.
Welcome to the Pelosi Congress.

Answer 2

I would never agree to an abortion, but I'm not sure the concepts you're talking about here are the same, or at least people will never view them the same way. I might add, if someone is pro-abortion, must they also be pro-murder and rape? Definitely not. If you just look at this issue without comparison, we really shouldn't allow dog fighting and I'm glad people are taking a stand.
Just another note, someone said dogs feel pain but a fetus doesn't. I'm not so sure their statement is entirely accurate. My 2 female dogs got into a scuffle the other day and my vet told me that when dogs are fighting, they actually feel no pain, which is why females are far more likely to fight until death. They just don't realize when they've been seriously hurt, all that adrenaline blocks the pain sensors.
Just be glad this guy's not pro dog fighting. Maybe we can get our congress to pass something useful yet this year.

Answer 3

What's even more hypocritical, is this is a former KKK "Exalted Leader" and "kleagle" of the KKK -- an organization that regularly held dogfights; using them as a fundraising activity. As late as the early 1930's the Klan chapters regularly publicized the dogfights and public pressure forced them to go underground.

I'm not saying Byrd conducted, attended or even supported dogfights. But as a former leader of an organization that was the main proponent of dogfights for decades in America, denigrating someone who allegedly particpated in this activity seems hypocritical.

Answer 4

Not to support Senator Byrd... who's a racist asshole and who should be forced to silence himself forever... the subject of abortion isn't even on the same plane as cruelty to animals.

Abortion is not as simple as black and white. It's not simply "the merciless killing of unborn babies." Until you've put yourself in the position of a young woman who is so freightened of her pregnancy... someone who feels so tragically unfit to raise a child or even carry out the full terms of her pregnancy... don't judge them. I've known many women who have had abortions and none of them did it thinking they were going through something easy and none of them came out of it without serious emotional scarring. This is an issue on whether or not the government has the right to dictate what a woman does with her body. It always has been and always will be.

Dog fighting is just stupid, cruel entertainment for the lowest common denominator of humanity. The people who engage in it do so for gambling purposes and there is an entire criminal empire based on it.

Stop looking at things as being so cut and dry. It's not as simple as you crack it up to be. Tonight, when you pray, thank God you have NEVER been in a situation where you were so afraid of your unborn child you were willing to abort it in order not to have to deal with the consequences. Can you imagine how horrible of a situation that must be to a young mother?

Answer 5

That's just old Robert Byrd going off again. Michael Vick screwing up gives that old klansmen a woody better than any two Viagra ever could. He can go after a black man in public just like old times. And it's OK because Michael Vick either broke the law himself or was oblivious to the law breaking for five years.

Answer 6

Yes but he can be forgiven tucker carlson Is a conservative he said michael vick was and Is wrong about dog fighting so i don't think they say Its okay at all In fact they find that disturbing and vick Is not an evil man they think killing elected officials, police officers, and government employees Is okay with them so maybe you need to know who they want dead and Its not dogs they like dogs dogs to them are like werewolves and they love to hunt and fish like they do, they hate human beings and vampires that's who they want dead.

Answer 7

I'm rabidly against all 3: Abortion, dog fighting, and Senator "Sheets Byrd."

Answer 8

First of all I am not a fan about politicians but I believe that comparing abortion and dog fighting is the most biased, politically driven, and idiotic things to do. I believe that hurting ANY living thing for recreation or by choice is extremely heinous and is not excused. First of all I am extremely sorry for those women victims of rape, abuse, and those forced to terminate their pregnancies because of health issues. On the other hand many if not most of unwanted pregnancies are caused by men and women that can not keep their sex drives in check or at least use protection to prevent a pregnancy if sexual promiscuity is part of their life. Abortion is very complex issue and there is a ton of blame to go around and many people are responsible for the death of unborn children. Besides the couple that creates the child and decides to get rid of it because it will “ruin their lives” the parents of the couple also carry lots of the blame and decision power because they often do not educate their children about sex, and often threaten to disown their children if they do not have an abortion. The third person that carries a lot of the blame is the doctor that performs the unnecessary abortion for profit and not medical reasons. As a developmental biology student I understand that sometimes pregnancies do have to be terminated for various reasons although it is always the LAST option, but these doctors still choose to perform the procedure (that is assuming that the abortion is done by a certified health professional). How many sins have these people already committed? I bet the list is endless. On the other hand dog fighting is often a two person show where they each fight their dogs and take bets. These people knowingly and adamantly breed and purchase other living beings to force them to do something unnatural for sport and recreation. No goes out to get pregnant so they can later go get an abortion just for fun or profit, most of the time it is because of “bad choice” made by two individuals who want a way out of having to be held responsible for their actions. These dogs are forced to fight to the death by literally shredding each other to pieces, and the looser is usually killed by its owner by various practices mentioned in Senator Byrd’s speech. To women who go out for abortions are not made to rip the fetuses out of each other in a bloody fight and then the looser is killed by strangulation or electrocution. Another reason why abortion and fight should not be compared is because dog fighting is turned into a public spectacle filled with gore and gut for the pleasure of others while huge bets are placed on a dog. I do not know of any abortion clinic that makes the procedure open to high bidders for their gain and pleasure. These Dogs are also bred in vicious ways by using contraptions called “rape stands” where a female is restrained without possibility of breaking loose as she is forced to mate with male after male. Regardless of Senator Byrd’s past positions he was in his own right to be so upset about a practice that involves nothing more than blood, cheap thrills, and greed. If humans particularly Americans boast to be so high and mighty we need to take responsibility for our own actions, and expect ourselves and our elected officials to take care of those that can not defend themselves. I myself own three beautiful male blue/black Pit Bulls (all three are neutered since neutered dogs are not used in fights) that are like my kids, and I can share Senator Byrd’s rage and disdain for these individuals. Oh on the KKK thing back in the early 1900’s and if you were southern and white it was almost guaranteed that you were a member of the KKK or shared sympathetic ideas with them so I do not think why people are so surprised. I am not and I am a member of a minority.

Answer 9

there is hypocrisy on both sides of the fence.

But the question to be considered here is "at what point life begins?" If Byrd honestly believes life begins late term, he is not being hypocritical to allow abortion & be disgusted at dog fighting.

After all, the fetus isn't being killed for sport. The intentions are good, even if they have their facts wrong.

Answer 10

1- a fetus isn't a baby. it isn't alive, it doesn't have feelings, it doesn't have amind until week 14 of a pregnancy.

2- dog fighting is one of the most horrible things in the world. do you have pets? I have two cute little pups, I could never imagine them being injured for people's enjoyment.

3- he was a KKK member in his youth. groups like that target angry and misplaced kids. read what he says about them now and his advice to youth to not be taken in by dangerous groups.

Answer 11

Senator Byrd's days are numbered even for a West Virginia Democrat that cannot be un-elected.He intends to die in office it seems.That day can be any day now from the looks of him.
I watched a video on HotAir.com and he is feeble.
His choice as to babies and dogs is typical nonsense.
I am from West Virginia and I am petrified every time that I watch him in the Senate.