Caleb Enerson's column decrying racism on the part of certain Democrats completely mischaracterizes the situation. It is true that members of both sides are vulnerable to making verbal gaffes that may be construed as racist. However, in the end, it is highly important to realize that Democrats have been, historically and to this day, in the forefront of advancing issues important to minorities, such as a living wage, crime and poverty, and civil rights.
The Republicans have consistently come out on the wrong side on these issues, a fact that minorities are very well aware of. No amount of racist-sounding rhetoric from individual Democrats (or individual Republicans, for that matter) can change that. Nor should this inoculate Democrats from making racist comments, as that would simply be ridiculous.
Also, despite what we may think about Senator Robert Byrd or his policies past and present, he has apologized for his shameful past, about "a thousand times" ("A Senator's Shame," The Washington Post, June 19, 2005, page A1).
Barnaby Yeh
Junior in the School of Public Affairs
