Sen. Byrd: Dogfighting Is "Barbaric"

West Va. Democrat Says "Hottest Places In Hell" Reserved For Promoters

(CBS/AP)  Allegations of a vicious dogfighting ring prompted an unusually emotional speech in the Capitol Thursday, as the Senate's longest-serving member fought tears and called for God's judgment on those who promote such activities.

"Barbaric," Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., shouted four times in a Senate chamber that was mostly empty except for two dozen somewhat startled tourists.

"Let that word resound from hill to hill and from mountain to mountain, from valley to valley across this broad land," he thundered, raising his right hand. "May God help those poor souls who would be so cruel. Barbaric! Hear me!"

Federal agents have charged Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and three others with procuring and training pit bulls for fighting in Virginia and elsewhere. Investigators say some losing dogs died in the pit or were later electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot.

The 18-page federal indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleges the 27-year-old Vick and his co-defendants began the dogfighting operation in early 2001, Vick's rookie year with the Falcons.

The indictment states that dogs fought to the death — or close to it.

If convicted, Vick and the others — Purnell A. Peace, Quanis L. Phillips and Tony Taylor — could face up to six years in prison, $350,000 in fines and restitution.

They are scheduled to appear in federal court in Richmond, Va. July 26.

Byrd, 89, said he would not prejudge the men's guilt or innocence, but he left no doubts about his sentiments.

"I am confident that the hottest places in hell are reserved for the souls of sick and brutal people who hold God's creatures in such brutal and cruel contempt," he said.

"One is left wondering," he said. "Who are the real animals: the creatures inside or outside the ring?"

When he finished, Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who sometimes brings his Portuguese water dogs to work, said, "Great speech, Bob." As Byrd left the chamber, a Senate page and TV reporter shook his hand and thanked him, and a young woman had her photo taken with him.

[agnim]

"Sen. Byrd: Dogfighting Is "Barbaric""

Get a life, senile old man.

Americans treating mere dogs better than humans, now that is 'barbaric'!

Slaughtering hundreds of Iraqi women, children, old people, etc UNPROVOKED, now that's barbaric.

Slaughtering millions of cows, pigs, sheep, chicken, etc every year IS 'barbaric'.

I bet the majority of those making much ado over dog fight are deviant perverts who sleep with, kiss, SS.EX, and SUCK THEIR DOGS' D!KS. Sick minds.

If dogs like to bite, then there is nothing better for them to bite than another biting dogs.

All pit bull should be drop in a pen hungry and have them eat each other. That is all they are good for.

[agnim]

"Sen. Byrd: Dogfighting Is "Barbaric""

Get a life, senile old man.

Americans treating mere dogs better than humans, now that is 'barbaric'!

Slaughtering millions of cows, pigs, sheep, chicken, etc every year IS 'barbaric'.

I bet the majority of those making much ado over dog fight are deviant perverts who sleep with, kiss, SS.EX, and *** their dogs. Sick minds.

If dogs like to bite, then there is nothing better for them to bite than another biting dogs.

All pit bull should be drop in a pen hungry and have them eat each other. That is all they are good for.

[randalds]

Listen to Byrd try to sound like a moral force in his old age (he wants everybody to forget he was a card carrying KKK member).

Posted by screen_name_ at 01:01 PM : Jul 21, 2007

Funny how the right wing never gets tired of repeating this same old lie over and over and over again, considering that every major racist organization in America, including the Klan, are hardcore republicans these days. Byrd was never a member of the Klan. He did attend SOME meeting a very long time ago, repudiated the Klan and their sick goals in the late 40's and has been a tireless worker for civil rights ever since. he's been praised by organizations such as the NAACP, the SCLC and the Jewish Anti-defamation League. I think republicans are just hostile that they weren't successful in recruiting him when they threw their arms open to the white supremacists hate froups, including the Klan, in the 50's and 60's after the Democrats kicked them all out.

[name_verify]

Listen to Byrd try to sound like a moral force in his old age (he wants everybody to forget he was a card carrying KKK member).

[randalds]

Yeah, but you can't compare dogs and negros....everybody can empathize with a defenseless puppy.
Posted by altoonit at 11:12 AM : Jul 20, 2007

So speaks a typical average Bush base supporter. Must make the few of you who still support the chimp who are not inbred genetically defective morons like this guy (and Bush come to think of it) real proud to still be republicans. Doesn't it?

[randalds]

US18988,

I may be stupid but I don't outright lie like you. Why don't you prove your ridiulous claims? When did Obama call Lincoln a rascist? Did Uncle Rush tell you that one dork?

I don't hear you repudiating the Klan, you sound more like the Grand dragon.


Posted by realpatriot1 at 10:42 AM : Jul 20, 2007

US18988 is so full of sh*it it's dripping out of his ears and down onto his inbred daughter every time he molests her. He wouldn't know a true statement if it bit him in his fat as*s. he just makes up cr*ap as he goes along to try to pi*ss people off so he can short stroke himself over someone paying attention to his pathetic as*s. Wait until he tells you about the hero he is because he raped little kids in WWII or Korea or Vietnam or whatever other war he's lying about having been in this week.

[randalds]

I want to see Vick's head on a platter! And I mean literally! The sorry bas***** deserves to be covered in meat scent then turned loose in a pen of starving pit bulls! There is no excuse for dog fighting and no possible justification for not giving people who participate in it he harshest penalty available.

[realpatriot1]

zuser,

The fact that dog fighting has been around forever doesn't make it any less barbaric, it just shows that sick people have been around for a long time.

You may call it political correctness, since it has nothing to do with politics I just call it correctness.

The people who are involved in it are cowards who can't fight their own fights and have to find something they can control to do what they don't have the guts to do. In other words, little men.

A true sport would be for Michael Vick to go into the ring and take on one of the dogs and if he lost but survived we could fininsh him off by hanging and electrocution.

I'd root for the dog. The dog has courage.

[antoniof123]

I just have to do this I can not stop my self.

How old is he I mean I guess he looks good for a man of 800.

[zuser-2009]

barbaric, not hardly. it has been going on for ages..... now we have the politically correct pushing their morals down everyone's throat....


in a few years we won't be able to eat chicken anymore.....