Zell Miller: Before, a Democrat; Now, a "Dixiecrat"

Andrew Sullivan is outraged (in an non-offended manner) that a 72 year old white man from Georgia was at one time less progressive on racial issues than is now considered morally acceptable.

I never heard about this record before. I suppose I could have guessed, had I thought about it, but I never did.

Isn't it odd that, once again, the media only seems to be interested in the dubious racial pasts of politicians if they're Republicans -- or, as here, they speak at a Republican convention?

Zell Miller has been a Democratic Senator since-- when? I know he was appointed when Paul Coverdale died; sometime in 1996 or 1997.

So, he's been a Democratic Senator for seven or eight years, but during the period of his being a good Democrat, the media never once saw fit to question this man's fidelity to the virtues of tolerance and nondiscrimination.

Suddenly, he gives a speech at the Republican convention, and it's all the media can talk about.

Isn't. That. Awfully. Convenient. Timing. To become interested in the subject.

The senior Democratic Senator was a KKK Kleagle but, jeepers, they just never have the time to mention that bit of his resume. No, it's always about what a "master of Senate procedure" or "student of Senate history" he is.

Well, at one time he was a master of Grand Wizard strategy. Maybe that deserves the occasional mention, eh?

I should also pass along Simon Oliver Lockwood's tip as to Zell's bio:

"Miller says he is used to alienating his fellow Democrats. As a state senator in the 1960s, he broke with many in his party when he supported keeping the University of Georgia open during integration."

But be that as it may: it's just such a shock to me -- causing me outrage, "heart-ache," and general distemper -- that a dubious record on racial issues in the 1960's was never mentioned by the Democrats (or their Liberal Media Spirit Squad) for all the time he was being a good liberal soldier.

Update: Instapundit discovers that ABCNews approved of Zell's attack-the-opponent convention speech...

...when it was delivered in 1992, against George Bush senior, on behalf of Bill Clinton.

Darn It: Instapundit already beat me to the "suddenly a Dixiecrat" punch. I should have figured he'd already covered it.

posted by Ace at 05:33 PM

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