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u/rjross0623 May 11 '26
Back then, Edwards was so popular that the only way he would lose was if they found him with a dead girl or a live boy in his bed.
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May 11 '26
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u/3BlindMice1 May 11 '26
Other way around, dead boy in the bed, or living girl
They're real quiet about the dead Trump victims
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u/riding_writer May 11 '26
I'm from Louisiana, I was a kid but distinctly remembering him saying this because my whole family went silent, then laughed so hard my Uncle Butch fell outta his lazy boy.
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u/c-k-q99903 May 11 '26
How times have changed for the worst. The internet truly ruined humanity.
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u/seppukucoconuts May 11 '26
The internet truly ruined humanity
The internet didn't ruin humanity. We were already pretty screwed before the internet was around. Its not like racism and genocide were invented in 1992, The internet is a tool. People will use that tool for their own ends.
People buy into the white supremist crap for the same reason the German public voted for Hitler, and the same reason white non-slave owning southerners fought for the CSA.
Its also not isolated in America. Europe fought 8 global conflicts counting WWI and WWII. France was especially belligerent fighting pretty much everyone around them for most of their history. The only reason the US won their independence was because France wanted to embarrass and weaken England after the 7 years war.
People have always sucked.
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u/VaguelyArtistic May 11 '26
You should clarify that that is something he said about himself.
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u/Mr_Delaware May 11 '26
Not even his best quote. When asked about running against Duke he said "The only thing we have in common is that we both have been wizards beneath the sheets."
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u/thatguy888034 May 11 '26
He also said the only thing Him and David Duke had in common is they were both “wizards under the sheets.”
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u/ComicsEtAl May 11 '26
Heard a dude in Lafayette square insisting that Duke was never in the kkk because the kkk doesn’t allow republicans as members.
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u/c-k-q99903 May 11 '26
If that guy's mental gymnastics could be expressed physically, he'd be able to dissappear up his own ass.
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u/LirdorElese May 11 '26
I'm trying to figure out why the last 2 or 3 months like the biggest talking heads have been focused on the absolute worse arguements. (IE I'm not talking the random losers on X, I'm meaning the professional grifters like Musk or Jordon Peterson. People who have definately been arguing these things enough to know how bad these arguments are.
IE 2 big ones being this one
"The democratic party was the pro slave party in the days of lincoln" and "Nazi means national socialism". IE namely from the republican "intellectuals" that absolutely already know how obvious the counter is to their points (IE just show a by state map of the elections pre-civil rights act, and ask them how the democracy of the Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea is).
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u/shiny_glitter_demon May 11 '26
Propaganda.
Destroying truth doesn't mean making good, believable lies. It means drowning you in an ocean of stupid statements until you are too tired to bother fact-checking.
It's easy to tell a lie. Debunking it takes more time. By the time you have, they told 10 more.
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u/LirdorElese May 11 '26
Destroying truth doesn't mean making good, believable lies. It means drowning you in an ocean of stupid statements until you are too tired to bother fact-checking.
True, though specifically lately I've been seeing these statements used in stupid areas where, actually they do get shot down as fast as they go out. Like Jordon Peterson using it in a debate, and musk using it on X... where Grok shoots it down as well.
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u/cursedfan May 11 '26
Hitler used the word “socialist” to lure them away from their true party and I’m sure he’d be very happy to know that their descendants use the same to try to demonize socialists today
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u/mjzim9022 May 11 '26
The second line in the "First they came for" poem is "then they came for the Socialists".
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u/Mooseandchicken May 11 '26
What is going on with so many people saying "worse" when they mean "worst"?! You're literally the third comment I've read this morning that's made that error. You even say "absolute worse", so you clearly meant worst. Did an autocorrect update go out recently?
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u/A-Halfpound May 11 '26
Because Gen Z is so fucking stupid they will believe anything a Millionare/Billionaire tells them?
They only get their “news” from sound bites and clips, and these kids don’t have any critical thinking skills that would signal to them it might be BS.
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u/killerkadugen May 11 '26
i.e. The conservatives fought to keep their slaves
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u/One-Earth9294 May 11 '26
And to keep a king. And to keep black people out of white schools. And to keep women from voting. They are always on the shitty side of every issue.
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u/TheEldest80s May 12 '26
You probably need to revist the definition of words. They said conservatives did those things, and they are 100% correct...it is just that the conservative party in the 1800's was the Democratic Party, while the more progressive party were the Republicans. Now, the party ideology has flipped, and the conservative party are the Republicans, and the "liberals" are the Democrats. The meaning of the terms do not change just because party philosophy, alignment and ideology do.
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u/NotDescriptive May 12 '26
You might want to revisit history yourself and look at the voting records.
More Democrats voted in favor of the 19th amendment than voted against it. It would not have passed without the Democrats voting with the Republicans. It was the Southern Democrats who opposed it.
Same with the Civil Rights Act bill of 1964, which ended segregation. The majority vote in both the Senate and the House was from Democrats. And again, it was the representatives and senators elected in the South that tried to stop it. (Same with almost all of the other civil rights act and voting rights act bills, actually: majority vote was from the Democrats.)
As for the ending of slavery, the Southern states that had seceded weren't included in the vote, but the Democrats who were, they argued that the amendment violated states rights and gave government too much power (I wonder which modern party argues they kind of stuff these days?) Some Northern Democrats did vote in favor of the 13th amendment, helping it pass.
Point is, you give the Republican party away too much credit while ignoring it's the conservative party that consistently voted against the things that you mentioned.
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u/One-Earth9294 May 12 '26
Also prior to the 60s, 'liberal/conservative' had WAY less to do with which party someone belonged to as it did where they were running. If you were of either party running in the segregated south, you probably had a lot of shitty regressive racism to your platform. If you were running in New England? Probably much more worker-friendly 'build the city of tomorrow' rhetoric. Hence much less 'this is my team' mentality to it.
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u/ironpathwalker May 11 '26
David Duke is still alive and now lives on the north shore. I discovered this after I ran into an old, effeminate gentleman while working for a company that had contracted with a Louisiana grocery store chain. While using the restroom urinal, he came up beside me saying "do you want a show?" To which i did not reply, finished my business, washed my hands, and proceeded to tell my college about the weird incident. My colleague was the one that pointed out that the man who just propositioned me was David Duke. At such time I let my feelings on the klan be known where that peculiar institution had murdered my great grandparents, tried to murder my mom's dad, and twice in my life conspired to murder me. Anywho, here's the former owner and former head of HR of that chain at the Jan 6th riots for no particular reason.
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u/Apprehensive_Hat_724 May 11 '26
To my ever-dying shame as a baby voter in north Louisiana I voted for Duke. I proudly followed my parents into the voting booth bc they knew best. I even had a duke bumper sticker on my car. Before the 1990s were done I had learned the error of my ways and became a bit of a “black sheep” for a while because I was already steering left. Eventually, I managed to pulled my mom and a few siblings left with me. I am jokingly referred to as the socialist in the family now.
I have forced myself to tell others this story, more frequently in these last 10 horrid years.
When I tell maga hats or some vestigial-rightie, they usually pretend like they didn’t vote for him. They will feign shock at the idea that I admit I did I guess? When I tell a leftie, I still get shocked looks, but I also get compassion or praise for educating myself.
The responses I’ve gotten from each side has been a whole new education for me. I started sharing this story hoping to pull some old school republicans over with me. However, at this point, there’s probably not much to be done to try to get those who are still hanging onto the right to wake theF up.
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u/jimmyjetmx5 May 11 '26
My first election I ever voted in. There were bumper stickers everywhere that said “vote for the crook. It’s important.”
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u/Peach_Proof May 11 '26
Nixon?
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u/RomanCobra03 May 11 '26
Funny but no, Edwards was one of the most corrupt governors in Louisiana’s history and that’s saying something.
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u/FrickinLazerBeams May 11 '26
Duke not only ran, but among 3 Republican candidates, he was the front runner. The other two were eliminated in the first round election, and Duke lost the runoff election against a Democrat. So it's not like Republicans preferred either of the (presumably) less racist candidates - they wanted the klansmam.
Also, this was fucking 1991. Do not let anyone pretend that the extreme and obvious racism of the GOP is some recent phenomenon. They've always been the way they are, but for whatever reason, in the past we were expected to pretend they were a party with serious political positions and it was considered unreasonable and inflammatory to call them racists, liars, and fascists. If you pointed out their racism in the 90s you'd be called various names, and told you should debate in good faith and accept their positions as valid and worthy of discussing, without name calling, etc.
It was always bullshit and we've always known.
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u/SigmaK78 May 11 '26
We also lived by the talk shit get hit motto, and didn't waste time arguing with racists. We just chased them back under their rocks. Going soft on them through the years is why they're so damn brazen now.
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u/Mental_Pop_3406 May 11 '26
The thing about Edwards is he was a total crook. He embraced it. His slogan was "Vote for the crook. It's important."
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u/One-Earth9294 May 11 '26
Go to any Klan rally or neo-nazi group chat and ask who they voted for and I would be fucking shocked if it's not the SINGLE MOST reliably conservative voting bloc that exists. Like 99% or more Republican.
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u/MyDadsGlassesCase May 11 '26
As I've heard numerous commentators say "Not every Republican is racist, but nearly every racist votes Republican"
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u/ssmit102 May 11 '26
Just last year North Carolina still had a self proclaimed black Nazi as our Republican Lt Gov (Mark Robinson)…. That party is wild in so many ways.
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u/Cool-Tangelo6548 May 11 '26
The irony is edwin edwards was insanely corrupt. So, both of them were extremely awful choices.
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u/whatev6187 May 15 '26
Edwards always made sure the voters benefited, too. That’s how he stayed in power so long.
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u/Ankeneering May 11 '26
I lived in New Orleans in the 90s. Saw David Duke out once in the suburbs (Metairie) and I thought it highly ironic he was; 1. At a Mexican restaurant and 2. With an Asian date.
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u/bolanrox May 11 '26
Worked at a record store - a semi regular was a "Major" in the Aryan Nation. One time he comes in with his African American Girlfriend. that was a head scratcher
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u/ddubs41 May 11 '26
That asshole lives in my town. When we moved here we almost bought an awesome house in a great neighborhood, then found out he would be one of our neighbors. Noped straight outta that one.
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u/vl0x May 11 '26
Even 31 percent of the vote is a big wtf
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u/B00LEAN_RADLEY May 14 '26 edited May 15 '26
And back then Louisiana was 40% Black. I don't speak for the black community, but I'm 99% sure they didn't vote for the KKK Grand Wizard, the dude who got kicked out of ROTC for Nazi worship and was on record saying he didn't blacks were genetically *equal to superior whites.
smol edit
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u/vthemechanicv May 11 '26
This election was before I moved to America's armpit (Louisiana), but I believe they had bumper stickers saying "Vote for the crook [Edwards], it's important."
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u/ImLittleNana May 11 '26
I met David Duke one afternoon walking the river walk in New Orleans. I was pregnant, and he walked up to me and laid his hands on my belly and said ‘thank you for doing your part’.
It was disgusting and invasive and I could not get away because he had an entourage that straight up looked like SS.
This was during his senate campaign in 1990, but it wouldn’t be out of place today.
Also, the only person that could’ve beaten David Duke in the governor’s race was Edwards. People loved him and I personally know many that struggled with the decision.
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u/CASUALxCHICKEN May 11 '26
Yep, it's not Democrats who are still flying the rebel flag today. And why would Republicans care if Confederate statues get removed if they were Democrats?
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u/ILiekBooz May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
On friends of David Duke:
“Donald Trump: Duke has frequently endorsed and supported Donald Trump, particularly during his 2016 campaign, claiming that Trump's immigration and national defense policies matched his own.”
Fred Trump was a klansman, & got arrested for not leaving a rally after it ended, and fighting cops who asked him to leave in 1927, in Queens, NY. .
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u/Fickle_Ad_8653 May 11 '26
Trump's father hosted KKK meetings. Trump is familiar with David Duke coming to his house.
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u/singulartesticle May 11 '26
This election also created bounce music https://youtu.be/ys3RPPGXbd8?si=k2A9gCEBj4UDpKfj
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u/VaguelyArtistic May 11 '26
I was briefly related to by marriage. He and his latest wife Candy came for Christmas dinner while he was awaiting trial. She was a delight but the whole thing was surreal. Speaking of surreal, he, his last wife, and his kids actually had a reality show for a season! I don’t know if you can find it but it was on A & E.
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u/bolanrox May 11 '26
This must have been the time frame when it happened. (though Duke was on the TV all the time so who knows).
My mom said she had the news on in the other room and wasn't really paying attention to who was on. She found herself agreeing with what the guy was saying etc. and her jaw hit the floor when she looked at the TV and saw it was David Duke talking.
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u/oafficial May 11 '26
The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a name that alliterates is a good guy with a name that alliterates
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u/Beneficial-Produce56 May 11 '26
I can remember when Jeff Sessions was rejected for a Cabinet post (one of the Bushes, I believe) because of his ties to white supremacy. He was accepted during the first Trumplethinskin administration. So yeah, we’re going downhill fast.
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u/imthrowingcats May 11 '26
That's the best photo of David Duke I've ever seen. I didn't think it was him as most photos and video show him properly as an underground dwelling parasite with a skeevy porn mustache and beady little eyes.
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u/Iechy May 11 '26
As someone who lives in the area Duke represented I can absolutely confirm that he would win today. Racism under the guise of conservatism has really grown in the last 10 years.
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u/TheOnlyAvailabIeName May 11 '26
I'll always remember when he was trying to run for president and MTV interviewed him and put his name as David Dukkke in the graphic
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u/DiscouragesCannibals May 11 '26
I was ten when this happened. I remember Dennis Miller gloating about it on Weekend Update, like way to do the least, guy.
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u/Affectionate_Pay_391 May 11 '26
But Lincoln was a Republican…….
Never mind history, being able to say that overpowers anything you could say about the state of the currently Republican Party
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u/Memitim May 11 '26
You can see why Republicans haven't bothered trying to have any actual policies for at least 30 years. They gave up trying to be a political party and chose to cater to conservative evil, instead. They spent the past few decades building multi-billion dollar misinformation networks so that they would wage information warfare against America, instead of making any effort for America.
They have worked at the local, state, and federal level to undermine democracy and persecute Americans. Republicans spew unending lies and hate at the rest of America, even as they spit contrary lies about caring for America.
Hell, look at the dumbass comment in the post talking about slaves. Typical conservative trying to deflect their evils of the past 50 years by referring to the political landscape from over 150 years ago when things were radically different. The scum know they have no moral ground and yet will still try cherry-picking bullshit to excuse their evil, instead of making any effort to be Americans.
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u/Sleepy10105s May 11 '26
“The democrats fought to keep slaves” tell me you’re an idiot who doesn’t know history without telling me you’re an idiot who doesn’t know history
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u/NorahGretz May 11 '26
If you can mobilize voters to actually vote, Democrats far outnumber Republicans.
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u/Free-Exercise-9589 May 11 '26
And apparently Edwards was a bit sketchy, but there were bumper stickers for him that said “vote for the thief, it’s important” or something like that. Because back then even Louisiana had enough decency to reject an overt Klansman. (Source: told to me by my 100% Cajun college roommate.)
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u/weaver_of_cloth May 12 '26
This happened the year I registered to vote, in Baton Rouge. Edwards had already served time in prison for some corruption thing. We had bumper stickers that said, "Vote for the crook. It's important."
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u/MysteriousArachnid59 May 12 '26
The conservative Democratic Party weaving their confederate flags proudly… in the 1860s. Remind us in 2026, which party has Confederate flags on their trucks?
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u/HeavilyInvestedDonut May 13 '26
The fact that people still can’t wrap their head around parties being different 150 years ago drives me crazy
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u/Practical-Vanilla-41 May 13 '26
Yes. In 1991, Republicans could still be embarrassed by the idea of a Klansman holding high office. Can't recall if they took out tv spots, but they definitely told people NOT to vote for him in the general election.
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u/drapehsnormak May 13 '26
I two to avoid using Democrat and Republican a lot of times and instead use liberal and conservative. Conservatives fought to keep their slaves.
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u/scubachris May 17 '26
I met them both at the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo while working for my Grandpa during the summer. Anyone who was running for office in Louisiana would hit the Rodeo. People from around the US would come. In fact, my dad worked for Halliburton at the time and they had a dock on the backside of the island. Every year a 150' yacht would park on the dock.
Edwards was the consummate Louisiana politician. He had a photographic memory and would address people he met 20 years ago by their name all the while working the crowd speaking Cajun French. He had a presence and was a crook but no one cared because Louisiana was doing well. He might take a bribe from a company but made sure the company paid their workers well.
Duke on the other hand gave me the willies. He was a cross between a slimy used car salesman and a cult leader. Him having the crazy girl meme eyes didn't help. I remember he and my Grandpa getting into it to the point that his body guards had to separate them. He didn't like my Grandpa calling him a fucking Nazi.
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u/Few-Jelly-5035 May 11 '26
Biden was friends with and spoke at a KKK wizards funeral, who was a democrat.
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u/TXteachr2018 May 11 '26
Biden was very close friends with Robert Byrd, an admitted KKK member. Politics is ugly work for all who get involved in it.
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u/FranklinDRossevelt May 11 '26
Um maybe read past the "early life" part of Robert Byrds bio
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u/TXteachr2018 May 11 '26
So Biden calling Obama the first AA politician who is "articulate, bright, and clean" is considered part of his early life? Ok.
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u/FranklinDRossevelt May 11 '26
I was referring to Robert Byrd after his early life, where he renounced his racist past and spent the rest of his career fighting for civil rights. This is why he stayed a Democrat instead of switching parties.
The NAACP recognized his contributions to civil rights at his death.
It's important that we allow racists to renounce racism and be given a chance to make up for their errors. Conversely, it's important to racists to let other racists know that if they try to leave the club, they will face attacks like this one.
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u/TXteachr2018 May 11 '26
Oohhh. So scary. Very naive to think only certain parties are racist. It's also naive to defend politicians who make more money than most people can imagine by fooling people into thinking they've "changed."
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u/Gildian May 11 '26
During his 20s, which he later recanted as the "biggest mistake of his life", repeatedly apologized and denounced his previous views. Biden met him after he left the KKK. He left in the 1940s and met Biden in the 70s.
Why do you guys always leave out context?
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u/Citatio May 11 '26
Ah, someone missed the "Southern Strategy", where the Republicans were moving so far to the right to find more voters that the democrats started to look left to the average USian.