...but the Democrats were against Civil Rights... the GOP supported Civil Rights starting in 1870...

Let me first say; I am not a Democrat nor am I a Republican.  I am liberal under the classic definition of the word; that is, and in this particular context, I am of the political ideology of "Classical liberalism." I am committed to the ideology of limited government with a firm foundation based on individual liberty; those including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, free markets, etc.  I define all those as the freedom of individual choice, so long as ones choice does not impede or hinder another’s individual choice.  From a political party stand point, I am closer to a Libertarian; but honestly, those guys sometimes seem a bit on the fringe to me...

I responded to a post where someone was paying a complement to a New York Times writer who fosters the belief the GOP is filled with bigotry and racism (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/opinion/23herbert.html ).

I challenged that writer with the following:

I love how the GOP gets smeared with the Racism and Bigotry label, when it was the Democrats that rallied AGAINST the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Here's a fun fact: in 1964 80% of congressional Republicans voted FOR the Civil Rights act, while only 65% of Democrats voted for Civil Rights.

(Here are the numbers: In the Senate, 6 Republican voted against the Act with 27 Republicans voting FOR the Act; this compared to 21 Democrats out of 67 voted against the Civil Rights Act. In the House it's even worse; 91 Democrats out of the 244 Democrats voted Against the Civil Rights Act; while only 35 out of the 171 House Republicans voted against the Civil Rights Act... But I blame both Parties. The GOP should be shouting out these little reminders. Lincoln? A Republican! Senator Byrd; KKK member and the only Northern Democrat to vote Against the Civil Rights Act of 1964

So why do the Dems get credit for the Civil Rights Act... without Republicans the Civil Rights Act would have never passed...from 1875 to 1964, Democrats kept any form of Civil Rights Act from passing... in 1870 it was two Republicans that Senator Charles Sumner and Republican Congressman Benjamin F. Butler that introduced the first Civil Rights Act which passed in 1875; but was latter struck down as Unconstitutional by a left leaning Supreme Court. Version of the 1875 Act were later introduced again by Republicans throughout the years; really starting back up in 1927 but Democrats would not have it so I don’t get it any one looking back in time would clearly believe the Democrats bigots but we don’t look at history do we?

So why do Dems get the credit for this landmark legislation! Because it was Johnson that signed the bill? Or was it that JFK went against his own party along with Mansfield to push for Civil Rights? Either way; we don't see courage in today’s political Parties. It's extremely divisive. And we have a system that flounders because individuals have agendas to maintain power; but in the end, We the People will suffer.

Update on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 1:17PM by Manus Ferrea

I was recently told I was defending the hatered the GOP espoused for the last 8 years...  below is my response...

...the GOP and DNC are the same. In today’s society they both profit from the misfortunes of others.  The Democrats and Republicans enable their members to become bigots.  They both proselytize the evils of the other, enabling the bigotry that has becoming the center of public discourse.  There are no champions on either side of the isle espousing the value of individual liberty, the basic tenet of our country’s foundation. 

We are thus, thrust into a world of divisiveness; and the members of the DNC and GOP happily put on their blinders and march in lock step with the party line.  I pointed to the history of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to showcase a time in our history when members of a political party broke away from their own party and challenged the paradigms of the past; and I purposely choice a time in history when it was a group of Democrats challenging other Democrats.  Because to have control of the government, such as the Democrats have now and as they had in 1963, comes with a greater responsibility to the People; not just the Party.  At the moment, I only see politicians sticking to the party line. 

Is this political divisiveness really a good thing for the country?  Is the finger pointing working for anyone?  Is the disenfranchisement of 49% of the population a positive step in our political history?  Since 1860, there was never a time more tenuous; but through the goggles of history, do I look and speculate