Kerry Praises 'N'-word-using Colleague as 'Eloquent'

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry had words of praise on Sunday for Sen. Robert Byrd, calling the former Ku Klux Klansman who recently used the "n"-word during a nationally televised interview "eloquent."

"I have enormous respect for . . . Robert Byrd, who's one of the most eloquent, capable people in the Senate," Kerry told "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert, who had asked about Byrd's opposition to the war in Iraq.

But among African-Americans, the West Virginia Democrat is best known for his ham-handed attempt to explain why he thought white people could be just as bad as black people.

"There are white niggers," he told "Fox News Sunday" in March 2001. "I've seen a lot of white niggers in my time; I'm going to use that word."

Kerry, along with most other Democrats, failed to condemn Byrd's use of the anti-black slur.

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