Despicable
Robert Byrd's attacking Condoleeza Rice. Power and Control has some background information on the former KKK recruiter. TFS Magnum read my thoughts:

Suppose an African American were to be nominated for Secretary of State by a Democratic Administration and 2 Republican Senators voted against that nomination. What would the news media be saying? What would NAACP say? What would the Democrats be saying? (Hint - the word starts with an "R.") So why the resounding silence? Oh, that's right, Democrats can't be racist (a priori, only conservatives are racist, liberals just believe that minorities need "help" to compete in America.) These votes are just everyday political infighting. Funny, but I don't think the media would accept that if it was coming from the other side of the senate floor.

At least some Dems are speaking out, among them Andrew Young

Black Democrats expressing support for Rice included Andrew Young, the former Atlanta mayor, congressman and United Nations ambassador in the Carter administration.

"Condoleeezza Rice not only deserves the support, but the country needs a strong, wise secretary of state with a bipartisan mandate to help establish democracy not only in Iraq but around the world," Young said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Young also suggested that the nation is not well served by having Democrats chip away at Dr. Rice's integrity just as she is about to take her place on the world stage

Michael King has more on the story.