spackle:

levelheaded - Byrd's obit will almost *certainly* contain references to his KKK past, and then go on to say he renounced his association with them and show how he changed. Helms was a racist through and through, never attempted redemption, and thus deserves more scorn than Byrd. Do you disagree?

I forget the guy's name (early onset Alzheimer's, don't you know) but maybe it was George Wallace. The guy was Governor of Alabama and famous for the comment where he vowed "never to be out-niggered again." As I understand it, he repented and went on to win the Governor's office (with the NAACP's blessing, if I recall correctly). So here's another guy whose efforts to atone should -- correctly -- be noted in his eulogy.