Think Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton beating each up over identity politics is a rare occurrence for Democrats?

Think again.

The passing of Ohio Democratic Senator Howard Metzenbaum immediately brings us back to November 16, 1981, when the U.S. Senate voted to endorse programs of voluntary prayer and meditation in the public schools by barring the Justice Department from using federal funds to interfere with this matter.  At one point during debate,  Democratic Sen. Ernest Hollings (SC) called Metzenbaum the “Senator from B’nai B’rith.”

Oy!
You might enjoy what Hollings had to say about that incident in 2004, just before he retired:

Let me emphasize another thing because the papers are piling on and bringing up again a little difference of opinion I had on the Senate floor with Senator Metzenbaum. It was not really a difference. We were discussing a matter, and we referred to each’s religion in order to make sure there would not be any misunderstanding or tempers flaring. The distinguished Senator from North Carolina, Mr. Helms, referred to himself as the Baptist lay leader, Senator Danforth as the Episcopal priest. I referred to myself as the Lutheran Senator. And when Senator Metzenbaum came on the floor, I referred to him as the Senator from B’nai B’rith, and he took exception. He thought it was an aspersion. I told him: Wait a minute, I will gladly identify myself as the Senator from B’nai B’rith. I did not mean to hurt his feelings. I apologized at that time but not for the legitimacy and the circumstances of the particular reference.

And to think, all that occurred before Gerry Ferraro was Walter Mondale’s running-mate.