White House turns up the heat on Lott

Washington Times ^ | 12/17/02 | Bill Sammon

[kattracks]

The White House yesterday repeated its sharp criticism of Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, calling his praise of Sen. Strom Thurmond's 1948 presidential campaign "repugnant," and declined to defend him against a challenge to his leadership.

Some Republicans began to grumble that the administration's harsh criticism of Mr. Lott, after first offering only mild criticism and assurances of support, had prolonged the controversy and emboldened critics on both sides of the aisle.

[Salvation]

I hate the thought of all this dragging through the news each day until January 6, 2003.

[TLBSHOW]

But the White House steadfastly refused to take sides if there is a Republican challenge to Mr. Lott's leadership.

There lies the problem.

[TLBSHOW]

Time for a war?

[Torie]

Wrong again. The WH has taken sides.

[ImphClinton]

I agree. How can anyone defend this statement.

"I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."

He is still proud of his state having voted for segaration. We would be better of if he won. I don't think so. This could have eaisly lead to another civil war.

That anyone could say such a thing in 2002 amazes me. That after everyone telling him what the statement ment he still justifies it boggles my mind. Lott needs to go yesterday. Let the voters decide wether he stays in the Senate another term though. A centure is also obviously necessary at this point. Of Lott, Jesse Jackson, Byrd and anyone else who has said racial things recently.

[TLBSHOW]

do tell. which side, rat liberal or conservative

[Torie]

Bush and I are on the same side on this.

[TLBSHOW]

well Bush says he stays from what I have read

[FranklinsTower]

If Lott stays, then that could be the pretext for some Senators and other GOP politicians to leave the Republican party. Lott threatening to leave the Senate is not the only way the Senate can change party hands. Furthermore, if he stays, he is far too compromised as a leader to be able to play hardball with the dims. Finally, if he threatens to quit the Senate, why does he all the sudden have the gall and spine to play hardball with the GOP and not the DNC? This is a losing proposition all around.

The move that does the least long term damage is for him to resign as ML or vote him out -- even at the risk of him leaving the Senate like a cry baby. This is a very sad case of doing what is right is not what is fair. I do not believe Lott is a racist, but it was his stupid gaffe to begin with. Unfortunately, the price for the gaffe has been artificially inflated beyod all reasonable measures of punishments fitting the crime. Even more unfortunate, is that the price of being bogged down in this swamp while we have a multi front war going on is way too great a risk to bear for our country's future -- the highest priority at this time. Hopfully, Lott has the mental maturity to see this.

[TLBSHOW]

Those conservatives who think Republicans are going to end this by making Lott a sacrificial lamb have another think coming. By discarding Lott without satisfying themselves of his culpability, Republicans not only will not be cleansing themselves in the minds of their accusers. They will be abetting the cause of tainting the entire Republican Party by allowing Lott's guilt to be established largely by association (with Republicans).


Eventually Republicans are going to have to deal with these incessant, outrageous allegations that they are racists. And getting rid of Lott isn't dealing with them.


DAVID LIMBAUGH

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/807797/posts?page=17#17

[TLBSHOW]

LOTT STAYS OF COURSE

[kcvl]

But 24 hours later, after both the New York Times and The Washington Post urged that Republicans replace Mr. Lott as their leader, the administration's position changed dramatically.

I am so finished with Pres. Bush. I am sorry I wasted my time, effort and money on him. He is no conservative and he is not the person that he claims to be. Pandering to a bunch of lefties is not exactly what I thought I was voting for. Stabbing someone in the back is certainly not what I expected from him.

Maybe he can attend a few more mosques and tell others that it's a "religion of peace", ignore the christian conservatives and expect to get our votes. I'm sorry but he is mistaken. The truth is many of them stayed home in the Louisiana election(while the entire Bush Adm. campaigned for days) and many more will stay home when he runs again.