Gallup: Americans Critical of Lott, Plurality believes he should step down as Senate leader

Gallup ^ | 12/19/02 | Gallup Poll Analysis

[Jean S]

PRINCETON, NJ -- Recent news reports suggest that President Bush would like Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., to step down from his leadership position in the U.S. Senate because of the senator's comments at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party. Those comments seemed to praise Thurmond's 1948 segregationist presidential platform, stimulating a great deal of bipartisan criticism and a plummet in Lott's popularity among Americans, according to the latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll.

While Lott has declared his determination to resist efforts to prevent him from becoming the Senate majority leader next year when the Republicans take control of the Senate, the poll finds that few Americans support him. A plurality says Senate Republicans should replace Lott as their leader, although a plurality also says that Lott should not resign from his Senate seat altogether. The poll finds that Lott has created a negative public perception about his view of blacks -- with a plurality saying he is prejudiced -- that is not extended to Bush or Republicans in general. And by drawing attention to Thurmond's 1948 segregationist presidential platform, Lott's flattery has also tarred Thurmond's public image.

The poll, conducted Dec. 16-17, finds that 57% of Americans have followed the news stories about Lott's controversial comments either very or somewhat closely, which is about average for news stories that Gallup has measured over the past several years. These stories have apparently caused a drop in Lott's popularity, as 49% of Americans now say they have an unfavorable opinion of the senator, up from 29% in 2001. Just 21% now have a favorable view of Lott.

Opinion of Republican Leader Trent Lott

Given the 18-month lag in Gallup's measurement of Lott's popularity, it is possible that other factors could have contributed to the decline. However, no other events in the past year and a half have embroiled the senator in the kind of controversy that his recent remarks have generated. In the several measures taken from 1997 through 2001, Americans consistently gave him a slightly more positive than negative rating. In the latest poll, his ratings are dramatically more negative than any of the previous ratings.

While Thurmond's ratings are also lower than they were last year, the net decline has not been as pronounced as the decline for Lott. Currently, 26% have a favorable view of Thurmond, while 41% express an unfavorable view. In March 2001, the rating was a net positive, 29% to 27%. These figures represent a net negative shift of 17 percentage points, compared with a net negative shift of 33 points for Lott.

The lower ratings for Lott are found among Republicans as well as among independents and Democrats. The following graph shows Lott's net popularity rating, the percent favorable minus the percent unfavorable, for the three groups. While the net scores are considerably higher among Republicans than independents, and among independents than Democrats, all three groups show a precipitous decline.

Lott’s Net Popularity Rating (Percent Favorable Minus Percent Unfavorable)
Compared by Party

The poll also shows that on a more procedural level, just under half of all Americans, 47%, say the Senate Republicans should replace Lott as their leader, while 30% disagree. Another 23% have no opinion on the matter.

What Should the Republicans Do?

Republicans are evenly divided on the issue, with 41% in favor of replacing Lott and 40% for keeping him. Independents and Democrats, however, are much more likely to say the Republicans should remove him than keep him -- by a 15-point margin among independents, and a 37-point margin among Democrats.

Despite wanting him to step down as Senate leader, Americans do not feel Lott should resign his seat and leave the Senate altogether. By 45% to 36%, they say he should stay in office, and 19% express no opinion.

Do You Think Lott Should Resign?

Majorities of Republicans and Democrats take opposing positions, with Republicans saying Lott should not resign his Senate seat by 63% to 23%, and Democrats calling for him to resign his seat by 52% to 29%. Independents lean toward Lott's staying in office, by 42% to 35%.

Is Lott Prejudiced?

In the wake of the criticisms that Lott's remarks caused, Americans are more likely to say that Lott is prejudiced against blacks (45%) than say he is not prejudiced (30%), with the rest expressing no opinion. By comparison, when asked about Bush, and more generally about Republicans and Democrats in Congress, as well as Republican and Democratic voters, Americans are much more positive. Large majorities of Americans say each of those groups is not prejudiced.

Prejudiced or Not?

Despite these results, most Americans (62%) believe that Lott's praise of Thurmond did not indicate that Lott endorsed segregationist policies, but rather that Lott just made a poor choice of words. Democrats are about evenly divided on the issue, while large majorities of both independents and Republicans say Lott's comments were mostly a bad choice of words.

Lott’s Comments:
Endorsed Segregationist Policies or
Just a Poor Choice of Words?

Survey Methods

The latest results are based on telephone interviews with 1,009 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Dec. 16-17, 2002. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

How closely have you been following the news stories about the remarks made by Senate Republican Leader Trent

Lott in the last couple of weeks -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?

	Very closely	Somewhat closely	Not too closely	Not at all	No opinion
2002 Dec 16-17	23%	34	23	20	*

Based on what you have heard or read, do you think Senate Republicans should -- [ROTATED: replace Trent Lott as their party's leader in the Senate, (or should they) keep Trent Lott at their party's leader in the Senate]?

	Replace Lott	Keep Lott	No opinion
	%	%	%
National Adults
2002 Dec 16-17	47	30	23
Republicans
2002 Dec 16-17	41	40	19
Independents
2002 Dec 16-17	45	30	25
Democrats
2002 Dec 16-17	56	19	25

Do you think Trent Lott should -- or should not -- resign his Senate seat and leave the Senate?

	Yes, should	No, should not	No opinion
	%	%	%
National Adults
2002 Dec 16-17	36	45	19
Republicans
2002 Dec 16-17	23	63	14
Independents
2002 Dec 16-17	35	42	23
Democrats
2002 Dec 16-17	52	29	19

Based on what you have heard or read, do you think each of the following are -- [ROTATED: prejudiced

against blacks (or) not prejudiced against blacks]? How about -- [ITEM A READ, THEN ITEMS B-F

ROTATED]?

A. Trent Lott

	Prejudiced	Not prejudiced	No opinion
	%	%	%
National Adults
2002 Dec 16-17	45	30	25
Republicans
2002 Dec 16-17	29	48	23
Independents
2002 Dec 16-17	46	26	28
Democrats
2002 Dec 16-17	60	15	25

B. George W. Bush

	Prejudiced	Not prejudiced	No opinion
National Adults
2002 Dec 16-17	16	73	11
Republicans
2002 Dec 16-17	1	94	5
Independents
2002 Dec 16-17	16	69	15
Democrats
2002 Dec 16-17	32	54	14

C. Most Republicans in Congress

	Prejudiced	Not prejudiced	No opinion
	%	%	%
National Adults
2002 Dec 16-17	22	62	16
Republicans
2002 Dec 16-17	6	80	14
Independents
2002 Dec 16-17	26	56	18
Democrats
2002 Dec 16-17	34	50	16

D. Most Democrats in Congress

	Prejudiced	Not prejudiced	No opinion
	%	%	%
National Adults
2002 Dec 16-17	12	74	14
Republicans
2002 Dec 16-17	12	73	15
Independents
2002 Dec 16-17	15	68	17
Democrats
2002 Dec 16-17	9	82	9

E. Most Republican voters

	Prejudiced	Not prejudiced	No opinion
	%	%	%
National Adults
2002 Dec 16-17	22	60	18
Republicans
2002 Dec 16-17	7	80	13
Independents
2002 Dec 16-17	22	56	22
Democrats
2002 Dec 16-17	38	44	18

F. Most Democratic voters

	Prejudiced	Not prejudiced	No opinion
	%	%	%
National Adults
2002 Dec 16-17	11	75	14
Republicans
2002 Dec 16-17	13	71	16
Independents
2002 Dec 16-17	15	68	17
Democrats
2002 Dec 16-17	7	85	8

SUMMARY TABLE: PREJUDICE AGAINST BLACKS (BASED ON "NATIONAL ADULTS")

2002 Dec 16-17 (sorted on "prejudiced")	Prejudiced	Not prejudiced
	%	%
Trent Lott	45	30
Most Republican voters	22	60
Most Republicans in Congress	22	62
George W. Bush	16	73
Most Democrats in Congress	12	74
Most Democratic voters	11	75

Based on what you have heard or read, which comes closer to your view about the remarks Trent Lott made at the recent birthday party for Senator Strom Thurmond -- [ROTATED: Lott really believes the country would have been better off if it elected a president in 1948 who endorsed segregationist policies, (or do you think) Lott made a poor choice of words and did not mean to endorse segregationist policies]?

BASED ON --847-- ADULTS WHO ARE FOLLOWING STORY OF LOTT'S REMARKS

		Believes	Poor choice of words	No opinion
		%	%	%
National Adults
2002 Dec 16-17		30	62	8
Republicans
2002 Dec 16-17		12	78	10
Independents
2002 Dec 16-17		33	62	5
Democrats
2002 Dec 16-17		47	44	9
^	Based on --311-- Republicans, --273-- independents, and --262-- Democrats who are following the story of Lott's comments (MoE=±7%)

[RLK]

Gallup: Americans Critical of Lott, Plurality believes he should step down as Senate leader

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The pluralits will believe what they are programmed to believe and will do what they are programmed to do. I havent seen such intense attempt to create mass hysteria since Watergate. Then, initially few people cared. As people were repeatedly bombarded with hysteria, they were drawn in. The same is true with the Lott spectacle.

[over3Owithabrain]

What were those facts again? No personal attacks please.

[FairOpinion]

"
I havent seen such intense attempt to create mass hysteria since Watergate. "

----
I agree. In fact what I found remarkable were the answers to the last question, that despite of the bombardment of people with media hysteria, most people still realize that Lott's expression was indeed merely a poor choice of words:

"Despite these results, most Americans (62%) believe that Lott's praise of Thurmond did not indicate that Lott endorsed segregationist policies, but rather that Lott just made a poor choice of words. Democrats are about evenly divided on the issue, while large majorities of both independents and Republicans say Lott's comments were mostly a bad choice of words."

In my opinion, that indicates, that the whole thing would blow over, if the Republicans would step up and make it clear to the circling vultures, that no matter what they shriek, they are keeping Lott ML, PERIOD. Once they realize that it has no effect, the hysteria would die down, since the American people aren't buying the whole package.

If they are successuful, then they will tarr and feather the entire Republican party with the racist label and we never hear the end of it. Republicans need to read and ponder Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson's statements, who does see things clearly.

[Jean S]

What were those facts again? No personal attacks please.

Please explain, this comment makes no sense. Thanks.

[over3Owithabrain]

It was directed to a specific poster if you noticed, not you or anyone else. Sorry if it confused you, they will know what i mean.

[ambrose]

Lott has thrown gasoline on the fire at every step of the way. His endorsement of affirmative action only confirms that he is indeed a racist.

[RLK]

Gallup: Americans Critical of Lott, Plurality believes he should step down as Senate leader

---------------------------

The definition of racism wanders about a bit. Blacks and leftists have their definition which they use to their advantage. Conservative have developed a type of inverse definition which they try to make stick.

Basically, this country has been treed by blacks and the media and anyone who doesn't claim to be ecstatic about blacks and their life style is made to wallow in guilt and hysteria. It's an issue created and maintained in the virtual reality of the media. Lott is now feeling pressure from that and is kissing some behinds big time in a futile effort to extracate himself. Now that he is dancing to the tune his weakness will be exploited and he will destroy himself with more ludicrous dancing.

[ambrose]

Lott doesn't know what to do or say in this situation because he has no core inner believes to fall back on.

[ambrose]

Lott doesn't know what to do or say in this situation because he has no core inner beliefs to fall back on.

[RLK]

In my opinion, that indicates, that the whole thing would blow over, if the Republicans would step up and make it clear to the circling vultures, that no matter what they shriek, they are keeping Lott ML, PERIOD.

---------------------------------------------

What needs to be done is to stand up and tell the vultures, including the demanding 70% out of wedlock celebrating blacks, to stick it where the sun doesn't shine. If we did We might get more than 48% voter turnouts for presidential elections. For nearly 40 years this nation has practiced absurd levels of denial and groveling self-hating compliance which is destroying blacks, whites, and the nation.

[Elkiejg]

What needs to be done is to stand up and tell the vultures, including the demanding 70% out of wedlock celebrating blacks, to stick it where the sun doesn't shine. If we did We might get more than 48% voter turnouts for presidential elections. For nearly 40 years this nation has practiced absurd levels of denial and groveling self-hating compliance which is destroying blacks, whites, and the nation.

WELL SAID!!!! I am so sick and tired of special treatment for some groups - blacks, gays, etc., etc. I'm an elderly, white, female, part Cherokee - can I have special treatment? Certainly I fit in as an "endangered" group.

[Always Right]

See what a two-week media campaign can do when its all dump Trent Lott all the time on the news. I think he held up pretty well.

[RLK]

Lott doesn't know what to do or say in this situation because he has no core inner beliefs to fall back on.

------------------------

Look, on another thread I wrote the following:

I've lost patience with this crap. I'll say it and get flammed or banned for it. Spike Lee, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, their even being tolerated by blacks, Martin Luther King's being in the rack with several other women other than his wife just before he was killed while demanding to be looked at for his character rather than the color of his skin, a 70% out of wedlock birth rate, NAACP leader Kweisi Mufume's having had five different children by five different women whom he all deserted, have proveded solid supportive evidence that Lott's comments were essentially correct.

We have destroyed our educational system, given up personal rights to personal association and other important rights that no people wanting to remain free should ever give up, been subjected to constant bullying an allowed our personal lives to be forcefully subjected to review and approval, been forced to have our businesses examined for quotas regardless of quality, excluded whites with superior achievement records from hiring or from entry into educational institutions, converted the nation into a Marxist welfare state, and generally shit all over ourselves in self-hatred to meet black demands and pay for black irresponsibility which have increased as they have been tolerated and subsidized. It is destroying this nation. It is being mislabeled civil rights and equality.

---------------

Every word of that is absolutely true. Surprisingly enough I received an e-mail of agreement from black columnist Larry Elder upon saying that elsewhere. But so-called conservatives on this forum went into hysterics that lasted for hours and called for my banning. If I can't address such real issues here, what can be expected of Lott in the face of criticism from a '60s love-in president who declares Islam to be a religion of peace? As far as I'm concerned those issues are what Lott was referring to in a slip of the tongue in which the truth came out.

[Uncle Bill]

"What needs to be done is to stand up and tell the vultures, including the demanding 70% out of wedlock celebrating blacks, to stick it where the sun doesn't shine. If we did We might get more than 48% voter turnouts for presidential elections. For nearly 40 years this nation has practiced absurd levels of denial and groveling self-hating compliance which is destroying blacks, whites, and the nation."

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George W. Bush Can't Wait To Sign More Affirmative Action Legislation

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SPOILED BLACKS - What We Don't Dare Discuss

Democrats plan to use Lott gaffe to push civil rights agenda in Congress
"Trent Lott is the cue stick by which we engage in our game of billiards," said Rev. Joseph Lowery, former head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and president of the Black Leadership Council."

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. - Congressional Record - CPUSA
"King's patterns of associations and activities described in this report show that, at the least, he had no strong objection to Communism, that he appears to have welcomed collaboration with Communists, and that he and his principal vehicle, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), were subject to influence and manipulation by Communists. The conclusion must be that Martin Luther King, Jr. was either an irresponsible individual, careless of his own reputation and that of the civil rights movement for integrity and loyalty, or that he knowingly cooperated and sympathized with subversive and totalitarian elements under the control of a hostile foreign power."

Democrats "Use" Blacks To Advance A Radical Left-Wing Socialist Agenda

---

I Don’t Want to be Black Anymore

Civil-rights violations

Get out your reparations calculator

---

Who stated the following:

"Government ought to have a policy that helps people with a downpayment."

A. - OR - B.

Answer

You are not hallucinating, he really wants to have the government provide downpayments.

W. SAYS HE'LL HELP BLACKS BUY HOMES

Bush to Propose Another $100 Million Over Five Years for Education in Africa

Bush to Propose $500M AIDS Funding

'We Stand with Africa' - Bush

---

A Government Limited To What?

Kennedy 'Hate Crimes' Bill To Be Considered Soon

George W. Bush and the Homosexual Lobby

Coming to a wallet near you. Forget what you say. Now they know what you think.

"I don’t care if you have proof that he raped a woman, stood up and shot her dead, you’re still not going to get 67 votes."

Grovelling with the GOP

[Uncle Bill]

HILLARY Clinton! "F- - -ing-Jew-Bastard"

More Than Sex: The Secrets of Bill and Hillary Clinton Revealed by Arkansas State Trooper
"Ethnic Slurs about Jews. Both Hillary and Bill Clinton frequently used slurs during heated arguments with each other, Patterson said. Among the epithets they frequently hurled at each other were anti-Semitic slurs such as ‘mother f---in’ Jew’ or ‘Jew bastard’. Patterson said such references were heard frequently during the years he served the Clintons. Patterson said Clinton loved telling ethnic jokes and frequently told jokes that were anti-Semitic.

The use of the "N” word. Patterson said Bill Clinton would use the word "nigger” — the "N” word — when he was angry with African-American opponents. He recalls the use of the word in describing a black, Arkansas activist, Say McIntosh, who was critical of Clinton. Patterson said Clinton also used the "N” word during the 1992 campaign when referring to Jesse Jackson.

Clinton, according to Patterson, also tolerated use of the "N” word by senior aides and Arkansas business and political figures.

Hitler and Mein Kampf. Bill Clinton, Patterson said, spoke admiringly of Hitler and was fascinated by his book Mein Kampf."

SOURCE for following quotes:

"When people kill us, they should be killed in greater numbers. I believe in killing people who try to hurt you." - BILL CLINTON - George Stephanopoulos book All Too Human.

"I’d like to kill all of these sons of bitches and just be done with it!" - BILL CLINTON - White House staff meeting during impeachment.

"Write down the name of that motherfuc*er. When I’m back in office, he’s a dead man." - BILL CLINTON - Arkansas second campaign for governor to a campaign aide.

"I can do any Godda*ned thing I want. I’m President of the United States. I take care of my friends and I fu*k with my enemies. That’s the way it is. Anybody who doesn’t like it can take a hike." - BILL CLINTON - White House staff meeting regarding the IRS going after Kenneth Starr.

Bush Says He Wants to Let Clinton 'Move On'
"I think it's time to get all of this business behind us. I think it's time ... to allow the president to finish his term, and let him move on and enjoy life and become an active participant in the American system. And I think we've had enough focus on the past. It's time to move forward."

SENATOR ROBERT BYRD AGAIN GRAPPLES WITH KLAN CONNECTION