It was definitely a lapse on his part and he shouldn't have said it. He was simply trying to compliment Senator Thurmond. BUT THEN, HE APOLOGIZED IMMEDIATELY. Still, he was eventually forced out of his position as majority leader by the MSM.
Contrast that to Hillary's over-the-line comments about the "plantation". They were profoundly racist. She gets a pass by the MSM.
"...She gets a pass by the MSM."
Yep. But while radio dial surfing this morning I did hear Bob of Bob and Sherry (syndicated radio drive time "humor" show) say that Hillary was being so stupid with her plantation remarks. Of course Bob and Sherry combined have the IQ of a backward clam but still they are TRENDY and saw HC's remarks as political negatives.