Lott Decried For Part Of Salute to Thurmond(Senate Leader Hails Colleague's Run As Segregationist)

Washington Post ^ | 12/07/2002 | Thomas B. Edsall

[KQQL]

Senate Republican leader Trent Lott of Mississippi has provoked criticism by saying the United States would have been better off if then-segregationist candidate Strom Thurmond had won the presidency in 1948.

Speaking Thursday at a 100th birthday party and retirement celebration for Sen. Thurmond (R-S.C.) in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Lott said, "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."

[Catspaw]

I didn't think it was a throwaway remark--that's your take on it, not mine. Either you're spinning for Lott or you agree with him on segegration or both.

I thought it was a remark made out of stupidity and that's how the crowd reacted (the WP article said some on the crowd gasped, then fell silent, which is what I heard when I watched it on CSpan). And I made no one's point. If Lott is yearning to go back to segegration, I think he's going to have ample opportunity to expound on that point by he and the rest of the Republican leadership being asked about it by various reporters (this is only beginning to get traction). Some may be Lott apologists, like you, or perhaps you yearn to go back to segration yourself. Some may be a bit more critical of Lott, like me, for the stupidity of his remarks--and I have no desire to go back to segregation.

[rodeocowboy]

I hate to say this, but I hope that this is just the thing that removes him from leader's position. Senator Lott is OK, but he just seems too wishy-washy on positions and sounds like a used car salesman when on TV.

[John W]

Well,thank you for giving me a choice between being a defender of a terrible majority/minority leader or a segregationist.You're too kind.I took it as a throw-away remark because it didn't even dawn on me the supposed racist aspects to it until I saw this thread.We are so far removed from those times that I don't think you have to wear your non-bigotry on your sleeve.I don't spend my every waking moment feeling guilty for what my ancestors-or yours-may have thought and practiced in what was a totally different time.My point is,he simply said something that was foolish upon review,and punishing speech is not a good slope to get on.because,your speech or mine could be next and who knows who the speech police might be.

[Catspaw]

Unless the man is tone-deaf, which I suspect he is, he had to have noticed his gaffe when people in the audience gasped & fell silent--Lott may have been oblivious to his remarks, but others are paying attention. It would be optimistic to think that only Lott is going to pay the consequences for his televised remarks, but he won't, because he's the Majority Leader (or soon to be) of the United States Senate. Others in the Republican Party leadership are going to be asked about his remarks and asked if they agree with the remarks or disagree, and asked by reporters to expound on their views. The Dems will use this against the Republican Party and will use this with a vengeance against the GOP at a time they were wooing blacks to the party.

If can't see the ripple effect of Lott's remarks, you're as blind as Lott is tone-deaf.

[cajun-jack]

we put up with him ?? cause he is just so cute in his little tutu and slippers.

[John W]

OK.I'll take the third choice,I'm blind.

[danelectro]

Lott handed it to the Dems on a silver platter. No distortion of this statement is needed to start the "Republicans are racist" cry once again.

i wonder if we will see a bump in the black vote turnout in la today?

does anyone know how/if this is receiving airtime out there?

[blackbart1]

I'm not exactly a Lott lover but what a silly thing to get all worked up about. He was probably just trying to salute a friend and colleague. And who knows he might be right.

[William McKinley]

I am one who thinks this may be a disasterous misstep by Lott. But I can't see it impacting Louisiana. It comes too late- there won't be time to get ads out or to get the media drums beating.

[afuturegovernor]

I watched this birthday tribute and it was a throw-away line that didn't mean diddly.

I saw it too - anyone who actually saw Strom's birthday party would have agreed that it is getting blown up by the left wingers trying to make it a racial issue.

[Deport Billary]

Lott isn't very bright to say that type of thing in his position ... but I'm not going to have a spontaneous dump over it. Public schools haven't exactly benefited from integration. I understand the sentiment but he should've kept it to himself.

[Deport Billary]

Wait ... wasn't Trent seven years old in 1948?

[Non-Sequitur]

Check your dates again. The Voting Rights act was passed in 1965 and Thurmond switched to the GOP in 1964.

[BnBlFlag]

Listen up! If the so called "Dixiecrats" had not moved enmasse to the GOP. the South would still be Demo and the Republican party would be finished.