Though I agree that Lott's wording was a case of clear stupidity by giving the 'rats ammo to use against him and the GOP, in his defense it does not appear he was saying the country would be better off under Thurmond because of segregation. Listen to Lott's whole speech - he praises Thurmond extensively for a career of fighting for conservatism in Congress, an accomplishment deserving of praise. The context of this particular comment was that Thurmond had been a lifelong advocate of smaller government, and in that context, Lott suggested government would not be the monster it is today if conservative opposition had halted its growth in the second half of this century. Though the comment sounds bad out of context, was stupidly worded, and invites others to draw associations to segregationism, Lott said nothing in praise of segregation itself.
As for the 'rats and damage control, we do need to be ready on this one...and not to save Lott's rear, but to rebut a smear of our party including its senate leader even if we find him to be an idiot. The best way is to point out hypocrisy of the 'rats, who for decades have campaigned on how much better the country is supposedly better off thanks to their own political deity's victorious runs for the presidency in 1932, 36, 40, and 44. Little mention is ever made of FDR's appalling record on race which includes, among other things, appointing a Ku Klux Klansman to the United States Supreme Court. He tapped liberal klansman Democrat Senator Hugo Black for the job in part as a reward for being a New Dealer in congress. Black had a lengthy history of white supremacist activities in Alabama and had gained much of his early political fame as a Klan attorney who successfully defended hooded terrorists who murdered a Catholic priest in Birmingham circa 1921. This was but one of FDR's many affiliations with bigots and his own racist actions as president, including ordering Japanese internment. But the Democrats proudly display his name on everything they do without penalty.