Blurted Out Conviction of the Week: Trent Lott (Legs Folks)

Slate ^ | Friday, December 6, 2002, at 1:54 PM PT | Timothy Noah

[BillCompton]

chatterbox
Blurted Out Conviction of the Week: Trent Lott
What's a little segregationism among friends?
By Timothy Noah
Posted Friday, December 6, 2002, at 1:54 PM PT

"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 of followed our lead we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."

—Trent Lott at Strom Thurmond's 100^th birthday party, as reported Dec. 6 in ABC News' political Weblog, The Note. To watch a video of the festivities, click here.

"I want to tell you, ladies and gentleman, that there's not enough troops in the army to force the southern people to break down segregation and admit the Nigra race into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes, and into our churches."

 —Strom Thurmond, then-governor of  South Carolina, in a speech from his 1948 "Dixiecrat" presidential campaign. To hear an audio clip, click here.
Article URL: http://slate.msn.com/?id=2075151

[BillCompton]

We need to discuss this folks.

[an amused spectator]

Oh, the horror.

I guess only Democrats like the racist Robert Byrd, former KKK guy, are allowed to forget their past, neh?

[William McKinley]

Lott is an idiot. Plain and simple. He is a disgrace and should resign. I am about as partisan as they come, but if I lived in Mississippi, I would vote for his opponent. First in the primary, and then in the general election if need be. And I almost never recommend voting against the Republican in a general election.

[cynicom]

Bill...

You really would have been torqued off at the Kennedys for their old mans views on Jews.

[BuddhaBoy]

You are right. It's worth losing a Senate seat to get rid of Trent Lott. He is a fool of the highest order, and we dont need him on our side.

President Bush should force him not to talk until handed a script from the White House.

[BillCompton]

Oh, the horror.
I guess only Democrats like the racist Robert Byrd, former KKK guy, are allowed to forget their past, neh?

Did Daschle suggest that if more people had joined the KKK, we wouldn't have all of the problems? No. This isn't about Thurmond. It is about Lott saying yesterday that we should have had a segregationist President elected in 1948. This isn't a case of modern standards being applied to history. Lott is the current leader. I just can't believe he said it. I guarantee this is going to be a big deal and it will cost Lott the leadership.

[Chi-townChief]

Pretty dumbass comment - it would be nice to have someone a bit more coherent for majority leader.

[William McKinley]

Indeed I would have.

[William McKinley]

Its not Thurmond's past that bothers me so much, as Lott's apparant wish that Thurmond's past was our present.

[BillCompton]

You really would have been torqued off at the Kennedys for their old mans views on Jews.

I understand your point. But the Republicans are trying to win some black votes these days and we have earned those votes. This kind of crap more than shoots us in the foot. Fortunately, it is too complex to explain to the black voters of LA so it won't affect that Senate seat, but how can this comment be explained and believed. Hell, I don't believe it and I like Trent Lott. Imagine what his enemies are going to make of this.

[cynicom]

Did you vote for the Kennedys?????

[Clara Lou]

This was an incredibly stupid remark by an incredibly stupid little man. I don't understand how he got where he is, and I wish that he were long gone-- or a Democrat.

[William McKinley]

I was too young, so we can only guess. Given the fact that I have yet to vote for a Democrat in my life though, it is likely that I would not have.

[cynicom]

Bill...

That was meant for ole Bill McKinley, whom I suspect is a socialist in drag.

[aristeides]

Yes, this was a stupid comment on Lott's part, but making a big deal of it reinforces the PC limits on expression and makes all of us less free.

[Walkin Man]

Yeah, let me repeat that:

Robert Byrd, former KKK member

I don't see anyone throwing stones at this former bedsheet-wearing, night-riding terrorist!

[cynicom]

Clara....

Most of pub conservatives were once democrats, the list is endless. Even Condi Rice is a Gary Hart Democrat. Liddy Dole is former LBJ cheerleader. Jesse Helms, Phil Gramm and on and on.

[William McKinley]

Blah blah blah.

Click on my profile and see how socialists I am.

[Catspaw]

Of course. Then again, we can only be glad Chester stopped talking before he called for the return of slavery.

[FreedomPoster]

>>it will cost Lott the leadership.

Long term, this doesn't appear to be a bad thing. Am I missing something here? . . . . .