I think a few here on FR are letting their dislike and disgust with Trent Lott's leadership (or lack thereof) cloud the real issue here -- yeah, many of us want this loser gone, but if he steps down now, we may very well lose the Senate I admit it. I am one of them. I agree that this one episode should not cost Lott his position, but I think this episode in conjunction with all the other Lott failures is more than enough to want to get rid of him.
I believe we have a better chance of losing the Senate if Lott stays, and besides that, arent we supposed to be better than that? Let the other side keep a loser for political reasons, but we dont have to be like them. Lott should go because he has done a rotten job. I consider this latest thing to be grease for his skids.
How do you figure we lose the Senate if Lott stays ? If the Democrats keep pushing this, we have ammunition to throw at them (Byrd and the "white ni**er" remark). I do think Lott should consider stepping down as Majority leader, but I don't see how he can do this without looking like he is conceding the "racist" point. The "race card" has been played over and over against the Republicans, "dragging death" commercials, black churches burning, etc. There is an unfair & untrue "racist" smear against Republicans -- which the media does nothing to rectify. Why wasn't Byrd dragged through the press after his remark ? Why hasn't CNN and Chris Matthews played the tape of Roger Clinton using the "N" word repeatedly ? We can't win either way -- if Lott goes on TV screaming that he's being unfairly treated and that he's not a racist, it will drag this debacle out -- it's like trying to prove that you don't beat your wife. Daschle gave Lott a "pass" at first, because he knows the "racist" charge can't stand. There is NOTHING in Lott's record or behavior to indicate that he is a racist - he's dumb YES, but that's not the same thing
If you can come up with a way for Lott to step down as Leader without making things worse -- tell me what it is ?