Posted on 12/12/2002 4:53:46 PM PST by Political Numbers Guy
The Price of Survival
Senator Lott’s apology on Sean Hannity’s radio show was nicely said. Three days ago, it would have killed the whole controversy. Now I fear it will not. And I fear something else too: That Lott will try to save himself by jettisoning the conservative agenda in the Senate.
Democrats are only too willing to offer Lott just such a deal. Here is what Senator Joe Lieberman had to say yesterday:
Lott “needs to speak from his moral center and make clear his commitment to racial equality. One way to do that would be to go beyond issuing another apology and meet directly with the members of the Congressional Black Caucus and show that he understands the hurt his comments have caused.”
And how best to salve that hurt? Another Democrat, Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi proposed (as the New Republic noted) that Lott buy forgiveness by backing an increase in the minimum wage and federal housing programs, and by backing an expansive prescription drug benefit.
Some leading Republicans are getting ready to pay up. Marc Racicot, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, has agreed to meet with Al Sharpton, to hear the thuggish reverend’s “concerns” about Lott’s insensitivity.
Suddenly the future looks dismally predictable, doesn’t it? Over the next two years, Congress must deal with a number of racially charged issues. Welfare reform must be reauthorized. Congress will probably be called to respond to a Supreme Court decision severely limiting racial preferences in higher education. There will be contentious judicial nominations, very likely a Supreme Court nomination. And through it all, the Republican party will be led in the Senate by a leader who owes his survival to the sufferance of his political opponents.
Can Lott be replaced? It’s hard to see how. No Republican Senator will challenge him for leadership when the Congress meets in January – the Senate just doesn’t work that way. Nor will Lott resign, unless the White House tells him he must, which is again extremely hard to envision. The likeliest result is that Lott will keep his job, but will do it in an even more half-hearted way than he did in 1995-2001. All those bold, unapologetic conservatives who believe that Republicans should rally around Lott and not yield the Democrats an inch should understand: The party will probably be able to save him – but only by selling you out.
There it is, folks. The unvarnished truth, and well-said at that. Any vestige of a spine that Trent Lott had after the election is now gone.
Somebody needs to stick a horse head in his bed.
Yes, sounds like we're headed for a repeat of Bush 41's disgraceful signing of the quota bill with that idiot Corretta King singing "We Shall Overcome" as the poverty pimps reveled in yet another victory over feckless RINOs.
The GOP needs to throw Lott to the back bench and get on with tearing the Democrats to pieces with permanant tax cuts, tort reform and "right-wing" judges as far as the eye can see. They must refuse to give Dems equal committee funding despite that phony Orrin Hatch's unholy alliance with the traitor Leahy. They must stomp their way to victory, proclaiming "MANDATE!" and having Bush pound Dems from the Bully Pulpit during every fillibuster.
What? Huh? Oh man, I guess I was dreaming. Look it's Marc Racicot on the phone with Jacques Chirac to learn how to surrender. Ah well, reality sucks.
"Now, I do you this small service today. Someday, and that day may never come, I'll call upon you to do a service for me."
(Think Marlon Brando as The Godfather.)
That's what Lott has always done. That's why we need him gone.
Why are we playing this game? The left won't give Lott forgiveness freely, but will allow him to BUY it? By giving them something they want? Their forgiveness comes at a price?
Screw them. This just proves their moral outrage is feigned, and that are merely riding this to see what they can get out of it. Like all Dems do...
(Say, what was your old user name here before you got run off?)
The humor of seeing the very ones who accuse Lott of caving into the PC Dems now being so anxious to cave in themselves is worth reading all this idiocy though.
For some reason, everybody thinks this is Armageddon, that blacks can forevermore blackmail Republicans.
There are a large number of Americans, of all ethnicities, who are tired of race baiting. They know it when they see it. Lott has apologized, and apologized, and apologized. At some point, those who seek to keep this alive will be seen for the race baiters and opportunists that they are.
Lott may decide to quit, on his own, down the road. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should we knuckle under to the race machine that would grind every Republican to dust.
Politics is warfare. Success in war is knowing when and where to choose one's battles and how to fight. The GOP is in a forced battle on enemy turf and there is a no win situation here. Therefore it is a question of minimizing one's losses and fighting again another day on more advantageous terms. Caving to Dem pressure or sticking with Lott is the choice and keeping Lott is the greater damage. Lott is either too egotisitic and or stubburn to resign his post for the good of the party (or the Dems are blakmailing him into staying). The Pubs never had backbone in tough spots so they will not make a bold move against Lott now. The effects of this will be far reaching.
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