Lott makes full apology as storm continues

The Financial Times ^ | December 13, 2002 | James Harding and Jeff Pruzan

[MadIvan]

Trent Lott on Friday succumbed to pressure to confront the television cameras and make a full-blown apology, in an attempt to cling on to his position as Republican leader in the Senate.

During a 10-minute speech in his home territory of Pascagoula, Mississippi, Mr Lott called racism and segregation "a stain on our nation’s soul" that "represents one of the lowest moments in our nation’s history".

But, while he promised to "work to undo the hurt that I have caused", Mr Lott made little comment regarding the future during his prepared remarks.

"I am not about to resign for an accusation that I'm something that I am not," Mr Lott said during a question-and-answer period.

The day after President George W. Bush rebuked the Mississippi senator for comments that appeared to endorse old segregationist policies, Mr Lott broke off his Florida holiday to call a press conference to explain himself.

Mr Lott has been at the centre of a gathering storm in the days since he made a wistful remark about Strom Thurmond's pro-segregationist platform at the head of the Dixiecrat presidential ticket in 1948.

Speaking at a 100th birthday party for Mr Thurmond, Mr Lott said: "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."

Until Friday Mr Lott had issued an apology only through his Senate office and on his website. White House officials along with Republican colleagues had suggested that he make a personal and public explanation of his comments. Democrats, civil rights activists, some Republicans and newspaper editorial writers across the US have demanded Mr Lott's resignation, spurred on by Thursday's condemnation of his comments by Mr Bush.

Defenders of Mr Lott explain his tribute to Mr Thurmond as a mistaken moment of exuberant flattery. Even those who are disgusted by Mr Lott's apparently sympathetic recollection of the pro-segregation Dixiecrat platform suggest the white, 61-year-old Mississippi senator is a product of his generation and his geography. But the furore has served as an uncomfortable reminder of the split personality of the modern Republican party on race: The party of Abraham Lincoln has since the 1960s deftly positioned itself to appeal to closet Confederates disenchanted with the Democrats.

When Richard Nixon ran for the presidency in 1968 his team devised a "southern strategy" intended to cherry-pick conservative white voters deserting the Democratic party in protest at its embrace of civil rights legislation.

In the years since, the Republicans have occasionally appeared to do just enough to court the racist remnants of the south, but not enough to offend the party's abolitionist heritage and the liberals in the north. Ronald Reagan appealed to whites campaigning in Mississippi in 1980 when he positioned himself as a defender of "states' rights", the coded language of the old Confederacy.

Mr Bush himself sought to appeal to southern conservatives during the fierce election battle against John McCain in the South Carolina primary in 2000. Mr Bush took his campaign to Bob Jones university, a Christian college known for once banning inter-racial dating.

[MadIvan]

The FT just put this up. Anyway, I don't believe Trent Lott is a racist; he should be tossed on his ear for being a fool, something which was proved in spades during impeachment.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[facedown]

Bump

[My2Cents]

...in an attempt to cling on to his position as Republican leader in the Senate.

Well, there's the bottom line, isn't it...Did Lott apologize because it was the right thing to do, or because he's worried about his position as Sen. Majority Leader? Also, to call racism and segregation one of the lowest "moments" in US history is another potentially explosive statement. Segregation took nearly 200 years to address -- hardly a moment.

[Enterprise]

What I enjoyed was how he heavily emphasized that Jim Jeffords doesn't think he is racist! LOL! It seems that Jumpin Jim Jeffords is now LOTT's bestest swellest friend in the whole wide world! This is too FUNNY! And as I recall, Jumpin Jim Jeffords was the darling of the media when he went independent and supported the RATS. So, it begs the question, "Will J J J still be the darling of the liberals?"

[MadIvan]

Lott should simply not be Senate Majority Leader; anyone who's been paying attention since Impeachment knew this.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

What I enjoyed was how he heavily emphasized that Jim Jeffords doesn't think he is racist! LOL! It seems that Jumpin Jim Jeffords is now LOTT's bestest swellest friend in the whole wide world!

Jeffords and Lott are pretty lonely these days, I dare say. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Enterprise]

"Jeffords and Lott are pretty lonely these days, I dare say"

Perhaps it is time for them join the lonely farts club.

[MadIvan]

Perhaps it is time for them join the lonely farts club.

This appears to be a good week for lonely politicians - Lott, Jeffords and Gore - one more and they can form a new barbershop quartet.

Regards, Ivan

[Williams]

Republicans are losing it again! Did you read this article and the NYT today??? The Republican party is appealing to "closet confederates" Really??? You mean secessionists?? And the "white Southern conservatives" vote Republican purely for bigotry??

The DEMOCRATS were the white southern racists. Republicans get votes on issues such as pro-life, cut taxes, strong military - all important issues that the national dems turned against. There was nothing racist about Nixon's election. Wallace was a Democrat turned Independent third party candidate who siphoned off DEMOCRAT racist voters in the Southern states.

We have got to stop this nonsense. When did Rerpublicans EVER support segregation or racism? It's nonsense and the thing that really angers me is that Southern Democrats were the true dyed in the wool racists.

[Revolting cat!]

The whole thing has been like a absurdist play! After all, nothing happened! O.J. Simpson didn't murder again, Winona didn't shoplift, Michael Jackson didn't dangle "his" baby out a window, Elizabeth Taylor didn't get married again, Rolling Stones are still on tour and Guns'n'Roses aren't! And unfortunately, the saccarine Mc Graw Hill couple is still around to torture our aural senses! No, nuttin 'appened, sumbuddy jus' said sumpin!

Trent Lott should have said he is suffering from the Tourette Syndrome paint himself a victim of a disease, a victim of something like the rest of Americans!

[MadIvan]

We have got to stop this nonsense. When did Rerpublicans EVER support segregation or racism? It's nonsense and the thing that really angers me is that Southern Democrats were the true dyed in the wool racists.

You are assuming the Democrats actually take the issue of racism seriously - rather they are just using Lott's gaffe against him in the most effective manner they can find. He was daft to make the gaffe in the first place.

Regards, Ivan

[Jaidyn]

I don't think Trent is a racist and I'm not gung-ho about him being SML, either. The issue for me at this point is how the republicans reacted to the situation and how they will handle it once they get settled down. Why is it conservatives in goverment over-react when it is our own and under-react when the liberals act up? And why wait until you are slapped in the face with ineptness? This latest blow could have been averted had they spoken up and told it like it is. If they want to get rid of Lott, there are a lot more valid issues to choose from.

[Grampa Dave]

Here is the satellite picture of this huge storm that is continuing to head for Senator Lott:

Out here on the wet West Coast, we are more than ready for this damn storm to head into DC and cleanse everything there.

[Revolting cat!]

Oops, there should of been a comma somewhere there!

[Grampa Dave]

Right on and pictured below is one of the Rats Racist Senators in his favorite sheet er suit!

[Republican Red]

Question for those more informed than I -

Since Lott was re-elected three weeks ago as Majority Leader for the 2003 Senate session, if he does not resign can the Republican Senators take another vote in January (or before) - or are the stuck until next year?

[dfwgator]

A Senate Majority Leader should never have to apologize, someone in this position has little margin for error.

[Chuck N]

Maybe good ol' boy Trent is really a democrat in disquise. Maybe he plotted with Tom Daschle on this whole debacle. He doesn't want progress because progress would mean less pork and pork is what Trent Lott cares about most. Getting it for his family, his cronies and the people of Mississippi. Can anyone believe the man is so stupid to get up there and say what he said. He's definitely a RINO in my book. He's given away the farm to many times in my estimation and no one has had the gonads to call him to the carpet for it. Times up. He needs to put his tail between his legs, sit down and worry about pork in a diminished capacity. I don't feel sympathic for him at all. I feel bad for the country because people want less government and real reform but when the politicians get to Washington they get corrupted by all that fat money and they start feeling special. Just like, "I'll say what I feel" Lott. What a mess. I'm telling you, he's a democrat. Isn't his brother in law one of the heavy hitters in the tobacco litigation money grab. Trent Lott is a closet democrat.

[My2Cents]

Actually, when I saw reference to a "full-blown" apology, and a "stain" on the nation, I thought the article was about Bill Clinton.