Trent Lott's Debacle - Now, Bush Must Act

December 14th, 2002 | Sabertooth

[Sabertooth]

Once again, in his own indelible words, the Republicans' Senate Majority Leader-elect:

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

~Trent Lott - December, 2002

When Strom Thurmond ran for President, he was a segregationist Dixiecrat spurred into revolt against the Democrats by Hubert Humphrey's Civil Rights plank in the '48 Democratic Party platform. Mississippi was one of four segregationist Southern States that voted for Thurmond. Segregation was the purpose and limited appeal of the Dixiecrats. It was the banner under which they marched.

The plainest sense of Lott's words are that he approves of the above.

Even though I don't believe that's what Lott meant, nor that he's a racist, that fact is inescapable. It takes backpedaling and damage control to escape the plain meaning of what Lott said and explain what's really in his heart. It's disingenuous to suggest otherwise.

The only way to for Trent Lott to address Thurmond's '48 campaign would have been to chart how far the retiring senior Senator from South Carolina has traveled in the last 54 years, and to use him as a metaphor to further illustrate how far the South and America have come. Had he done this, Lott could have simultaneously honored the Centenarian Senator and reiterated that Republicans, like the South and like America, have learned the errors of racism and segregation, and have long since embarked on a better path.

That Lott could not grasp this after decades in Washington is striking, particularly since this isn't the first time he's failed to navigate this reef. Speaking after a Thurmond speech for Ronald Reagan in 1980, then-Congressman Lott told the crowd: ""You know, if we had elected this man 30 years ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we are today."

Now, the Democrats are all over the opportunity Lott has injudiciously provided to them. That it seems unfair is irrelevant. He left himself open for the sucker punch and got pounded. He's only made matters worse with his tepid series of apologies: too little, too Lott. He is finished as a Senate Majority Leader of even mediocre effectiveness. It's time to cut our losses.

President Bush needs to invite Lott to the ranch in Crawford, and offer him a more artful and diplomatic rendering of the following:

"Senator, with your ill-advised remarks you've brought turmoil and embarrassment on yourself, the party, and the country. You've served all well in the past and I thank you for that service from the bottom of my heart. Unfortunately, the events of the past few weeks call for a reassessment of the nature of your future service. The horses have left the barn, but there does remain an open path for you, a path that is both honorable and humbling: step aside as Majority Leader and continue to serve in the Senate.

I understand the sacrifice my request places on you, and sympathize with it's burden, but our nation and our agenda are in peril.

I need you, and I'm asking you as you President to do this for the good of America."

[deport]

He is not being crucified; he is no martyr; his self-destruction is his own doing.

Yep and aided and abetted by the democrats, CDC, NOW, Media, racist, feminist, liberals, conservatives, Republicans, and who knows who else or from what party/persuasion/ethnicity

Havoc, good statement.

POWER SHARING

[mwl1]

President Bush does not want a succession fight in the Senate.

Lott is Lott and that is that. He won't make the mistake again.

Now more than ever, GWB, not Lott, is running the Senate. Lott can't even take a dump without permission of the White House.

I am no Lott fan, but we have to ride this one out. It's about the balance of power in the Senate, not race.

Do not believe that stepping aside as majority leader will end this saga. Calls for Lott to resign his Senate seat would ESCALATE immediately.

[Dave S]

Okay, now you've succeeded in ousting Lott, what's next? Back to power sharing and maybe with another jumper say hello to ML Daschle

Looks like the only jumper we have to worry about is Lott. The others are not goign to jump. They remember what happened to Jeffords and they dont want to join him in siberia in 2004 when we retake the majority should their flip cause us to lose it.

What next? Vote on a new Majority Leader. Prove to all that are watching that we are the Party of Lincoln, not a party of racists. That unlike the Dems, we wont even accept the appearance of racism in our leaders. Then we pass Bush's agenda and collect the rewards in 2004.

And your idea is to stay holed up, fighting with the Dems saying your guys just as bad as my guy. Remember that Gingrich Dole guy that ran for President in 96. Your way every member of Congress would become a Lott Republican. I think most would prefer to be a Bush Republican. Look what happened in 2002.

[over3Owithabrain]

You're so right - I'm disgusted by those casting their Lott by using Clintonian tactics of smear the other side.

If Lott deserved our defense and support, he would be getting it. This isn't about what the Dems are doing, it is about what the right thing is, politically and otherwise. LOTT MUST GO!!!

[Sabertooth]

As I said, the segregationist intent was the medias, not his

The moment when Lott's intent mattered a whit is long past. He let his pro-Dixiecrat, segregationist-friendly words just hang out there and ingnite an inferno. In the aftermath, he did precious little to put out the fire.

When did we all just stop thinking and start buying the story of the libs?

It's not the "story of the libs," it's Lott's own words.

How about if you make a statement tomorrow that someone can take easy advantage of to smear you, do we hang your rotting body along the road side to please your critics or do we defend you and deal with whatever problem we have with you seperately.

If I woke up tomorrow and realized that in some brain fart I'd said something which should never have been said, bringing shame and chaos to my party, then I'd find the first dozen microphones available, and say "Sometimes we say stupid, inexcusable things. Last night, I did just that, but here are my real feelings..."

If Lott had done that, this would be all but dead now. He chose a fatal moment on the wrong issue to hunker down.

[Monti Cello]

Power sharing? You might want to pick a better rallying cry?

We've already needlessly gone through that THANKS TO TRENT -- it's his own phrase!

'Power sharing' is a reason to dump him, not keep him.

[deport]

And your idea is to stay holed up, fighting with the Dems saying your guys just as bad as my guy.

Please point me to where I've made that statement or indicated that is what I prefer to do..... I'm sure you have it marked somewhere as you are acting if you are quoting a context.

[deport]

Don't you love power sharing.... When Lott leaves that is what you'll have.... Hope you have a plan to do better with it this time than the last.... Good Luck.....

[Sabertooth]

What next? Vote on a new Majority Leader. Prove to all that are watching that we are the Party of Lincoln, not a party of racists. That unlike the Dems, we wont even accept the appearance of racism in our leaders.

"Oh no, the existence of double-standards is always a sign we should lower ours."

Sadly, such sentiments are passing for political acumen in some quarters.

[Sabertooth]

Yep and aided and abetted by the democrats, CDC, NOW, Media, racist, feminist, liberals, conservatives, Republicans, and who knows who else or from what party/persuasion/ethnicity .

On some sunny days, everyone looks outside and agrees... the sky is blue.

[Jeff Chandler]

And what happens if Lott doesn't resign, and some Northern RINO's like Chaffee, Snowe and Collins, along with McCain, decide they don't want to belong to a party that has Lott as majority leader, and do a Jeffords?

You're the first person I've heard suggest that scenario.

[deport]

Isn't that nice, a blue sky....

But I don't think everyone has agreed on this one yet. Yes some different factions have for very different reasons, some legit and some political and some ethical some purely racism, imo.

[Right_in_Virginia]

IMHO, Chaffee, Snowe, et al. are more likely to bolt if the Republican leader is a conservative.

They'll stay with Lott and say they accepted his apology, know him well, and he's not a racist...yada yada yada.

But, a conservative leader? NO WAY.

[Sabertooth]

But I don't think everyone has agreed on this one yet. Yes some different factions have for very different reasons, some legit and some political and some ethical some purely racism, imo.

Then the motives of all the factions are irrelevant, and we'll just have to decide on his merits whether or not Lott is a liability.

Personally, I think Lott's been an ineffective GOP Senate Leader, whether in the Majority or the Minority. Still, I'd have rather seen him coast through another two years at the helm than step aside under this cloud.

Now, coasting is no longer an option. Leadership is no longer an option. Lott made this mess, and now he needs to suck it up and and take the path of humbled honor...

And it's likely that no one but Bush can get him to take it.

[Victoria Delsoul]

If I woke up tomorrow and realized that in some brain fart I'd said something which should never have been said, …then I'd find the first dozen microphones available, and say "Sometimes we say stupid, inexcusable things. Last night, I did just that, but here are my real feelings..."

Hey, you don't need a dozen, one should be enough!

[jwalsh07]

?Saber is not a soul brother of Tancredo, actually. Sometimes, it is hard to keep all the players straight

Neither am I but James Carville could care less in any case. When and if it comes time, they will crank it up and put the big red R on Tancredo's forehead.

Lloyd Grove of the Washington Post when asked how the story grew legs replied, paraphrasing, "James Carville began contacting all of US in the media two days after the speech".

Now I know the dems play hardball and that politics is a rough sport but from afar you have to admire Carville. He knows which buttons to push, he knows republicans are helpless in the face of charges of racism and he knew that others would carry the water.

And here we are a week later and I'd say the bookies have it at 60-40 against Lott.

By the way, remind me to tell you someday of my personal experience with race-baiting. It involved an electrician of Vietnamese descent and was an eyeopener.

[Sabertooth]

Hey, you don't need a dozen, one should be enough!

From your lips to Trent Lott's ears... or those of his dwindling cast of admirers.

[Victoria Delsoul]

I was referring to what you mentioned early. Speaking of double standards….

[Havoc]

No, he went, according to his own words, to the radio as it was the closest thing to him and responded in shock the way any of us might have responded. If it had been Byrd, this would be over with. It was Lott, a conservative, so he must crawl a mile through broken glass to be worthy of being attacked a little less agressively by the press and you are arguing we should provide the glass because the Democrats are being divisive and trying to wreck our party.
Gee whiz. When is that not the case? But your approach is well it's a mob, let's placate the mob and nail an innocent man to a tree. Plays into their hands just as much as not doing it but it soils your hands too. Sorry, that doesn't cut it for me.

And it is the story of the libs. Lott didn't march up there and say "you should have won because you were a segregationist" and you know it. It's common sense. If you have two people running that both believe in tax and spend policies, their stance on that hardly differentiates one from the other. How then can you say, "Dang, a segregationist won. If a segregationist had won, things might be different." Good grief. I must be nuts to think so clearly. Can you tell me where it makes sense. I sure as heck can't. I don't see anyone thinking it out and taking it to the media either.

[Sabertooth]

Lott didn't march up there and say "you should have won because you were a segregationist" and you know it. It's common sense.

If Trent Lott had common sense, he wouldn't have said anything close to what he did.

He could have followed something like what I scripted at the top of this thread and pleased everyone.

Instead, he played dumb and doner.