Commentary: Lott Throws In The Towel (Conservative base will be gone)

crosswalk ^ | 12/20/2002 | Gary Bauer

[TLBSHOW]

Commentary: Lott Throws In The Towel Gary Bauer President, American Values

After days of endless apologizing, Trent Lott has thrown in the towel and resigned as Senate Majority Leader. Late last night he began making phone calls to GOP colleagues to let them know his decision.

Also over night the White House began a more concerted push to replace Lott with Senator Bill Frist, who will now emerge as the "frontrunner."

Frist is a savvy media personality, but he angered many conservatives by interfering in Republican primaries around the country, virtually always in favor of the moderate candidate over the conservative. And he was a staunch supporter of former Surgeon General Satcher, who was pro-abortion. I hope a more reliable conservative-- either Nickles or Santorum-- will throw their hat in the ring.

Now comes the hard part. This mess doesn't end with Lott's resignation. The GOP needs to find its backbone. One example: There are reports that the Administration is now afraid to go into court against the University of Michigan's offensive racial quota system that selects students from certain minority groups regardless of grades while rejecting white students with much higher grades.

For 30 years the Republicans have opposed these quasi-quota schemes. Are we now going to throw in the towel because of the smear campaign against Republicans of the last two weeks?

Some insiders are suggesting there will be reluctance at the White House to nominate conservative judges. Such reports better be inaccurate or the conservative base of the party will be gone.

Let me bring up again one easy way for the White House to signal that it knows how to play hardball and help Americans of all races. Many Washington D.C. schools are abysmal and the children, mostly black, trapped in them are ill served. The White House should send a school voucher program to Capitol Hill on the first day of the new Congress just for the District of Columbia. Ted Kennedy will scream. Hillary Clinton will pull her hair out. Daschle will reach for the Maalox. And they will line up and vote "no" against those black families and in favor of the teacher unions.

Last year Bush dropped his voucher plan because Kennedy refused to let it out of Committee, but there should be no cave in this time.

[TLBSHOW]

The next question to ask is whether the GOP can actually use this situation to its advantage.

If Republicans just go into a shell and ignore the (white) elephant in the room, they will remain on the defensive about race issues. It doesn't mean backing down from principled views on racial preferences or welfare reform or education. But, it does mean making a much more direct appeal to convey the conservative message on these issues to the minority communities that will be affected.

http://www.nationalreview.com/george/george122002.asp

[Luis Gonzalez]

In other words Bill, you lied, you got busted, and now you're filibustering to hide your lie, and throw everyone off the scent.

Your headline read that Bush was pushing for benefits for illegals.

Your headline was a lie.

[Ohioan]

Bush has not been subjected to the Lott treatment.

Bush has been subject to far worse. Who can forget the leftist race-baiting ad showing the pickup truck dragging death of James Byrd which blamed Bush for supposedly not supporting Hate crimes legislation. But it didn't work.

You are confusing two different types of attacks, which differ both tactically and functionally. The James Byrd ads were a very vicious visual assault, of the type that showed nuclear explosions to create a war scare when Barry Goldwater ran, or that showed old people in dire straits, as Dole cut off their subsidy, in 1996. The particular target of the Byrd ads was to create a sense of fear in the minority community, to get out the Gore vote among voters who do not usually turn out in proportionate strength unless there is some intervening motivation. When you say it didn't work, you are probably in error. I think that it probably accomplished its objective, at least in part. It was never aimed at convincing you or I of anything.

The Lott gambit was not in some agitator trying to make something of the Senator's little flight of whimsy and nostalgia. Daschle's initial reaction was the rational one, and if Lott had not gone on the defensive the story might have died. But someone or ones, decided to keep it going. That was the probe, and I do not want to take up Free Republic's bandwith to insert my whole essay Trent Lott Affair, to again address the whole picture.

But the object of the Lott gambit was to play on the sense of White guilt, which has been a staple of Left-wing strategists, since their academic allies managed to instill it in so many affluent College students, over the past two generations. The end result, to create the panic among the Beltway types, that they in fact created.

Oh please. You are over-analyzing all this. You sound like the reverse version of the "vast right wing conspiracy". The Demonrat liberals are not nearly as sophisticated as you suggest here.

The Democratic Left is nothing if they are not sophists. Their sophistication flows from their having had the shibboleths of sophistry pounded into their heads from their school days onward. It does not take a disciplined conspiracy for them to get on a bandwagon, once it is launched by a few propagandists with a little more brainpower than the rest. It is pure instinct. Just look at the idiotic way so many have jumped to join NOW's bandwagon on the country club in Augusta. They are only an ideological hairbreadth away from hailing an ideological Fuehrer at Nuremberg--the egalitarian mindset has become their second nature. One has but to trigger it, and every mindless dysron will take up the cry.

Believe me, I have been fighting these people for almost my entire life. I do not give them credit for anything very profound--just the well conditioned reflex. But there are skilled propagandists, who know how to launch them.

William Flax

[Uncle Bill]

I lied? Nice try moron. You, Bush and your buddies are leading America over the cliff. Why don't you go over to DU? Socialists are welcome there with open arms. I've noticed you're real dense with connecting dots.

Another Immigration Loophole: 245(i)
The legal aliens are an even bigger problem. All 19 hijackers on 9/11 entered the United States legally on government-issued visas, several of whom illegally overstayed their allotted time.

Now we hear there is another way aliens are able to remain in our country. They sneak over our borders illegally, or illegally overstay their visas, and then become legal by exploiting a now-expired loophole known as 245(i), the section in a 1994 federal law that allows an illegal alien to apply for a green card, stay permanently in the United States, and subsequently apply for citizenship.

This amnesty loophole allowed aliens who broke our laws to pay a $1,000 fine and go to the head of the line in front of prospective immigrants who complied with our laws. U.S. law states that aliens must apply in their own countries to get permission to immigrate to the United States.

A million of these loophole aliens have become legal residents since the law was passed. In 2000, these loophole aliens were 28.3 percent of new legal residents, in 1999 they were 25.4 percent, and in 1998 they were 29.4 percent."

"I told the Congress that I want to make sure that the Mexican citizen here is well-respected, and one way to do that is to pass 245I."

AMNESTY by BUSH - The Truth about Section 245(i)

Hooyah!!

[Luis Gonzalez]

Still throwing up red herrings Bill?

Your link said that Bush wanted to give welfare benefits to illegals, the article it linked me to said no such thing.

You lied.

I am not talking about 245i Bill, let's go back to your link, and your lie.

Why are you trying so desperately to divert attention away from that?

You lied Bill, you do it all the damned time.

[Luis Gonzalez]

W. SAYS HE'LL HELP BLACKS BUY HOMES

There's another fine sample of your deliberate lies.

Bush did not say that he was going to specifically help any ONE group of people, yet you specifically say "BLACKS"...what's the deal here Bill?

Having a Trent Lott moment?

What sort of an audience are you targeting here Bill?

Or is the answer painfully obvious?

[Uncle Bill]

Nope, sorry, I'm sticking with what I originally stated because I know what is happening in the process and what Bush is doing. You can slither around in the political correctness dung heap if you want. Lot's of confused folks, like you. Sell it somewhere else. You're hungup on Bush wants food stamps for illegal aliens vs. Bush wants food stamps for non-citizens That's what your selling? You're proud that Bush wants to steal my hard earned money to give it to NONCITIZENS? LOL! Louie, you can find friends anywhere. Just look around.

"Legal immigrants are respected and contributing members of our society and they deserve this assistance," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat and co-sponsor of a bill to restore food stamps to immigrants.

Immigrants' Food Stamps Restored! - "Ending months of resistance, Speaker Newt Gingrich said he will no longer block House passage of a farm bill that would restore food stamps to about 250,000 legal immigrants and refugees. The concession caps a remarkable retreat by GOP leaders."

Everybody does it Louie.

Summary of Libertarian Platform Changes
B. Wording changes in IMMIGRATION plank: change two instances of "illegal aliens" to "so-called illegal aliens", one instance of "so-called illegal aliens" to "noncitizens of the U.S."

Libertarian Platform
"Undocumented non-citizens should not be denied the fundamental freedom to labor and to move about unmolested. ...

We therefore call for the elimination of all restrictions on immigration, the abolition of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Border Patrol, and a declaration of full amnesty for all people who have entered the country illegally. ...

---

"W. SAYS HE'LL HELP BLACKS BUY HOMES"

"Having a Trent Lott moment?

Louie, Louie, is this the part where you accuse me of being a racist now? Is this a new Republican platform or something?

Heck, before Bush is done, he'll be offering down payments for homes to about everyone. He'll pander to blacks and Hispanics first though. Those are two of his targeted pandering areas.

"Our job is to explain to people why they are here illegally, help them change that and help them to get benefits." - INS manager Nina Moniz

Medicaid and Other Welfare for Illegal Aliens

---

I'm going to church now, I'll be back though.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"...I know what is happening in the process and what Bush is doing."

Now you're Madam Cleo?

You lied Bill, plain and simple, you lied. And you can't go back now and call it anything but a lie like you are trying to do now.

You claimed that Bush said he was giving welfare benefits to illegal aliens, and you put up a link to prove your point.

Except, that the link led to an article that said the exact opposite, the article in fact said that Bush wanted to offer benefits to LEGAL immigrants.

That's propaganda of the worst kind; you are lying to the very people that would support you.

Shame on you Bill.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"You're hungup on Bush wants food stamps for illegal aliens vs. Bush wants food stamps for non-citizens..."

No, Bill, you said he wanted food stamps for illegals. And there's a sea of difference between illegal aliens, and legal immigrants...I know that whole process first hand Bill, your spin don't work with me.

You lied in order to incite emotions from people who are concerned about illegal immigration. You are no different than cheap politicians at their worst.

Then you went on to incite racial prejudices by altering a headline, and misleading people.

You intentionally said "BLACKS". It was a calculated effort, with a specific goal (and target audience) in mind.

What you did in that instance is generally known as "playing the race card".

Shame on you.

Let me go back over some more of you "work".

[Uncle Bill]

From: Luis Gonzalez:

W. SAYS HE'LL HELP BLACKS BUY HOMES

There's another fine sample of your deliberate lies.

Bush did not say that he was going to specifically help any ONE group of people, yet you specifically say "BLACKS"...what's the deal here Bill?

Having a Trent Lott moment?

What sort of an audience are you targeting here Bill?

"Then you went on to incite racial prejudices by altering a headline, and misleading people.

You intentionally said "BLACKS". It was a calculated effort, with a specific goal (and target audience) in mind.

"What you did in that instance is generally known as "playing the race card".

"Shame on you.

---

Let me talk reeeeeeal slooooooow for you Louie. You stated that I intentially stated "Blacks." You stated that it was a "calculated" effort, with a specific goal in mind. You stated that I was a liar. You stated that I was playing the race card. You accused me of having a Trent Lott moment. LOL! Nope. Any 3rd grader could see that I only posted the link and the headline as it was posted on FR, and as the New York Post posted the article on their website. Is Deborah Orin a racist now in your world Louie, Louie? I think you and the bots should e-mail her and give her heck. Hehehehe. George Bush needs to spend a little more of our money and find some smarter political hacks than you. You're weak. Keep going though, you're bringing out some good links for folks to read. Many of them haven't seen them. Saves me time. Thanks. Oh, by the way, here's the original article and link. Poor try moron. However, you're embarrassing your fellow bots. Expect those bot e-mails soon.

W. SAYS HE'LL HELP BLACKS BUY HOMES

W. SAYS HE'LL HELP BLACKS BUY HOMES

The New York Post
By DEBORAH ORIN
October 16, 2002

WASHINGTON - President Bush yesterday touted plans to help millions of blacks and Hispanics buy their own homes as a way to help kick-start the struggling economy, while top Democrats blamed Bush for today's economic pain. The back-and-forth came as Democrats and Republicans battle for the upper hand on the economy in the final three weeks to the Nov. 5 elections.

"Owning something is freedom as far as I'm concerned," Bush told a conference on increasing minority home ownership as he vowed to help 5.5 million black and Hispanic families buy homes.

Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle and House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt both gave speeches zinging Bush on the economy.

"Americans are hurting but this administration doesn't understand their pain," fumed Daschle.

Gephardt accused Bush of "playing politics with the economy."

---

Louie, were you deliberatly telling lies? You think I'm Deborah Orin? I can see I'm going to have to be more aggressive with you. Did your compassionate conservative nose zoom in on my feminine side or something? It's all those darn sensitivity training seminars you've been attending. I'm going to have a talk with Deborah Orin about you. You're dangerous. You could incite riots and stuff. I think you might be a hater or something. Something is not right with you. I'm still trying to put my finger on it. For anybody on this site that still reads, this post just sunk you Louie. Why do you set yourself up with such easy remarks to destroy? I'll leave you alone now Louie. I just wanted to prove how easy it was to expose Bush, you and the rest of the socialists. When will you apologize Louie for trying to smear my good name? Hooyah!!

[Luis Gonzalez]

So then, both you and the Post are guilty.

[Luis Gonzalez]

It's real simple Bill, you'll never change the minds of people with lies and subterfuge.

That's why you are irrelevant.

You do nothing to promote your own cause, if anything, you hurt it.

[TLBSHOW]

W. SAYS HE'LL HELP BLACKS BUY HOMES
NYPost.com ^ | October 16, 2002 | DEBORAH ORIN


Posted on 10/16/2002 11:38 AM EDT by Sweet_Sunflower29


President Bush yesterday touted plans to help millions of blacks and Hispanics buy their own homes as a way to help kick-start the struggling economy, while top Democrats blamed Bush for today's economic pain. The back-and-forth came as Democrats and Republicans battle for the upper hand on the economy in the final three weeks to the Nov. 5 elections

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/770169/posts

[Luis Gonzalez]

TLB...I don't care what Bill says, or what the Post says, I care about what Bush said.

The Post lied, and Bill is promoting the lie. A lie can simply be not telling the whole truth...we learned that from Bill Clinton, ddn't we.

Well, neither The Post, nor Bill are telling the truth here. Or at least, The Post is lying, and Bill is helping spread that lie.

Below is the full text of the President's remarks on the issue. Note one thing, he cites a statistic when he says that "less than half of all African Americans and Hispanic Americans are homeowners", that's just a fact.

But the plan set in place will help all low income families, of any race or ethnicity, buy a home. Anything other than that, would be Federally sanctioned discrimination.

President Focuses on Home-Ownership in Radio Address
Radio Address by the President to the Nation

     Listen to the President's Remarks
     Policy in Focus: Home-Ownership

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Owning a home lies at the heart of the American dream. A home is a foundation for families and a source of stability for communities. It serves as the foundation of many Americans' financial security. Yet today, while nearly three-quarters of all white Americans own their homes, less than half of all African Americans and Hispanic Americans are homeowners. We must begin to close this homeownership gap by dismantling the barriers that prevent minorities from owning a piece of the American dream.

The single greatest hurdle to first time homeownership is a high down payment requirement that can put a home out of reach. So my administration is proposing the American Dream Down Payment Fund. When a low-income family is qualified to buy a home, but comes up short on the down payment, the American Dream Down Payment Fund will help provide the needed funds. We estimate that this fund will open the door to homeownership for 40,000 low-income families annually.

A second obstacle to minority homeownership is a lack of affordable housing. To encourage the production of single-family homes for sale in neighborhoods where affordable housing is scarce, my administration is proposing a single-family affordable housing credit. Over the next five years, this will provide developers nearly $2.4 billion in tax credits for building affordable single-family housing in distressed areas. These credits will make 200,000 new homes available over its first five years to low-income purchasers.

A third major obstacle to minority homeownership is the complexity and difficulty of the purchasing process. So we're stepping up our efforts to better educate first-time home buyers. Consumers need to know their rights and responsibilities as home buyers. Education is the best protection for families against abusive and unscrupulous lenders. Financial education and housing counseling can help protect home buyers against abuses, greatly improve the loan terms they are offered, and help families get through tough times with their homes intact.

Through these important initiatives, we can help thousands of American families live the kinds of lives they had once only dreamed about. But government action isn't enough. We need to energize and engage the private sector, as well. That is why I have challenged the real estate industry leaders to join with the government, with non-profit organizations, and with private sector financial institutions in a major nationwide effort to increase minority homeownership.

My approach to broadening homeownership focuses on empowering people to help themselves, and to help one another. These important initiatives will accomplish their purpose because Americans, working together and taking responsibility for one another, will make this great country even greater.

The strength of America lies in the honor and the character and goodwill of its people. When we tap into that strength, we discover there is no problem that cannot be solved in this wonderful land of liberty.

Thank you for listening.

[TLBSHOW]

So from what you posted Bush wants to help blacks buy homes.


Yet today, while nearly three-quarters of all white Americans own their homes, less than half of all African Americans and Hispanic Americans are homeowners.

snip

So my administration is proposing the American Dream Down Payment Fund. When a low-income family is qualified to buy a home, but comes up short on the down payment, the American Dream Down Payment Fund will help provide the needed funds. We estimate that this fund will open the door to homeownership for 40,000 low-income families annually.


snip

Over the next five years, this will provide developers nearly $2.4 billion in tax credits for building affordable single-family housing in distressed areas. These credits will make 200,000 new homes available over its first five years to low-income purchasers.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Are you even able to actually comprehend anything anymore TLB?

The deliberate headline stressing BLACKS was put in place to inflame the issue.

The plan will help low-income families buy homes. Hispanics and Blacks (being the two largest minorities in the country) were pointed out as an example of the discrepancy in home ownership.

Now, you may or may not agree with the policy, but the headline was deceiving, missleading, and inflammatory.

Then again, like Uncle Bill, you love propaganda.

[ArneFufkin]

Luis, there ARE some government programs, when designed and managed professionally, that are GOOD INVESTMENTS that will generate positive returns to our communities. Innovative, demanding and competitive lifelong education and enlightenment programs are one. This home ownership initiative is another. Home ownership is a good thing, it's an investment in your neighborhood, an investment in your family, and it's an investment in an individuals sacred commitment to a lifelong quest for an ever greater measure of health, well-being, education and prosperity for himself, his wife and children ... to present for their kids and their kids and ... going forward forever. It's a stake in the American wonder. We need to make that dream as available as possible, we can't hog it for ourselves.

If a downpayment is the only barrier keeping a lender from financing a mortgage for a virtuous, income producing family, let's help with the downpayment. The lender needs to put something in the kitty as well. If tax credits will spur a development company to position a neighborhood of safe and quality "starter" homes ... well, that's an easier mortgage package for a banker to approve, and he'll have an easier time positioning security for his loan to this new credit participant. It's all good ...

[ArneFufkin]

Luis, there ARE some government programs, when designed and managed professionally, that are GOOD INVESTMENTS that will generate positive returns to our communities. Innovative, demanding and competitive lifelong education and enlightenment programs are one. This home ownership initiative is another. Home ownership is a good thing, it's an investment in your neighborhood, an investment in your family, and it's an investment in an individuals sacred commitment to a lifelong quest for an ever greater measure of health, well-being, education and prosperity for himself, his wife and children ... to present for their kids and their kids and ... going forward forever. It's a stake in the American wonder. We need to make that dream as available as possible, we can't hog it for ourselves.

If a downpayment is the only barrier keeping a lender from financing a mortgage for a virtuous, income producing family, let's help with the downpayment. The lender needs to put something in the kitty as well. If tax credits will spur a development company to position a neighborhood of safe and quality "starter" homes ... well, that's an easier mortgage package for a banker to approve, and he'll have an easier time positioning security for his loan to this new credit participant. It's all good ...

[Luis Gonzalez]

Well said my friend.

All I had while you were gone, were "F Troop" reruns...glad you're back on primetime.

[ArneFufkin]

I don't want to nitpick a brilliant work like F-Troop Luis, but I've broken down the video of every episode and they've knocked down that damn sentry tower 107 times and no episode ever showed it being rebuilt.

Wrangler Jane was a world class hottie however, too bad Captain Parmeter was gay.