Moment of Truth-National Review Asks for Added Clarification of Lott's Remarks to Thurmond

National Review Magazine ^ | Dec. 9, 2002 | David Frum

[ewing]

I cannot help thinking that this story is not over

-That Republicans will hear Sen. Lott's words quoted at them again and again in the coming months.

I for one do not believe Trent Lott is a racist or segregationist.

My guess is a speechwriter gave him note cards with a few jokes, and when Lott finished reading them, he launched himself into what he probably intended to be nothing more than a big squirt of greasy flattery.

But that's not what came out of Lott's mouth.

[BillCompton]

Wasn't Thurmond a dixiecrat (southern democrat)

Dixiecrat was a new party and not a part of the Democrat party. He ran against Dewey and Truman. And this isn't about Byrd or Jackson, it is about our Republican Majority Leader.

[borkrules]

I'm just not getting all the hysteria over this statement, which Lott has now clarified.

That's because you have functional brain cells and spend more than 20 minutes a week thinking about politics.

Lott's dumb-ass comments hurt us with the marginal voters we need in a closely divided electorate. Not to mention providing the dems with the script for their next campaign ad targeted at urban blacks. If the GOP is serious about breaking the stranglehold of the jack-ass party on the black vote (and they better be) they'll need a better leader than this blow dried fop.

[hchutch]

You have hit it dead on target.

The fact is, this stupidity kills us every time. EVERY single time. People don't engage their brains before they use their mouths.

[jimkress]

There are better Senators who can be Majority Leader

My DOG would be a better Majority Leader! At least she has a backbone.

[VRWC_minion]

I for one do not believe Trent Lott is a racist or segregationist

Me neither but maybe we should be upset and get another leader.

[AshleyMontagu]

I think that the proper thing for Lott to have done at this 100th birthday celebration for Thurmond is to have shouted into the mike "I hope you burn in hell for your hate filled presidential campaign 54 years ago". Then he should have walked over and kicked him in the nuts. The Republicans would then have all the Black votes for eternity.

[Classicaliberalconservative]

Trent Lott needs to resign right now and not run for re-election. This stupidity is not something that we should be defending. I for one am for desegregation, civil rights and voting rights. I do not know what he was thinking. Trent Lott made the image problems he has worse with this comment. If the negative externalities of this were just confined to himself I would not be so angry but this reflects bad upon the party. Go Trent, go away.

[Miss Marple]

Stupid. And probably Lott was only thinking of things like tax cuts, defense, and honorable behavior in office.

However, it indicates a woeful ignorance of history or a total tin ear for public statements. He should apologize and graciously step down from the leadership position.

[gcruse]

2. Most of the folks in the press corps are NOT your friends.

If National Review is not a friend of  conservatives, then
there are none to be had.  Lott is a liability and needs to go.

[BillCompton]

I think that the proper thing for Lott to have done at this 100th birthday celebration for Thurmond is to have shouted into the mike "I hope you burn in hell for your hate filled presidential campaign 54 years ago". Then he should have walked over and kicked him in the nuts. The Republicans would then have all the Black votes for eternity.

Impeccable logic.</sarcasm>

[Mo1]

"In fact, the party is evolving rapidly. The newest and youngest members do not look, act, or think like the old guard. Generation X grew up with computers and cable TV.

Oh I don't know if I'd give the younger generation that much credit ..

Yes they are growing up with more technology .. but that doesn't mean they have a clue of what life is "really" like .. that comes with experience

I recall a few years ago .. oh ok .. many moons ago being brought up to think JFK was the as great as the Pope .. only to find out later it was a load of bull

What Lott said was stupid .. but it is not the end of our party and what we all stand for ..

The Dems have been beating us over the head for a long time over this .. and they will only win if we as a party allow it to happen

[Torie]

Has Lott said anything since his remarks? His ensuing silence is curious.

[Constitutional Patriot]

"We cannot abide someone who hands our political adversaries ammunition."

And we cannot capitulate to the sophmoric power-grabbing tactics of our adversaries. Do you want Lott to step down now so that the dems can steal another election? No matter what a republican says (right or wrong) it is ammunition for the left.

[Miss Marple]

I haven't heard anything. I wonder if he is being raked over the coals at the White House.

I think perhaps any clarification he would make has the potential to make things worse.

I have often said that the reason Lott is a terrible mmajority leader is not that he is weak, but that he is stupid. Many of the problems we have had in the Senate stem from his inability to think on his feet. This is a prime example.

[Common Tator]

Lott has brains and balls and is not as afraid of the media as you are. Trent tends to stand by his friends and is not afraid to say it even when it is not popular.

It is called standing up for your friends. It is called character. It is hard to understand if you don't have any.

Have you always been wimpy a$$ed afraid of the media, or did your mommy have to teach you how to sniffle and whimper.

[Mo1]

Many of the problems we have had in the Senate stem from his inability to think on his feet.

That is exactly the problem .. he never thinks

[Catspaw]

Torie, I believe someone from his office tried spinning this the day of or the day after his remarks, but no matter what he says, the press is going to be on him. Lott's probably hoping this goes far, far away, but the story's just beginning to get traction. You can bet he's going to be asked about his remarks the first time he pops his head up at a press conference in DC.

[Eva]

It was a very clumsy remark, perhaps intended to refer to the way Strom abandoned his segregationist ways and embraced integration by hiring Blacks to work in his own office.

Anyway, if that's not the truth of the remark, it's as good an explanation as any.

[gcruse]

Do we really need this kind of crap on the thread?