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Black Republicans Joins Democrats in Condemning Trent Lott's Remarks
CNSNEWS.com ^ | 12/10/02 | Marc Morano

Posted on 12/10/2002 3:02:00 AM PST by kattracks

(CNSNews.com) - Two African American Republicans Monday joined several prominent Democrats in condemning Senate Republican leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) for his comments last week at the birthday party for retiring Senator Strom Thurmond.

Lott said that if Thurmond's 1948 presidential run had been successful, America would not have had "all these problems ..." Thurmond, running in 1948 as a Southern "Dixiecrat," advocated racial segregation at the time.

Nationally syndicated conservative columnist Armstrong Williams, an African American who served on Senator Thurmond's staff as an intern, told CNSNews.com that Senator Lott's comments "sent chills down my spine."

"I thought it was very inappropriate. The room gasped when he said it ... I don't see how anyone else can defend it. I am not going to defend it," said Williams, who attended the party marking Thurmond's 100th birthday.

Williams called Thurmond a "dear friend" and noted that the retiring senator [Thurmond] had "denounced his past" as a segregationist. "Those views are not representative of Strom Thurmond," he said.

Lott made the controversial remarks Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building. "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."

Former Vice President Al Gore has called for the Senate to censure Lott, while activists Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have called for Lott's resignation.

Williams, normally a GOP ally, does not think GOP leaders should make excuses for Lott's statement.

"Republicans cannot run around trying to defend Trent Lott. He should apologize and explain what he tried to say instead of some two-sentence terse statement that he sent out," Williams added.

Lott's office issued a statement Sunday that read: "This was a lighthearted celebration of the 100th birthday of legendary Sen. Strom Thurmond. My comments were not an endorsement of his positions of over 50 years ago, but of the man and his life."

A request for further comment was turned down by Lott's office on Monday.

Williams is not impressed at Lott's handling of the situation.

"It's a joke! Come on man. Please, it's a joke and you know it only makes it worse, " Williams explained.

Harold Doley, a black Republican who has served the last five Republican presidents as a political appointee or advisory committee member, believes Lott's comments should prompt a change in Senate leadership.

"It shows he should not be the leader of the Republican Senate," Doley said in an interview with CNSNews.com.

"At a time when Republicans are trying to build the party to include the African American community, [Lott], in effect, takes an overtly segregationist position," Doley said.

[Lott] is giving the Democratic leadership exactly what they want in terms of the black vote. The GOP cannot continue to take constituencies out of play, we have to grow the party," he added.

"I am meeting with other African American Republicans who are trying to build the party ... we are going to ask Republican senators to vote for an alternative to [Lott]," Doley said.

Conservative African American activist Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, founder and president of the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND), does not think the GOP should punish Lott.

"We have to realize that the liberal media, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and those people, they are desperate right now to regain power, and any little thing they can jump on to make the Republicans look like racists, they are going to use that to further their agenda," Peterson said.

Peterson said he believes Lott did not intend to be offensive. "There was just a sense of joy about [the event], he did not mean to be negative to black Americans or the civil rights movement at large," he explained.

Peterson believes the Democratic Party has its own racial problems.

"I suggest they first go after Senator [Robert] Byrd (D-W.Va.) who was a member of the KKK. He is in their party and then [the Democrats should] come after Lott." Peterson said.

"I think this is hypocrisy and a shameless act," he added.

But the comments of others should not serve as a defense for Lott, according to Armstrong Williams.

"Anybody in this day and time who makes that kind of statement should be condemned. I condemned Byrd and I condemn Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton for their racist statements and I am condemning Trent Lott."

The Senate GOP leader needs to change his views on race, Williams said.

"He's has some ignorance that he has to overcome. He has his own issues when it comes to this issue of race," Williams said of Lott.

But Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, (D-S.D.), defended Lott against racism charges on Monday.

"There are a lot of times when he and I go to the mike and would like to say things we meant to say differently, and I'm sure this is one of those cases for him as well," Daschle said.

E-mail a news tip to Marc Morano.

Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.

 



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To: Guy Angelito
See my #11. Mea Culpa. Open mouth and insert all feet in the immediate area. : )
21 posted on 12/10/2002 4:44:36 AM PST by Movemout
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To: ReleaseTheHounds
Oh Lord! Anyone but Frist...he is a yes man, go along to get along! Next time perhaps Lott should have his office prepare a statement for an event, and he should just read it! It is plain to anyone with half a brain that he is not a think on your feet sort of guy! Frist is not much better!
22 posted on 12/10/2002 5:04:41 AM PST by D. Miles
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To: Guy Angelito
How is that going to happen? LOL They're not even from the same state.

Lot has to stay in the Senate, because the Governor of Mississippi would apoint a DEMOCRAP replacement.

So9

23 posted on 12/10/2002 5:10:57 AM PST by Servant of the Nine
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To: kattracks; All
Lott's office issued a statement Sunday that read: "This was a lighthearted celebration of the 100th birthday of legendary Sen. Strom Thurmond. My comments were not an endorsement of his positions of over 50 years ago, but of the man and his life."

This was exactly the correct answer that Lott has provided. He is saying the equivalent of he was "making NICE-NICE at some old fart's birthday and it's the kind of stuff you say that you don't mean."

24 posted on 12/10/2002 5:21:52 AM PST by xzins
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To: joyful1
"No wonder Lott was booed at the Wellstone rally."

No, Lott was booed at the Wellstone Rally simply because he was a Republican.

While the Demcrats continue to venerate a former Klansman, and their house slaves continue to vote mindlessly, their objections ring hollow.

25 posted on 12/10/2002 5:22:36 AM PST by Redleg Duke
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To: rambo316
Or Donna Brazile saying "we won't let the white boys win". Lott said NOTHING wrong, but yet again the left is TRYING TO DEVINE THE INTENT of what Lott DIDN'T say. RUBBISH!
26 posted on 12/10/2002 5:41:57 AM PST by Puppage
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To: Movemout
You've got that right. DeLay would be the logical successor to Lott. DeLay doesn't believe in taking prisoners.

DeLay's in the House; Lott's in the Senate.

27 posted on 12/10/2002 5:44:16 AM PST by sinkspur
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To: Redleg Duke
This stuff is beyond ridiculous. I've never been a big fan of Trent Lott as Majority/Minority Leader, but I'm fully in his corner over this garbage. I am SO sick and tired of everybody (read: liberals) trying to separate America with the giant racism wedge.

Yes, our country still has legitimate racial problems. This ain't one of 'em!

28 posted on 12/10/2002 5:45:30 AM PST by Coop
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To: Coop
You are exactly right. Lott did not say he endorsed segregation and anybody that thinks he did or that was his hidden message is a retard. All this article shows is that black Republicans can be wrong from time to time. Even Daschle thinks its not a big deal, shouldn't this tell people something? Daschle is as cutthroat as they come. If only Lott had said something like white ni**ers then there would not have been so much trouble.
29 posted on 12/10/2002 6:04:07 AM PST by UofORepublican
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To: kattracks
"I thought it was very inappropriate. The room gasped when he said it ... I don't see how anyone else can defend it. I am not going to defend it," said Williams, who attended the party marking Thurmond's 100th birthday.

Armstrong's remarks are an indication of just how serious a gaffe this was for Lott. Unlike Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, he is not a race baiting demagogue. Williams is usually a staunch defender of Republicans and if he won't defend Lott than that indicates Lott has a real problem.

Lott has become a liability and he should step down as Majority Leader. After watching the video of Lott making the remark several times I find it hard to believe that it was made in jest. He seemed perfectly serious and that was a dum thing for someone in his postion to say. It pains me to see Lott give the Left the ammunition it needs to take him out because I think he is a fundamentally decent man, but he has made too many mistakes. Frankly, after the way he folded during Bubba's impeachment, I don't think he deserves to lead the Senate Republicans again.

30 posted on 12/10/2002 6:47:11 AM PST by Norman Arbuthnot
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To: Alas Babylon!
Senator Don Nickles or Senator Mitch McConnell would be my pick as Senate Majority Leader.
With only a one-seat majority in the Senate, we need a Senate Majority Leader with brains, ba**s and a true leader. No mambsy-pambsy need apply.
31 posted on 12/10/2002 6:51:56 AM PST by KriegerGeist
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To: Servant of the Nine
Time to get rid of Chester Lott!
32 posted on 12/10/2002 6:57:04 AM PST by Dixie republican
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To: putupon
Lott is a political tin-ear twit.

Delegate him to the side lines in his cheerleading skirt.

Mustang sends.
33 posted on 12/10/2002 7:09:35 AM PST by Mustang
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To: mhking
"It shows he should not be the leader of the Republican Senate," Doley said in an interview with CNSNews.com. Now THAT is a statement I can agree with, but to beat this bigotted sloth continually and try to paint the entire republican party with his image is revealing an agenda, not an outrage.
34 posted on 12/10/2002 7:12:32 AM PST by MHGinTN
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To: Servant of the Nine
Lot has to stay in the Senate

Agreed. We are saying he should resign his seat as majority leader. Most Freepers despise him as majority leader, the rest really can't stand him.

35 posted on 12/10/2002 7:16:54 AM PST by VRWC_minion
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To: xzins
and it's the kind of stuff you say that you don't mean."

In his posistion, he should know better. He is an idiot.

36 posted on 12/10/2002 7:18:29 AM PST by VRWC_minion
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To: Redleg Duke
While the Demcrats continue to venerate a former Klansman

Except this former Klansmen is smart enough to keep his hood over his face. Lott on the other hand poses for pictures in it.

The man is an idiot, an embaresment and worse he has no set of personal standards.

37 posted on 12/10/2002 7:21:04 AM PST by VRWC_minion
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To: joyful1
"Lott is toast. An alternative to Lott is sorely needed!"

Let's think this through, please.

There's a real good chance that Lott won't stay in the Senate if he loses the leadership position...especially under these circumstances. (Remember Newt?)

Be careful what you wish for. With a Democrat governor in Mississippi, it could bring a great, big smile to Daschle's face.

38 posted on 12/10/2002 7:22:15 AM PST by Right_in_Virginia
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To: VRWC_minion
I think his remark is absolutely innocuous and is being blown out of proportion beyond all rationality.

He said that things would've been better if Thurmond had won. He said problems wouldn't have happened.

That's about as generic and non-specific as you can get. That's a tempest in a teapot and it's being driven by pubbies who are dissatisfied by Lott's leadership.

Mark my words, though. If we permit the jacksons/sharptons to win with this TACTIC because we want to dump LOTT, then we'll be paying for it with those big mouths for another generation.

You can't use the devil's dirt without getting some of it inside your own house.
39 posted on 12/10/2002 7:24:40 AM PST by xzins
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To: MHGinTN
but to beat this bigotted sloth continually and try to paint the entire republican party with his image is revealing an agenda, not an outrage.

The agenda is the same one the left in general and the race warlords in particular have maintained for many years now. All Lott did by opening his mouth was to say, "Hold muh beer 'n pass the KY," while he bends us collectively over in front of Jesse & Al.

If we didn't say anything, the attacks would be that much worse. I would hope that Lott would take discretion as the better part of valor and invest in a boat off the Redneck Riviera so he can enjoy his retirement fishing quietly.

This is yet another example in a long line of poor decisions that Lott has made over the most recent timeframe.

It's time for someone else to drive. Lott's awful driving is getting us lost.

40 posted on 12/10/2002 8:11:59 AM PST by mhking
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