When they went after Newt and Bob Livingston, they didn't step down, they stepped out. Any retreat by Lott or the Republican Senate gives credence to those claiming Lott is a racist and a segregationist.
The onslaught from that situation would end up just like Gingrich and Livingston. Lott would resign his seat.
Fortunately, I think the opinion of the general public will be contrary to that espoused by the alliance of the professional race-baiters and the anti-Lott conservatives.
But as a matter of course, I would like to add that anybody here who thinks Lott is a racist Dixiecrat should be demanding he resign from the senate, not just as majority leader.
Wrong -- Lott's presence in the Senate is between him and the voters of Mississippi. The republican party is not in the business of disenfranchising MS voters or anyone else. However, his job as majority leader is to be the public face of the party. Only he knows whether or not he is truly racist -- but what we all know is that he has failed at his leadership job, and as such, should step down.