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It is hard for me to express how we feel about this situation.

First, I don't think Sen. Lotts statements were meant to say he agreed with the racist policies of the past. They didn't.. he was simply trying to honor a man who has served our country longer than any Senator in our nations history (and was elected to office all these many years by HIS CONSTITUENTS).

It is the EPITOMY of hyposcrisy for the liberals and groups who alledge they speak for ALL people of color, to crucify Sen. Lott this way.

Where was there outrage when Sen. Byrd said there were "White niggers"? Where was the outrage when Bill Clinton gave a KNOWN Segregist the Medal of Freedom and smothered him with compliments just this past October?

So, I agree with comments that Sen. Lott should not resign because the BLACK Caucus says he must (Which is such a racists name for a group.. imagine a "WHITE CAUCUS").

I agree with both the Rev. Jesse Petersen, and Thomas Sowell on this.

Which leaves me in a quandary....

I would LOVE to see Sen. Lott step down as the leader of the Senate.. I've always stated on this forum that it would behoove the Republicans if he did. (I would much prefer Sen. Nichols from Oklahoma to be the leader, or someone who is of equal stature who we can respect as we do Sen. Nichols. Besides, isn't he right under Sen. Lott in the Leadership ladder right now?). However, He should NOT step down as his states Senator.

We have had a problem with Senator Lott for a long time. It started with his horrendous treatment of the house managers. (Guess you could say what goes around, comes around Sen. Lott). But I regress (can you tell I'm still smoldering regarding that issue, and actually quite a few other things that Sen. Lott did or DID NOT do when he SHOULD HAVE!!).

So, I'm torn with him stepping down because of "this matter".

I think his words were taken out of context. We truly believe that. But now he has put his own power and interests over the good of the President and the Republican Party by NOT stepping down. (I told you we were perplexed by this issue in that we would love to see Lott resign, but not neccesarily over this "particular" issue in that we feel it truly is a NON ISSUE!).

President Bush has been put in a difficult situation because of the hoopalah over this incident. I also think Sen. Lott KNEW in advance that President Bush was going to have to speak harshly regarding the matter.

So there is our delimma. We are torn between wanting Sen. Lott to STEP DOWN, and the timing of it and reasons for it at this time. It would be in the best interest of the Republican party and America if he DID step down. I just don't think this incident should be the "reason" for it. He has never had racist policies,..and his record should speak clearly regarding that.

If for some reason Sen. Lott is FORCED out of his leadership over this issue.. then we must start becoming more active in our outrage if a liberal should mis-speak.

Perhaps it is best if he does step down and quickly. Allowing this whole issue to be set aside. A new beginning (if you will) for the Republicans.

Though it has been our ferverent wish that he do so for a long time... it is the matter at hand that concerns us. He did not mean anything offensive regarding Americans of African descent at all. Where others, liberals, have been quite clear in their racial prejudice or support of people with segregist ties, that was not the case in Sen. Lotts statements.

I'm throwing out food for thought here,.. and btw, the fact that I'm discussing this does NOT make me some kind of traitor to conservativism. That is a ridiculous accussation that I'm seeing tossed at anyone who discusses this matter (and who are not in line with other/some conservatives views).

It would be ONE THING if Sen. Byrd was censored and expelled, or if Bill Clinton had been repudiated by the same liberals calling for Sen. Lotts head. The hypocrisy here is that they didn't speak up then, when the statements by Sen. Byrd and Clinton were OBVIOUSLY racist or praising known racists!!

Again.. just writing out food for thought here for the purpose of debate. I'll be interested to read what others think regarding my "mixed" emotions in this matter.

FRegards, Vets

Well said and I agree with just about everything you've stated.

I didn't think Lott's treatment of the House managers was proper, but I also don't blame Lott for not getting 51 votes to oust Clinton from office. Although that would have been an tremendous accomplishment on his part, it wasn't possible. There was just no way the RINO's were going to vote Slick out of office.

Having said that, my biggest beef with Lott, was over his inability to hold onto the Senate last year. In hindsight, since I wasn't in Lott's shoes, may be I'm out of line, but I still believe stronger efforts could have been made. If that meant, offering Jeffords something special, in order to keep Senate control in the hands of Republicans, then, so be it. It was too critical a time for PresBushes agenda, to allow Senate power to shift to the Democrats. We had a horrible year and a half because of Lott's bad decisions and sub par leadership. And for that, I wanted him to step down from his ML position.

But what is happening now, is outrageous.

The liberal establishment has been raising hell all week and the liberal media, along with some serious Lott haters, have joined in a move to destroy Trent Lott. They want him to resign his Senate seat for stupid remarks, taken out of context to fit a discription of Lott being a segregationist and a racist. I don't buy into it. It's too thin. At one time, may be 40 years ago, Lott could have been considered a segregationist, I don't believe that's true today.