White House Says Senator Trent Lott 'Should Not' Resign

CNN ^ | December, 12, 2002 | Wolf Blitzer

[Poohbah]

Sorry, but the question is whether Lott has been an effective leader of REPUBLICANS, not the entire Senate. And Daschle has arguably done a much better job leading the Democrats than Lott has done leading the Republicans. We won back the Senate in spite of The Vacant Lott, not because of him.

[bdeaner]

I am really becoming embittered here. No one gives a rip that the Democrat Party was the vehicle for racism and segregation in this country for 100 years. No one gives a rip that Senator Byrd used the "n" word on national television. No one cares that the supposed authorities on race in this country, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, have said blatantly racist things. No one cares that Bill Clinton worked for a segregationist. No one cares that there is a blatant double standard.

I think if most people knew there's a double standard, they'd care. And I think that folks like yourself should keep playing this message over and over to whoever has the ears to listen. Lott has been craftily referencing Jessie Jackson's "heart" and "mind" excuse from his "hymietown" gaffe (which has been repeatedly referenced in news articles), and that was a good move (at least one intelligent thing he's done recently). Eventually, the word will spread. Remember: 6 degrees of separation. Words have power.

And what if Trent Lott resigns? It really won't matter. They'll come up with something else next week.

Don't forget, we kicked butt this past election -- and for good reason. It was running on a platform of moral authority that did it. Shame on Lott for turning back the clock, but in the long run, it will only be a small setback. I'm optimistic about this.

[Poohbah]

Nope there is not an untrue word in that post.

Most of America disagrees with you, pal. Get over it.

I am sorry it makes you angry but this country and blacks in particular are in the same predicament they were in 1948, the only difference being that it is mostly their fault this time.

You, sir, are a blithering idiot, of a blitheringness comparable to Vacant Lott's.

[bybybill]

So the Republican Senators should replace Lott ASAP. That will validate the charge of racism must be true, at least thats` how it will be viewed. The next step will be the real racists, Jessie, the two ALS, the Rats and their buttboys in the media will say Lott is only the tip of the Republican racist iceberg.

Lott needs to hold a press conference, say he blew it and then answer every question. Other republican Senators need to come out and say that the era of the charactor assasination is over, Lott is not a racist, HE WAS NEVER A KLAN MEMBER, and its time to end this.

[Poohbah]

I think if most people knew there's a double standard, they'd care.

No, they would not. Most Dems will not change, most Reps will not change, and most non-voters will never vote, even if you had videotape of Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, and Richard Byrd lynching blacks by the busload.

[Texasforever]

You, sir, are a blithering idiot, of a blitheringness comparable to Vacant Lott's.

Then dispute the truth of anything I said.

[Ben Bolt]

The White House has no business commenting on this . It does not qualify the time demand plain , clean & simple . Wolf claims a 2nd source and now the RNC is going to weigh in .

To many people floundering to and fro looking for a reason to get out of bed in the morning ...

[BenR2]

The media's failure to do their job in these cases does not make Drudge's doing his fundamentally evil.

I'll wager I've clicked onto Drudge's site more than you have (although it is an unproveable assertion). Hell, it's MY HOME PAGE!

I think I know Drudge's reporting as well as any.

I think he gave in to his baser instincts on his handling of this.

Do I "beDrudge" him for reporting it? Of course not. For giving it prominence? Not really. For OBSESSING on it? Yes. I do.

You evidently disagree. So be it. That's where it will have to remain, then.

[Poohbah]

I did. You just didn't like what I said.

[Poohbah]

Drudge cannot, contrary to what he says in his self-promotional material, make a news item grow legs.

Lott blew this one from the first second, and he's only gotten worse at handling it since.

[Texasforever]

I did. You just didn't like what I said.

No you didn't but I don't blame you.

[Poohbah]

Like I said, the era of segregation is not viewed as an absolute good in this country. It's too frickin' bad you don't like to hear that. Lott decided to say something really stupid.

I used to think Lott was the dumbest SOB I'd ever seen.

But all the people defending him have got to be even dumber'n he is.

[dfwgator]

He said that America would be a better place if Strom Thurmond had been elected President in 1948, when Mr. Thurmond ran on a segregationist platform. Maybe that isn't a racist statement in your book, but it sure is a dumb one.

Not only that, he can't even be a loyal Republican and say that the country would have been better off with Dewey.

[Poohbah]

HEY! Damn good point!

[Texasforever]

But all the people defending him have got to be even dumber'n he is.

That may be but I can back up my facts and you can only scream. BTW I specifically said that 1948 segregation was bad and so is the 2002 version that democrats and Blacks voting for democrats have created.

[bdeaner]

Sure, Lott didn't say anything blatantly, racist, but it doesn't take much to connect the dots. I see it as a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. If Lott's statement was innocent, my god, why didn't he see the implications of what he said, the way it was going to be interpreted? So obvious! That would be plain stupidity. And, then again, if he meant it, even worse.

The absolute worst thing that Bush could have done is condone and rationalize Lott's behavior. That would have been political suicide. And things wouldn't have faired any better if he ignored Lott's statements. Bush did the right thing. His speech communicated unequivocably that even the appearance of segregationist ideas is unacceptable and contrary to Republican principles. Having taken this stand, he has successfully (I believe) severed the link between bigotry and the GOP that the left would have undeniably attempted to make.

With that said, the stage is set for the GOP to turn the spotlight on the real bigots without the risk of looking like a bunch of two-faced hypocrits. The democrap will hit the fan, and fly right back in their faces. But only if we stand from a position of moral authority.

[Texasforever]

but it doesn't take much to connect the dots.

Sure if every dot connection ALWAYS leads to racism and that is the only connect the dot picture the race industry ever draws.

[Poohbah]

That may be but I can back up my facts and you can only scream.

Fine. Back your facts up RIGHT F'ING NOW. Demonstrate, in detail, how Strom Thurmond getting elected President on the Dixiecrat platform in 1948 would have saved us a lot of problems. Just try me, pal.

[BenR2]

Drudge cannot, contrary to what he says in his self-promotional material, make a news item grow legs.

No, but he can give it one hell of a ride in a wheel-chair (as he did in this case)!

[TLBSHOW]

Tell that to Jesse Lee Peterson and Sean Hannity!