White House Says Senator Trent Lott 'Should Not' Resign

CNN ^ | December, 12, 2002 | Wolf Blitzer

[ewing]

Wolf Blitzer said word has come down from the White House that Trent Lott should not resign as Senate Majority Leader and that his apologies are good enough.

Nothing on what the Republican National Committee might say tomorrow..

[McGavin999]

Bush has very publically spanked Lott....HARD. If you heard his speech today you'll know just how hard that public spanking was. That should be enough for now, or at least until the uproar dies down. However, if more comes out he's going to have to step down.

[Willie Green]

Wow. President Bush is wrong on this one, IMHO

Better go tell the bad news to your buddies at the DNC.
I'm sure it will get them hyperventilating.

[End The Hypocrisy]

Somewhat related thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/805400/posts?page=41

[AmishDude]

Say what you want, if Lott steps down now, it's a surrender. Nobody wins except the NAACP fundraisers. If I know Bush/Rove, they ride the crest of this wave, let Lott apologize and get some time on TV to do heartfelt apologies and then Lott steps down at a time when they can garner some advantage from it.

But the truth is that Lott is now ineffective, no matter what happens.

[ewing]

Could be..especially with a Democratic governor in Mississippi

[dfwgator]

Looks like Lott got pissed and threatened to quit the senate altogether if the White House abandoned him.

If that's the case, then I say "good riddance", we're better off without him.

[TLBSHOW]

Black and white Democrats alike who continue to demand that he [Lott] step down are doing so only for political reasons. And Republicans who fail to support him are displaying cowardice. Lott should not step down; he should not offer any more apologies—this matter is done! We should judge people based on their hearts and actions, and unlike many of his detractors, Trent Lott has no history of being a racist.”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/805412/posts?page=155#155

[ewing]

If the decision is left up to Lott, he probably won't resign from the Leaders post ever.

[agrace]

Good point.

[Orion]

Looks like Lott got pissed and threatened to quit the senate altogether if the White House abandoned him.

If I were in Lott's position, that's exactly what I would do. If the WH wants to use me as a punching bag for political cover with people that will NEVER vote GOP, I would call their bluff.

[BuddhaBoy]

Bush said the same thing about Paul O'Neil.

Then he FIRED him.

[dfwgator]

I judge a man on his abilities, and by his statements Trent Lott is unfit for the job as Majority Leader. He is an effective Senator because he brings to pork home to his constituents, but as a national leader, he is a failure.

[dfwgator]

It's the dreaded "vote of confidence" a team owner gives a coach just before he gets fired.

[Cousin Eddie]

There are different versions of this going around.

I heard reported on CBS radio news that the White Housel is not asking him to resign from the senate, which is very different form not wanting him to resign as majority leader.

[BuddhaBoy]

Exactly. Trent Lott is gone by the weekend.

[For the Unborn]

The rats got away with causing repubs to resign in the 1990s. They think they can get away with it again. There is a big difference now. Anyone want to know what the difference is?

[ewing]

Good point, kind of a tepidly worded statement of support from Rove, dotcha think?

[Retiredforever]

I haven't heard about any Democrats rushing to the microphones to condemn Senator Byrd for his past membership in the KKK.

[Bluntpoint]

No Lott is behind the FBI internet surveilance division. He knows who had been looking at what. Whitehouse is scared to death. See link below:

http://users.chartertn.net/tonytemplin/fbi_eyes/

[dfwgator]

Exactly. Trent Lott is gone by the weekend.

Trust me, everything has been worked out. The timing will minimize the coverage in the news cycle, expect the announcement tomorrow around 4 or 5 pm.