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..

[The Great Satan]

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

As with Saddam Hussein, you have to take Lott's "Samson Strategy" seriously. He's shown time and again that he's willing to sabotage the GOP agenda, so the chances are, pushed to the limit, he would make good on his blackmail. Unfortunately, when you let creeps like Hussein or Lott get too much power, sooner or later you find yourself boxed in, without an exit. It looks like we're going to roll with the punch on 9-11, and let Saddam off with a nod and a wink. My guess is we're stuck with Lott as well. C'est la vie.

[A CA Guy]

I agree with Lott resigning, but not at this time when it suits the Democrats, wait until summer and then ask him to stay in the Senate, but leave the leadership.

[BuddhaBoy]

Yes, Football and Basketball too.

They will wait until the Sunday shows(which are taped on Saturday) are over, then bye-bye Lott.

[BuddhaBoy]

I would hope for Santorum myself, but I dont think he would win.

[plain talk]

Perfect. Just what I've been saying. He shouldn't resign. And the President shouldn't call for him to resign. He should just be voted out of the post. It's a quite simple solution the way I see it. Get Nickles or someone with gonads in there.

[dfwgator]

Trent Lott has been the best thing to ever happen to the Dems, just as Daschle was the best thing that happened to the GOP. The last thing the Dems want is to have to deal with someone who plays hardball with them.

[goodnesswins]

Hmmmmm....sounds like negotiating....he "shouldn't resign as Majority Leader".......maybe means we'll give that to you, BUT, he's NOT going to resign his seat! Unless of course you want to lose Byrd, and a whole pot of Dems in the process.....

[ewing]

I can believe Lott stepping down by 4 or 5 PM Friday, but the White House will not be involved here.

I honestly can't see why the White House would want to touch this issue with a ten foot pole, the 2003 Governors Race in Mississippe with Haley Barbour is a little more than 2 months away..

[DoughtyOne]

Lott was elected by his constituents. I think he's a spineless wimp, but he is not a racist.

I would approve of him stepping down from the leadership in time. I would not approve of it now. It would further the idea that a political operation can take any Republican down. It would be open season on them after that.

I recommend the Republicans deal a little dirt right back at the Democrats and tell them that it cuts both ways, if they want to play that game.

Bill Clinton attended two salutes for Senator Fulbright from Arkansas. At both events he heaped praise on him. Fulbright was a devout segregationist years ago.

Truth be told, most long term Democrats from the south were problematic to say the least. The were mostly all from the George Wallace mold. Start quoting some of their former actions.

Out Byrd for being a former KKK member. Out Jessie Jackson for his Haimietown quote. Just use a scorched earth approach to every Democrat in W., D.C. After a couple of months of it, the Dems would never do it again.

[NonZeroSum]

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.”

If you think that the Democrats of any race want Lott to resign, you're being naive. That's the last thing they want. They're just attacking him exactly so that people like you will reflexively and emotionally defend him (as they did Clinton), and thus keep him in charge, in an even more weakened state than he was (which has always been pretty ineffective).

Daschle's biggest nightmare is having to deal with Mitch McConnell or Bill Frist, or anyone with balls and an IQ higher than room temperature.

[AppyPappy]

I guess all the Bushbots can get back on board now.

[TontoKowalski]

I hate to be Machiavellian, but...another freeper said it best. Politics is chess, not checkers.

Lott isn't a pawn, but he certainly is no more than a bishop.

He can be sacrificed.

[dfwgator]

That's fine, let's point out that Hollings, Byrd et al. supported racism, but we're better than they are.

[cynicom]

Bush knows he shot himself in the foot today. Too late.

[yooper]

Godfrey Daniels, not another Lott thread......

[LisaFab]

I think Lott should resign as ML but I would ask the libs and their mouth-organs in the media this:

Why should we accept that a former draft-dodger and "loather" of the military can change his spots and become CIC of the Armed Forces, but not accept that a former 'segregationist' can?

[The Irishman]

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

Disagree. The reason is that they are not as stupid as many who post here are. Denouncing him now for something done 60 years ago is as ridiculous as the campaign to get Lott to resign for what he said at Thurmond's centennial party. Petty, small minded and politically stupid to boot.

Regards.

[TLBSHOW]

This is a full blown rat attack against ALL OF US.

Racism and the G.O.P.
By BOB HERBERT

The Republican Party has become a haven for white racist attitudes and anti-black policies. The party of Lincoln is now a safe house for bigotry.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/12/opinion/12HERB.html?todaysheadlines