Which is why so many conservatives were quick to call for Lott to step down from a leadership position over this.
You know the old saying "dance with the one that brought you". Lott has spent too much time courting moderates and failing to push conservative bills. Now, when he needs the help of the party base to keep his post, he doesn't have it.
The base only sees him as a liability as a leader. There is no conservative argument for keeping Lott as leader. "Let's keep Lott so he can keep watering down the conservative agenda." That's not going to win much of the party base to his side.
This summs up what is happening here.