First, I would take this issue away from Democrats. If anything is going to happen to Lott, it needs to come from Republicans and no one else. Republicans also need to unite behind Lott, which can be done by saying, yeah, his remarks were stupid and wrong, but also state that the man is not a racist. The Dems are the ones who have equated Lott’s remarks with racism. And the Republicans have let them because they are scared to death to address the issue.
Second, continue talking to Lott to make him see the bigger picture. Work with him and acknowledge that he's in the catbird seat, but also have him agree to the bigger picture of taking the 'racist' issue away from Democrats and fight the stereotype of 'Republicans are racists' by directly and forcefully challenging Democrats outlandish allegations. Once he sees the big picture and understands that him being challenged for the leadership role is part of this process, have other Republicans challenge his leadership role and win, but give Lott the chair of any committee he wants. Broker a deal where his state may get more pork. Honestly, there are so many ways that Republicans could get Lott to accept a committee chair and not quit the Senate. But they have to actually think about it first, without giving knee-jerk reactions.
Third, mount a national, combined effort by all Republicans to directly challenge, refute, and abolish the 'Republicans are racists' stereotype by giving a clear and accurate model of the history of segregation, as well as revealing the double-standard that current Democrat Senators (Byrd, etc.) are spewing. This is key in getting more blacks to look at the Republican Party as an alternative to the Democrats. Combine this with the Dems obvious attempt to regain power and reveal their true motive for wanting Lott gone. If the Dems are digging into Lott’s past for ‘patterns of behavior’, then Republicans need to also expose their true motive as well as their own double-standard. If they were truly concerned about racism, folks like Byrd and Shaprton would not be part of their party. And I’d hammer away on this point until I sounded like a broken record.
I consider myself an optimistic person. And the Lott remarks are a great opportunity for Republicans everywhere to address an issue they have been dodging for years. It's time to set the record straight. For the past two years, Republicans have been successful in taking away key issues from the Democrats. Segregation and racism absolutely must be the one in the next two years that Republicans champion and make their own.
We’ve been saying for years that Republicans need to play hardball. Right now, it seems that Lott- the one who has been said to not have a spine- is the only one playing the game.
It’s time for all Republicans to step up to the plate and knock this issue out of the park.