Why is the Manson Family still in Jail? Why is Sirhan Sirhan still in Jail for something he did when he was just a kid?
Segregation was an evil. It was an oppressive evil. It was a dark spot on the history of the United States and everyone who supported it was doing the devil's work.
Lott supported it. Lott fought for it. Lott has never really admitted that he was evil himself when he supported it and fought for it. He will only admit that segregation was immoral but he will not admit that HE was immoral.
He will always be suspect. So when he says something like he did last week, that is more than enough evidence to a lot of people that Lott's character flaw that he had when he was young is endemic.