Some Republicans Say Senator Trent Lott's Apology Should End Controversy [Good Chafee quote]

AP ^ | 12-14 | AP

[ambrose]

Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee, a moderate Republican, told The Providence Journal that Lott's remarks smacked of "stupidity."

He did not call for Lott to step aside, saying he worries that potential successors might be even more conservative than the Mississippian.

[ambrose]

Still not convinced that Lott should step aside?

[BibChr]

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said Lott's apology was necessary. "He let his party down," Hagel said. He added, "I know of no one in our party calling for him to step down."

Senator Lott! Step down!

There.

Dan (registered GOP)

[per loin]

Now if the Republican party had the slightest bit of backbone, they would mount a full scale attack on that most racist of institutions, the Congressional black caucus.

[wai-ming]

He did not call for Lott to step aside, saying he worries that potential successors might be even more conservative than the Mississippian.

Lott's resignation could bring about a number of scenarios, none of which looks good.

For the Democrats:

There is the possibility that his replacement as Majority Leader will be someone they can't push around as much.

For the Republicans:

There is the threat that he could quit the Senate altogether, giving up his seat to a Democratic governor's replacement, making their hold on power even more precarious.

For Senator Chafee:

If Lott resigned altogether, it would be "decision" time for Chafee. He would have to stop "pretending" to be a Republican or jump ship.

I can see why the Senate wants to keep the status quo.

[PrairieFire]

We are wasting all our political capital trying to argue that Lott is not a racist. It really doesn't matter if he is a racist or not. We are "off message" for the first time in a year and a half. This is the first Democrat "issue" with any legs since then.

It reminds me of the effort to show that Newt was a good leader. We spent a lot of time doing that too. The President should demand Lott step down as leader. It is not enough to simply demand another apology. It would be a hard thing to do, but doing the hard things is what leadership is about.

[Sparta]

Lott needs to go. The assholes supporting him in the Senate are for the most part RINOs like Hagel and Comrade Chaffee. Assholes like Lott are always going to cost Republicans the black vote because they provide good quotes for the Civil Rights Industry to use against us.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Actually I could care less about Lott. To me he is just another career politician out for himself. Just seems pretty weak to me that this big government goof ball makes a stupid comment at a birthday party and the race baiters are having a field day and whan him lynched while minorties leaders routinely make racist statements, at will, and they get a pass.

Go ahead and lynch him. Don't make a lot difference to me.

[OldFriend]

Hagel says nothing that McCain doesn't tell him to say.

Never ever allow Marxine Waters to dictate to the republican party. If Daschle doesn't mind being her sock puppet, that's fine with me.

For once in my life I agree with Pat Buchanan. He said Lott needn't even have apologyzed since it was clear the man had no intention at all of embracing segregation, it was nothing more than an attempt to flatter Thurmond!

[Diddle E. Squat]

Can you watch your pottymouth? There's no need to spam cursing to every thread about Lott. We get your point.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

One Democrat, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, said the GOP must decide whether Lott "represents the views of the majority of Republicans in the Senate and in our country."

Jews might want to ask the same of Hillary.

[Yaelle]

This "Republicans think enough is enough" AP report is a blurb on the local radio news here now. This is serious bad news for us.

If Americans think that Lott's comments and record are acceptable to our party and that we still want him on as Majority Leader, we are sunk. Bush is sunk. The worst stereotype of our party, that we are latent racists, will be seen as true everywhere. We will be seen as a party who needs to cower behind a moron to hold onto power.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Baloney.

[Chi-townChief]

"He did not call for Lott to step aside, saying he worries that potential successors might be even more conservative than the Mississippian."

THIS smacks of stupidity!

[GreenHornet]

If the Republicans handled this situation the way the Dems react under such circumstances, they would do the following:

The first thing they would do is shift the focus away from Lott, and put the other party on the defensive - every time a Republican appeared on television, radio, or in print, they would bring up the fact that the other guys have a former(?) Klansman among their ranks, and remind everyone how, just last year, he used the "N" word in a nationally televised interview.

They would constantly point out how Bill Clinton recently honored segregationist J. William Fullbright, dedicating a statue in his honor just weeks ago. They would also bring up the fact that Clinton has publicly praised this man on numerous occaisions, and presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993.

They would point out how then-Democratic Governor George Wallace stood in the schoolhouse doorway in Alabama, shouting "Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever".

They would remind everyone of Democrat Lester Maddox, who, as Governor of Georgia, gave out autographed ax handles, with the implication being that they would be used as weapons against civil rights marchers.

They would be denouncing the other party for their constant practice of "Racial McCarthyism" against anyone who dares to disagree with them.

That's what the Republicans should be doing right now. Unfortunately, they still haven't learned that "taking the high road" get's you absolutely nowhere when dealing with the Democrats.

[jwalsh07]

Horse manure. Klink got re-elected and won back house seats in 1996.

Apparently, the decisions been made that Lott stays. That will be confirmed or denied tomorrow on Meet the Press when Mitch McConnell lays it all out.

[jwalsh07]

The gutless wonders polled it and it looks like the polls came back for forgiveness for Lott. America is a forgiving nation as evidenced by Clintons re-election in 1996.

[jwalsh07]

THIS smacks of stupidity!

Not if your a Northeast Liberal. Its Chafees way of saying, if Lott goes and you elect a more conservative leader, then I'm packing a bag and meeting Ronnie Musgroves hand picked successor over at the DNC.

[sneakypete]

Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee, a moderate Republican, told The Providence Journal that Lott's remarks smacked of "stupidity." He did not call for Lott to step aside, saying he worries that potential successors might be even more conservative than the Mississippian.

It's impossible to make up stuff this funny.

[sneakypete]

One Democrat, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, said the GOP must decide whether Lott "represents the views of the majority of Republicans in the Senate and in our country."

Maybe somebody should ask Bubbette! if it's still ok to scream at "bleeping Jew Bastards"?