Acutally, that's been the tack of Lott's defenders. Since his actual words were nostalgic for Thurmond's Dixiecrat campaign, we're told that's not what he "really meant," or "really thought."
No I take words as they are spoken and leave the mind reading to Miss Cleo. This was pay back for Lott not following thru on the impeachment and it has nothing to do with race beyond a convenient "last straw". Keep on rationalizing it becomes you.