I do think the charge was specious, given that he didn't make his statements once or twice, but perhaps dozens of times. It was an inside joke between him and Thurmond that broke through the haze of senility and made him smile at his retirement events. It was not a Freudian slip that belies a deeper feeling. Sure, he may have those deeper feelings, only he knows for sure, but I don't think the statements were proof of that, just a gag routine between him and Thurmond that did in front of local supporters.
The specious part was that his critics know this, and being intellectually dishonest by calling him a racist and demanding that he resign.
-PJ
And who, with any political savvy, runs up and grabs ahold of stupidity like that?