Democrats plan to use Lott gaffe to push civil rights agenda in Congress

Associated Press / SFGate

[Chu Gary]

"Dems haven't figured out yet that the public is on to them...That's why they lost in Nov."

This is really a good thing when you think about it. The Dems continue to alienate swing voters as they go after more of the black vote. They already have 90% or more of the black vote and blacks compose about 14% of the U.S. population. Fine, go ahead Dems, spend your ammo on 10% of 14% of the population while the Pubs go after the rest.

Good deal, actually.

[katze]

"A Democratic House member, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said he relished the idea of Lott staying as Senate Majority leader or even as just a senator, saying the gaffe opened the door for all kinds of Democratic legislation."

Well, of course he would, but I see it as a reason Lott should no longer be ML.

[APBaer]

"He should be strung up by his testicles"


Objection: Assumes facts not in evidence.

[Illbay]

Everyone will now say this is Lott's fault.

Uh-uh.

It's the REPUBLICANS' fault. If they hadn't been so stupid as to allow the smear against Lott to stand, this tactic wouldn't have legs.

It ain't LOTT they're going after, it's ALL REPUBLICANS.

Pubbies are gonna run out of leaders to run off or censure before this dies down.

[Illbay]

Bullsh*t. They will simply point out that obviously Frist, or Nickles, or anyone else with an "R" after their name, are also "racists."

The Oppositions Research is already in full throttle.

Pubs could've closed ranks around Lott, knowing that he wasn't the ultimate target, but they stupidly didn't and now we're in for an interesting two years.

[Polybius]

The GOP has a choice - stick with Lott, and face it now, or dump Lott and wait to see who they go after next.

Considering the cowardice that Lott showed on the BET interview, there won't be any "facing it" with Lott as Majority Leader.

That dog won't hunt. It's time to get a new dog that is not afraid of the pheasants.

[Illbay]

Dump Lott, then we can go back to business as usual.

More intense naivete on the part of our team.

[SCHROLL]

Don't think your wish could be granted. Trent would have to have testicles to be strung up with. He doesn't.

[Illbay]

You don't get it. If Hastert and DeLay don't pass such legislation, it's because THEY are also closet segregationists.

Watch for DeLay to be one of the next targets, in fact.

[montag813]

It's the REPUBLICANS' fault. If they hadn't been so stupid as to allow the smear against Lott to stand, this tactic wouldn't have legs.

This is also correct. If Rove was such a genius then he would have called Lott ASAP to tell him to CLARIFY the remarks NOT apologize. This was not done. The Bushies were silent, then distanced themselves as soon as possible to leave Lott (and the party) dangling by fingernails.

[Political Junkie Too]

I think that there was true angst coming from Republicans, and they didn't know what to do at first.

The problem is that, in today's world, no matter how principled a position is, it will never hold up to cold, calculated political opportunism. Therefore, the first order of business is to stand against trumped up politically motivated charges. Then deal with the principles on your own terms.

One can only hope that extreme demagoguery from Democrats, coupled with principled responses from Republicans, will reinforce the concept that "adults are [still] in charge."

-PJ

[chainsaw]

Democrats plan to use Lott gaffe to push civil rights agenda in Congress

Shouldn't that read: Democrats plan to use Lott gaffe to push civil rights racism against whites agenda in Congress?

[Darling Lili]

It's the REPUBLICANS' fault. If they hadn't been so stupid as to allow the smear against Lott to stand, this tactic wouldn't have legs.

Legs?

Had Lott shown some cojones at the get-go, and taken his own hard stand to ward off a smear, this whole thing would never have GROWN legs in the first place.

If Lott had done ONE THING in his own behalf, besides grovel to protect his own hide that is, maybe THIS Republican would have cut him some slack.

As one poster put it so eloquently last night: Lott tossed a grenade to the dems, then failed to fall on it before the dems threw it back into the GOP's face.

[winin2000]

That would be true income redistribution through the tax code. Give that man a ceegar.

And the dirty truth is that this program, started under Ford, got two expansions under Reagan/Bush that had already put it into that category before Clinton even got there.

[Darling Lili]

Bullsh*t. They will simply point out that obviously Frist, or Nickles, or anyone else with an "R" after their name, are also "racists."

Who gives a fat rat's ass?? Let 'em do it! It'll only backfire... again.

[Right_in_Virginia]

"Yeah, and Trent Lott gave them a big old Christmas pie full of the moral indignation and self-righteousness that they love to gorge themselves on."

Could the pent up anger over the Clinton impeachment spilling over and giving this story long, long "legs" have helped fill that old Christmas pie?

Just food for thought ;^)

[VRW Conspirator]

Democrats say the issues that Lott may have helped them push include an expansion of hate crimes legislation to cover sexual orientation, which Republicans blocked this year;
NO

...a minimum wage increase;
NO

...national legislation banning racial profiling;
NO

...reform of death penalty laws, which activists say is used against minorities more than anyone else;
NO

...and AIDS funding, especially for Africa.
H--- NO

...Democrats are particularly looking at proposing educational affirmative action to ensure university and college admissions are fair to minorities and first-generation college-goers, officials said.
NO

"I think it would be good to have a leader who now believes in affirmative action and will take steps to make sure that affirmative action programs are implemented in every aspect of our lives," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., a leader of the Congressional Black Caucus.
NO

Even the Republican bedrock issue -- tax cuts -- will be affected by the Lott controversy, Democrats say. One Democratic aide, speaking anonymously, said Democrats plan to take him up on pushing tax policies that are beneficial to low-income Americans.
NO

This is all about opportunist politicians buying votes for their constituency, once again.

[Arpege92]

Am I reading that right? Democrats want to have tax cuts for minorities and the poor? Does that mean that a black person who is making the same amount of money doing the same job as a white person gets a break on his taxes?

[cidrasm]

Am I reading that right? Democrats want to have tax cuts for minorities and the poor? Does that mean that a black person who is making the same amount of money doing the same job as a white person gets a break on his taxes?

If Dems could, they would. But, hey, for their constituents, it makes a good sound bite.

[Arpege92]

Lott makes a mistake that offends people and he apologizes over and over again but apparently that is not going to be enough for the Democrats. Fine, I think Jesse Jackson has not done enough to prove that he truly is sorry to all people of the Jewish faith and he is going to have to pay big time if he wants to get back onto the good side of Jews. We all know that he is not a fan of Jews but lets milk this for all it's worth! Does anyone have any ideas as to how Jackson should pay for his thoughtless words?