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WASHINGTON (AP) - Faced with an uproar over his remark that the nation would have been better off if Strom Thurmond had won the presidency when he ran on a segregationist ticket in 1948, Senate Republican leader Trent Lott apologized Monday night, saying he misspoke. "A poor choice of words conveyed to some the impression that I embrace the digarded policies of the past," Lott, R-Miss., said in a statement. "Nothing could be further from the truth, and I apologize to anyone who was offended by my statement." Lott spokesman Ron Bonjean said the senator issued the statement "out of...

chatterboxBlurted Out Conviction of the Week: Trent LottWhat's a little segregationism among friends?By Timothy NoahPosted Friday, December 6, 2002, at 1:54 PM PT "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had of followed our lead we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."—Trent Lott at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party, as reported Dec. 6 in ABC News' political Weblog, The Note. To watch a video of the festivities, click here."I want to tell you, ladies...

Reverand Al Shaprton, Presdient of the National Action Network, has asked for a meeting with Republican National Committee Chair Marc Racicot and has announced that he will begin a national camaign calling for the removal of Senator Trent Lott.

After his remarks at Strom Thurmonds 100th Birthday Party, is seems to me that my Republican party has a simple choice.Either they get rid of Lott as Majority Leader, or they should come out formally as a party that regrets segregation and civil rights for African Americans.Why are the Republican commentators so silent on this?And where are the liberals?Bill Kristol, to his credit, expressed disbelief.. (at Lott's comments)

WASHINGTON -- Senate Republican leader Trent Lott of Mississippi has provoked criticism by saying the United States would have been better off if then-segregationist candidate Strom Thurmond had won the presidency in 1948. ... In 1998 and 1999, Lott was criticized after disclosures that he had been a speaker at meetings of the Council of Conservative Citizens, an organization formed to succeed the segregationist white Citizens' Councils of the 1960s. In a 1992 speech in Greenwood, Miss., Lott told CCC members: "The people in this room stand for the right principles and the right philosophy. Let's take it in the...

This is not easy to do. I have liked Trent Lott for most of his career. However I believe his recent comments have gone to far. He needs to resign as majority leader. Here is what he said: Speaking Thursday at a 100th birthday party and retirement celebration for Sen. Thurmond (R-S.C.) in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Lott said, "I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems...

Tim Russert just said on the panel discussion to Robert Novak, Bill Safire and David Broder that Jesse Jackson had given him a statement calling Lott a 'Confederate' for his remarks supporting Strom Thurmond and requesting his resignation from the Senate as Incoming Majority Leader.No details were given about possible protests by Jacksons Rainbow coalition on the controversy

WASHINGTON - The Rev. Jesse Jackson called on Sen. Trent Lott to resign as GOP leader yesterday for saying the nation would have been better off had Strom Thurmond been elected President in 1948. The remark about Thurmond - then a committed segregationist - stunned a Capitol Hill party Thursday night marking Thurmond's 100th birthday and retirement from the Senate. "When Strom Thurmond ran for President, we voted for him," Lott (R-Miss.) said at the party. "And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years." Jackson phoned...

Blasting comments attributed to Sen. Trent Lott, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. on Sunday called for the incoming Senate majority leader to quit. "Trent Lott must step down," Jackson said in a statement. "He is supposed to be Senate majority leader for all Americans, but he once again has shown he is interested only in Confederates." Jackson rebuked Lott after the Mississippi Republican glowingly recounted the 1948 presidential campaign of Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., who turned 100 last week. Speaking at a birthday party for the lawmaker, Lott said the United States would have been better off had the then-segregationist won....