Notwithstanding that I am a card-carrying member of the Republican Party, I think Trent Lott ought to step down as Senate Majority Leader for his remarks this past week honoring Strom Thurmond. For those who missed it, Lott praised Mississippi’s vote favoring Thurmond in the 1948 Presidential Election and suggested the country would have been better off if Thurmond had won. Thurmond ran as a “DixieCrat” on a platform of segregation.
It is my view that blacks and other minorities have a greater chance of influencing government policies and advancing the economic and political interests of their constituencies within the Republican Party rather than within the Democratic Party which patronizes them and has taken their support for granted. Republicans have made great inroads in becoming more inclusive as a party over the last several decades and party leaders need to make clear that attitudes as expressed by Lott will be firmly and conclusively repudiated in the GOP. I was very glad to hear President Bush’s remarks today.
“Any suggestion that a segregated past was acceptable or positive is offensive and it is wrong.”
“He (Lott) has apologized and rightly so. Every day our nation was segregated was a day that America was unfaithful to our founding ideals," Bush said. “And the founding ideals of our nation and in fact the founding ideals of the political party I represent was and remains today the equal dignity and equal rights of every American.”
The guy apologized. He has never put forward, any segregationist views, in all the time he has been in the public life, and especially as a Majority Leader in the Senate.
He made one mistake and spoke the wrong thing. Admitted his mistake.
The only black member of the Congress elected on Repblican platform has supported Lott, even though he criticized that one particular statement. So, I don't think its a big deal.
However, if Republicans wish to dump Lott and bring in a fresh face, for any other reason, thats probably ok. But to sack him for this particular mistake will be unjust. In my opinion. :)
The Republicans are the Party of Lincoln. About time they returned to that spirit. Good on Bush for giving Lott a public whupping, now he needs to ask him to stand down from party leadership. Did it seem like Lott just let his "inner monologue" slip out? Almost like he forgot he was talking?
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*Originally posted by Faisal: *
The guy apologized. He has never put forward, any segregationist views, in all the time he has been in the public life, and especially as a Majority Leader in the Senate.
He made one mistake and spoke the wrong thing. Admitted his mistake.
The only black member of the Congress elected on Repblican platform has supported Lott, even though he criticized that one particular statement. So, I don't think its a big deal.
However, if Republicans wish to dump Lott and bring in a fresh face, for any other reason, thats probably ok. But to sack him for this particular mistake will be unjust. In my opinion. :)
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I would agree with you if it was his first time. The papers are now showing his identical quotes from 20 years ago, and some people are mentioning remarks he made off the record. See NYTimes todays editorial and also the news report on the incidence. I think he should not lead the GOP Party. I am not a republican, but I agree with myvoice that it would be better for USA if the parties became more color blind, and hence it is necessary that the inclusiveness that GOP started should continue. That is why I think the inroads GOP has made into the Latino community due Bush ( Jeb and GW ) is great.
Faisal:
Lott certainly is entitled to voice his opinion on any issue he sees fit and serve in the US Senate as a representative of those people who voted for him. Being in a leadership position for the party in the Senate is a whole different issue. I don't want MY party to have a leader who believes anything near to what he said about Thurmond. Lott should actually place the interests of his party ahead of his own interest. He could do more good and send a more powerful message by resigning his leadership post than any other act he could now do.
Well, if he has shown a consistent pattern of racial discrimination, then I would definitely support kicking him out from his position of Majority Leader.
I am just a bit hesistent to call for his head based on just one unfortunate remark/mistake for which he already apologized.
A lot of hard right republicans want Lott out of there. Lott should meet with African-American leaders throughout the country and go from there. The actions of some other Congressman are much more despicable yet they aren't called out. Since Bush has turned on Lott my guess is that his days as head are numbered unless damage control can get things in order quickly.
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*Originally posted by underthedome: *
Lott should meet with African-American leaders throughout the country and go from there.
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Lott might/ought to take a little sensitivity training on his own time. The GOP can demonstrate its sensitivity a little more tangibly and quickly: i.e. replace him as Senate Majority Leader. The issues confronting our country are too serious right now to permit the debate to get sidetracked in partisan nonsense involving who's more racist than whom. The DEMS play the race card as often as possible and now we get Lott providing them with the ammo they need for their race gun. Stupid, moronic, imbecilic, ludicrous. He couldn't have done much worse if he'd worn a hood over his head at the Thurmond birthday bash.
Lott might/ought to take a little sensitivity training on his own time. The GOP can demonstrate its sensitivity a little more tangibly and quickly: i.e. replace him as Senate Majority Leader. The issues confronting our country are too serious right now to permit the debate to get sidetracked in partisan nonsense involving who's more racist than whom. The DEMS play the race card as often as possible and now we get Lott providing them with the ammo they need for their race gun. Stupid, moronic, imbecilic, ludicrous. He couldn't have done much worse if he'd worn a hood over his head at the Thurmond birthday bash.
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If a head republican is making racist comments perhaps the Dems have been justified in bringing up race, no?
If a head republican is making racist comments perhaps the Dems have been justified in bringing up race, no?
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No more so than the right Reverend Jessie Jackson calling New York "Hymietown."
People from both parties make racist comments from time to time. I don't think either party controls the moral high ground on this one. But how the leaders and the majority of the rank and file respond to such comments reflects on the party as a whole. I want my party to do me proud. GW's prompt rebuke sets the right tone but I think more should be done.
There are plenty of Democrats with questionable statements in the past.. but that's exactly that.. the past.. No one is questioning Lott on what he might have said in the past, but to say his current statements in front of an audience including press was a 'poor choice of words' is just taking everyone else for a fool. How else did he want to phrase that??
He's got to show some responsible behavior instead of scurrying to sympathetic talk show hosts for damage control. The Republican party should distance themself from him as having a bigot running around the Senate with a bulls eye painted on his back would do them no good in getting any bipartisan support to further their agenda.
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*Originally posted by Soggy: *
There are plenty of Democrats with questionable statements in the past.. but that's exactly that.. the past.. No one is questioning Lott on what he might have said in the past, but to say his current statements in front of an audience including press was a 'poor choice of words' is just taking everyone else for a fool. How else did he want to phrase that??
He's got to show some responsible behavior instead of scurrying to sympathetic talk show hosts for damage control. The Republican party should distance themself from him as having a bigot running around the Senate with a bulls eye painted on his back would do them no good in getting any bipartisan support to further their agenda.
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Soggy: Hard to believe that you and I are in so much agreement on something. You ask a GREAT question: i.e. "How else did he want to phrase that??"
When GW totally destroys the English Language, that usually involves a "poor choice of words." In Lott's case, it's not that the words that are the problem but the clear sentiment that they convey. There are no words that can make the underlying sentiment more palatable.
What about that former KKK member Robert Byrd who is Democrat? Didn't he call some people ni**ers just some weeks ago? Why isn't he being called to resign.
Well now it turns out he actively participated in keeping blacks out of a fraternity in his college days so there goes his cover of not being a 'separationist' himself.
What a tempest in a teapot! It was obvious that he was speaking of Thurmond's dedication and service to the country, and not any one position he may or may have not historically taken! But, it just highlights their desperation following their well-deserved trouncing in the recent elections! The Democrats live in WAY too big a glass house of their own to be throwing stones Lott's way! The whole affair is a waste of time and energy!
Lotta trouble. What’s new? Good to see some other news dominating editorials besides Sadam’s WMDs. Lott is USA’s version of WMD. His words are only a tiny reflection of the policies that he has advocated for the past 3 terms. You guys check out how many times he has voted against the welfare and improving social services. He is an embarrassment even if he had not said what he did.