I just found out about the whole Trent Lott thing. How could he say something like that? OK, he was trying to praise Strom Thurmond, and using a fairly stock approach, but that's not a good excuse in this instance, considering exactly what he 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 over all these years, either."
"These problems?" What problems was he talking about? At the time, Thurmond was an outspoken segregationist; is the civil rights struggle what Lott meant? If not, why hasn't he retracted or explained what he meant? We can't say for sure because he won't say, and with Lott's past links to white supremicist organizations, the burden is on him to explain, apologize, or both.
Even if he does, I can't see him as Senate Majority Leader. The republican party cannot afford such an easy target standing in front. Do we really want the face of Trent Lott to represent the face of the republican Party? I don't.
He needs to step aside, or be put aside if he won't go willingly.
UPDATE:
Lott has apologized.
"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."
Sorry sir, but that isn't good enough. Maybe I'm being too harsh, but to me, what you say off the cuff reveals more than a scripted apology. I don't believe he should be kicked out of the Senate, but I also don't think he is a good choice for Majority leader.
Posted by Rich at December 9, 2002 11:04 PMI've been holding off on commenting on this stuff until I thought about it some. There really is no indication that he was referring to segragation. But his apology makes him look guilty.
The republicans were doing so well winning elections and stuff. This will set them back a bit.
Posted by: SayUncle on December 10, 2002 9:40 AMI am appalled by Trent Lott's statement. What else could he have meant when saying, "We could have avoided the problems we have today"? I don't know about you, but I thought that the Klu Klux Klan was B-A-N-N-E-D! I can see I'm quite mistaken. Also, what kind of an apology is the one he gave?! I wouldn't even call it an apology! Just a cry of [yes, yet another] stupidity. All I have to say is: Get your behind out of that Congress House, Mr. Lott, or I'll get it out for ya!"
Posted by: Me on December 16, 2002 5:16 PMI'am an 8th student who is in middle school in Brooklny NewYork.I think it was wrong that you wanted Segragation this would really would effect me and my friends if we had Segragation today because i have friends of many rasis and if we had to be separated i would of never met any of my wounder full friends that i have.My friends mean alot to me if i never would of met them my life would'nt be like it is today for me.
Posted by: Crystal on February 11, 2003 7:15 PM