Posted on 12/14/2002 8:02:48 AM PST by FairOpinion
Political correctness reared its ugly head again with the media firestorm over remarks that Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R.-Miss.) made at the 100th birthday party for Strom Thurmond (R.-S.C.). In an attempt to be gracious, Lott said the nation would have been better off if Thurmond, retiring after his long years of service in the Senate, had been elected President in 1948 when he was the nominee of the State’s Rights Democratic Party.
Quick to take offense was Rep. Elijah Cummings (D.-Md.), the new chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, who is quoted in [the December 10] Washington Post as being "very concerned" and "very upset" about what Lott had said. Cummings said the CBC was "trying to resolve exactly what action we will take." Perhaps the CBC is debating whether to call for Lott’s censure or his departure from the leadership post.
Whatever else one thinks of Thurmond, his record in Washington belies the stereotype of a crude Southern racist in the mold of a Senator Bilbo, particularly in the later years when he paid very close attention to the concerns of black voters of his state. Human Events political reporter John Gizzi reviewed Thurmond’s record in an online story. Gizzi noted that in the years following World War II when Thurmond was governor of South Carolina and made his presidential bid, there is no question that he was a supporter of segregation. Almost any successful Southern politician was back then, including those thought to be relatively progressive such as Senators John Sparkman (D.-Ala.) and J. William Fulbright (D.-Ark.). However, as governor, Thurmond sought to abolish the poll taxes that limited black voter participation and to improve the state’s segregated school system.
I’ve known Trent Lott for almost 35 years. We have spent a great deal of time together both socially and professionally, including many instances where he was out of earshot of reporters. We were on trips overseas and were in situations where, if Trent is a racist, it would have been clear. Yet, I’ve never heard one word come from his mouth that could be construed as racist. Not a joke. Not a flip remark. Nothing.
But political reporters seized upon his remark, causing even Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D.-S.D.), as partisan a Democrat as you will find, to come to the defense of Trent Lott. Now, Daschle has backtracked, facing criticism from within his own ranks for having come to the defense of his adversary across the aisle.
Those in the conservative movement know that I have had serious differences with Trent over the years regarding his leadership of the Republicans in the U.S. Senate. Believe me, I am hoping and praying that he will be a tougher leader of the 108th Congress than he was in the last session or in other past ones.
However, he absolutely should not resign over the unfortunate remarks that he made at a birthday party in attempting to pay homage to an aging senator.
Knowing Trent as I do and how strongly he is opposed to communism, I believe what he meant to say is that Thurmond was a patriot and had he been elected we would have taken a much tougher stance vis a vis the Soviet Union than what the foreign policy establishment would have favored. Resigning over this issue would greatly strengthen the opposition. So, Trent would be doing the right thing by his country by not giving the left the victory they want just because he had made an unthinking comment.
________________ Mr. Weyrich is chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation.
"I want to say this about my state," Mississippian Mr. Lott said. "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."
When I heard those remarks while listening to the celebration over C-Span radio, I almost drove off the road. No, you didn't, I said to myself. No, you didn't really say that.
But, he did. Within a couple of days, he was taking it back. But, the damage was done and probably will keep on being done. One can easily imagine Mr. Lott's sound bite in Democratic ads in 2004. Right next to it, they can run some choice 1948 Thurmond quote, like, "All the laws of Washington and all the bayonets of the Army cannot force the Negro into our homes, our schools, our churches."
Repeat for emphasis: ""When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it." You are the one who isn't listening.
He clarified them yesterday, and has apologized for them. And, he's going to go on BET.
I'd quit the Senate before I'd go on BET. Yecch!
I'm listening to Trent Lott. You're listening to race pimps like Clarence Page.
Why do believe Clarence Page and not Paul Weyrich? Clarence Page doesn't know Trent Lott; Weyrich does. So does Dick Morris.
You want to believe Clarence Page.
Are you one of those still pissed about impeachment?
He said he was sorry for his insensitive, hurtful words.
I believe him when he says he did not intend for his words to be perceived as how many on the left have twisted and manipulated them into.
His first apology should have been more than enough.
Agreed. But the dumbed-down American public often confuses quantity with quality.
And, it's Sales 101 that, when you're selling, you have to mention how great your product is numerous times before it sinks in.
Eventually, the public will get "grovel-fatigue" and will tell FReepers and the race pimps to leave Trent alone.
Those Conservatives, who want to distance themselves from the Thurmond tribute, are demonstrating some very serious errors. Let me list just a few:
1. If there is a serious criticism of Thurmond in 1948, it would not be for his patriotic views, nor his belief in strict construction of the United States Constitution, but in his appearing, at least at that moment, to be waging a one issue campaign. A Presidential candidate needs to address a whole complex of issues. While his lifelong service clearly demonstrates that a President Thurmond would have been more than competent to address the entire picture as President, that may be lost to some--particularly outside the South--in the emphasis on preserving traditional Southern culture. But note, that "one issue" emphasis is precisely the basis for this attack on Trent Lott. And what makes that one issue emphasis all the more ridiculous, now, is that it is being waged 54+ years, after the event.
2. While there have been many mean spirited actions taken on different sides of racial, cultural, economic class and religious differences, throughout human history, including American History, which can fairly be described as "shameful," having a different point of view as to whether all peoples living within a given State should be treated as a monolithic society, or as multiple distinct societies, based upon reason derived criteria, is not a shameful thing. And having different views on historic issues is not a shameful thing. Those who are quick to jump through hoops to appease an agenda driven Leftist hue and cry, by denouncing major parts of the American tradition as shameful, are setting the stage for a totalitarian Socialist mindset, similar to those in Communist Russia and Nazi Germany, where there is no debate; there is no reflection or uncontrolled study of history or current affairs--only an endless parrotting of an official line.
3. The general public only cares about this issue, at all, because of the stupid Republican and "Conservative" response. Had they laughed this off as a totally ridiculous aspersion--an attempt by fanatics to dictate how others view history, and of no relevance to any issue before the U.S. Senate today--and demanded that those fanatics tell us just what they are advocating that the Senate do now, or "shut the ____ up, about a toast at a justly honored Senator's birthday party; everyone but those fanatics would have considered the issue done with. There is, of course, no way that any Republican apology will appease those seeking to make an issue of this. Their tears are crocodile tears; their anger, a tactical device, that has already achieved much of its objective in the stupid Republican reaction.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.