Trent Lott Should Resign - David Horowitz

FrontPage Magazine - David's Blog ^ | Dec. 11, 2002 | David Horowitz

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Trent Lott Should Resign

The revelation that Trent Lott made a similar remark about Thurmond's segregationist presidential campaign twenty years ago comes as no surprise. Desegregation was the most important domestic event in Lott's lifetime, especially because of his role as a leading politician in what was once the most segregated racist state in the union. If he was oblivious to the implications of his outrageous remarks at Thurmond's party, that is reason enough for him to step down as Republican leader in the Senate. The stakes are simply too high to allow this kind of political stupidity (which is to put the best spin on it) to pass without consequence. It is bad for the Republican Party and for the country.

That said, one should not let the hypocrisy of some members of the Black Caucus go unnoticed. California congresswoman Diane Watson, former State Senator and former ambassador to Micronesia is one of those calling for Lott's head as though he were a dedicated racist. Watson is infamous for attacking Ward Connerly's interracial marriage on racial grounds. This would be hypocrisy enough. But she is also indebted to Trent Lott for making her ambassadorship -- which was blocked by the opposition of her hated (or should I say hateful) colleage Maxine Waters (the antagonism is personal not political). With Watson's appointment in limbo because of Waters' opposition, Lott intervened on Watson's behalf to make her appointment possible. This episode makes Watson a prime candidate for the Jean Carnahan award for graceless ingratitude.

Here's a comment from a Republican reader:

Senator Lott's apology was disingenuous. He talked about "discarded policies" of the past--not wrong policies. He speaks in code; he antagonizes blacks with his transparent longing for the ante-bellum South. I don't think Senator Lott is a racist, and I do think the Black Caucus is vicious and hypocritical. But Trent Lott as majority leader spells disaster for the politcal future of the Republican Party.

Kathleen

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Over 35 FR Lott threads in two days...and counting.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Over 35...that's a Lott.

Sorry...

[billorites]

Lott's Sin, in my opinion, is that he's ineffective.

[Revolting cat!]

Looks a lot like a Trent Lott trend in Trenton!

Not sorry!

[TomGuy]

Time to start the betting -- day and time, Washington DC -- that Lott announces his withdrawal from the Majority Leader position.

His situation has reached the level that makes it nearly impossible to recover from. If he hangs on, he will be neutered and will impact the 2004 Republican position. Lott has become a ineffective leader, a liability.

[JohnGalt]

How do figure when the Confederate flag decided multiple races in the South just a month ago?

[Poohbah]

Bulldoze the Vacant Lott.

[Poohbah]

Lott's on the NATIONAL stage, not just the Southron stage.

The rest of the country thinks he's a dingbat, at best.

[MadIvan]

I've wanted Trent Lott's head on a platter ever since I read David Schipper's "Sell Out". I thought he was weak during impeachment, "Sell Out" showed he was downright criminal. Lott getting the boot on the basis of being stupid is not ideal, mind - but it's better than him remaining where he is.

Regards, Ivan

[Paul Atreides]

Though Mr. Pom-pom should have been replaced long ago, the Clinton Party hypocrisy on this is sickening.

[copycat]

Mark Levin was on the Hannity show today, and convinced me NOT to want Lott to step down, or even give one inch.

In effect, his point was "Do you want Lott to quit because of a concocted racial attack?" IOW, if you disagree with his leadership, fine, but if he quits now, it will only give validity to the charges, and will embolden the left to character assissinate more Republicans.

Lott should stand up like a man and say "I made a mistake by saying something insensitive, now get over it."

[JohnGalt]

So offend the South, to please the New York Times editorial board? That's good thinking.

[k2blader]

The space has already been alLotted.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

My contempt at the speech police hystericals is beyond words. This is what they look like - watch the stoninc scene in "Life of Brian"

[Revolting cat!]

I think there should be a LOTTery to decide the next ML!

[goodnesswins]

And, WHEN has Senator LOTT EVER NOT given one inch? The Administration/Republican's need to find another reason to change the leadership.....Lott is just the propaganda baby right now that the left has chosen to demonize, there will ALWAYS be one.....he's being demonized for nothing, but he does NOT have the Balls to say it. If he did, then he should stay.

[Poohbah]

So offend the South, to please the New York Times editorial board? That's good thinking.

No, it's not offensive to the South--Trent Lott's stupidity is far more offensive to them than anything the NYT editorial board might say--and his stupidity is also offensive to the rest of the nation.

Let's get this straight: most of the conservative Republicans I know out here in California are making jokes about why Trent Lott is living proof that cousins should not marry.

[Revolting cat!]

... and the vote should be by secret baLOTT!

[Hugin]

I'm no fan of Trent Lott, and in fact his inept leadership culminating in his remark about the Kelly Flynn affair caused me to re-register Libertarian after 20 years as a Republican. But Horrowitz is just plain wrong about this one. To dump him at this point would only embolden the RATS and perpetuate the double standard whereby Pubs are forced to resign for the most insignificant trangressions (remember Newt Gingritch, Speaker Michaels, Sen. Packwood?), but RATS never do.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Lott's courageous and intelligent critics