Lott Faces Continuing Resentment From Conservatives

Washington Post ^ | 12/14/2002 | Thomas B. Edsall and Dan Balz

[ArcLight]

The major hurdle facing Trent Lott's struggle to remain Senate majority leader is not the Democratic Party and its liberal allies, but a powerful faction within the conservative wing of the GOP -- an array of columnists, southern newspapers and opinion leaders -- demanding that Lott resign from his leadership position.

Lott's controversial suggestion that the nation would be better off if it had elected segregationist candidate Strom Thurmond to the presidency in 1948 has infuriated many conservative activists, who have been struggling to rid the Republican Party of its image as the party opposed to civil rights and the interests of minorities.

[ArcLight]

Excellent article. Too bad they didn't put it on Page One...

[tomahawk]

Quote from the article: "This is a matter for the [Senate] fraternity to resolve."

Really, which fraternity? Sigma Nu, the one Lott lobbied to keep blacks from joining? I thought the Senate was there to govern the nation, and keep us safe, not to be a fraternity where stupid frat boy Lott makes us look like the Stupid Party for having him as its Senate leader.

[inkling]

Lott continues his long, storied career of making a mockery of conservatism and the party of Lincoln. He would rather hand the Senate over to the Democrats -- during a time of war no less -- than simply swallow his pride. He must go.

[Reagan Man]

It would appear there are a lot of conservatives who are running away from being labeled segregationists and racists by the liberal establishment. Those on the left have done a magnificent job in the last week of scaring the hell out of conservatives and Republicans alike.

This unfortunate episode has shown how thin skinned many on the right really are. Weak kneed conservatives and spineless Republicans have chosen to condemn Trent Lott and kowtow to leftwing class warfare and special intetests. They'd rather, turn tail and run from the race baiting and double standards promoted by the in your face, politically correct liberal left. And behind it all, are the black liberal elites, led by their very own hypocritical leadership.

[goldstategop]

Actually, I'm proud of how conservatives came through this. We stood up for character and principle. Our opponents stood down for character assassination and rank political opportunism. The difference between conservatives and liberals is a clear as the difference between day and night. If we're harsh on Lott, its the result of our conviction our leaders must set a personal example of the highest caliber and what they do reflects upon the party. The Dems may be satisfied with someone like Bill Clinton to lead them. We are not and when it comes to leadership we're the party committed to excellence both political and personal. That's why Lott has to go. He failed to meet these standards we demand of ourselves and our leaders.

[Nick Danger]

"If the only people raising doubts were Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, this story would have died of its own weight several days ago.

This is off topic, but that's an interesting quote... and one that must warm the cockles of Al Sharpton's heart. Here he is mentioned in the Washington Post as a peer of Jesse Jackson. He has sure come a long way from his Tawana Brawley days.

In fact, if Sharpton could recover from that episode, and still be taken halfway seriously today, there's hope for Trent Lott.

---

I found it interesting that the Post writers did not mention the load of dung that the President heaped on Mr. Lott.

[over3Owithabrain]

Well, I guess George W is weak-kneed. And I guess Lott himself is spineless (nothing new there). Both have condemned him for his idiotic remarks. Many conservatives who fight the libs valiantly at every turn are not doing so on this one. Does that tell you anything? Lott is getting more support than he deserves, not only for the current gaffe, but for his lifetime of fecklessness.

Why don't good folks like you get it - only an ABSOLUTE MORON would publicly praise a 1948 segragationist campaign. That is what Lott did, regardless of motive. He handed the libs this issue to exploit on a silver platter. I'm glad most conservatives want this buffoon out of power.

[davidtalker]

Well put! I will not allow Trent Lott to set back the progress we have made in making certain Conservatism and racism are not synonymous. We must bring African_Americans and other minorities into our ranks. Lott must answer to us not the loonies on the Left.

[Texasforever]

Actually, I'm proud of how conservatives came through this. We stood up for character and principle

No you bowed down to yet another Borking of a republican leader. "Conservatives" like you are cowards. The new state religion is the God of PC and its worshipers are legion.

[Nick Danger]

It would appear there are a lot of conservatives who are running away from being labeled segregationists and racists by the liberal establishment.

Screw the liberal establishment. There are a lot of conservatives who do not want racist jerks in the Republican party.

This creature was seen waddling in its fraternity. It quacked in 1980. It quacked again in 1992. And now it just walked up on stage and went QUACK. Some people are starting to think, "Hey, this thing is a duck."

[goldstategop]

Trent Lott is such a leader that he couldn't spare the party being branded racist by the Left as he twisted slowly in the wind. And you wonder why conservatives are full of disgust and fury.

[goldstategop]

Yup. If it were just Maxine Waters and Jesse Jackson this story would have collapsed of its own weight a week back. Lott's not in trouble because the Dems are out for his hide but because Republicans are. Conservatives are the wrecking ball to his half assed and inept leadership in Washington, D.C.

[goldstategop]

Hey we run away like hell from anything that smells redolent of association with a Dixiecrat racist. We won't want race baiters and segregationists to take over our party. Let the Dems have theirs.

[Texasforever]

And you wonder why conservatives are full of disgust and fury.

No "conservatives" are full of terror at the very mention of racism and that is why there will be NO change in how the majority leader interacts with liberals regardless of who replaces Lott. Lott is just the appetizer.

[over3Owithabrain]

You are right on - and don't let namecallers get you down. The only cowards are those who can't call wrong for what it is because a Democrat might agree with them now and then and use it for their own selfish gain.

If I go outside and see that the sky is blue, and Jesse Jackson walks by (God forbid) and calls the sky blue, I'm not going to deny it because he said it first.

[EternalVigilance]

No "conservatives" are full of terror at the very mention of racism...

I'm not.

...and that is why there will be NO change in how the majority leader interacts with liberals regardless of who replaces Lott. Lott is just the appetizer.

Then let them eat the candy-*ss...we will find leaders who are not so easily ate.

[EternalVigilance]

You can slander conservatives all you want...but the fact remains that it was Lott who was down on his knees today kissing the race pimps feet...not us.

[Texasforever]

You can slander conservatives all you want

I don't consider race hustlers conservatives.

[Reagan Man]

We're have you been the last week?

Definitely not on planet Earth.

This was all about remarks Lott made at a birthday gathering for a 100 year old senator. Remarks that were taken and twisted out of proportion, first by the liberal establishment and later joined by many conservatives and Republicans. It was a low level event and Lott had no malicious intentions in mind. Lott made no conscious effort to raise the issues of racism and segregationism, so he could be condemned and labeled a bigot by FatTeddyK and run roughshod over by conservative pundits, looking to cover their own butts.

This has nothing to do with conviction either, at least not here on FreeRepublic. Lott is hated by many FReepers and dislike by even more. They still hold Lott directly responsible, for his failure to garner the 51 Senatorial votes required to find Clinton gulity as charged. Some seem to consider that a mortal sin. I think those people need to get over it already.

I'm a staunch conservative and while I don't care to see Lott remain in the leadership position, I definitely don't support or condone the treatment he has received this week by so-called conservatives on this forum. I'm appalled at the lack of defense that conservatives have offered in general for Sen.Lott. Lott may not be a warm and fuzzy individual, but he did nothing seriouly wrong. Lott has even apologized numerous times now for what have been called, 'stupid and insensitive remarks'. But Lott is no racist.

[Reagan Man]

I'm not slandering conservatives, I'm simply telling the truth. If you don't like hearing the truth, too bad. If the shoe fits EV.....