TONE MOUNTAIN, Ga., Dec. 22 — Thad Mayfield, 47, was not happy with the remarks that led to Trent Lott's demise as Senate Republican leader. But as a native of Greenwood, Miss. — just 20 miles from Mr. Lott's birthplace — he says he understands where Mr. Lott was coming from. He also says he believes he understands why the Republicans forced him from his leadership post."It certainly goes against what the president wants to project as the Republican image," said Mr. Mayfield, a black management consultant who now lives in Lithonia, Ga. "Like at the Republican convention, when...