Bush takes Lott to task: Comments about Thurmond called offensive, wrong
Wow; just when I was beginning to think that there was nothing a Republican could do that would earn a rebuke from Shrub, he throws me a curveball.
WASHINGTON -- President Bush handed an unusually stern rebuke to a leader of his own party Thursday, calling Sen. Trent Lott's remarks about Strom Thurmond's 1948 presidential campaign offensive and wrong.
"Recent comments by Senator Lott do not reflect the spirit of our country," the president said at a rally in Philadelphia, adding to a groundswell of public criticism of Lott's comments, which many interpreted as supporting segregation.
"Any suggestion that the segregated past was acceptable or positive is offensive, and it is wrong," Bush said. "(Lott) has apologized, and rightly so. Every day our nation was segregated was a day that America was unfaithful to our founding ideals."
Although aimed at closing a painful episode over Lott's claim that the country should have followed Mississippi's lead in electing Thurmond as president, Bush's remarks served to amplify the debate and fueled calls for Lott to step down.
Of course, with the clamoring for Lott's head reaching a deafening volume, Shrub had to do SOMETHING, I suppose. Even so, I will remove my partisan tinfoil hat log enough to salute our (il)legitimately-elected President. Sometimes, even joined-at-the-hips GOBs have to admit to reality....
