Senate GOP: Lott’s Racist Comments Are No Longer An Issue, ‚Äö√Ñ√≤Admire Him For Coming Back’
Senate Republicans chose Trent Lott (R-MS) as their new Minority Whip. In 2002, Lott was forced to step down as Majority Leader when “comments he made at former Sen. Strom Thurmond’s (R-SC) birthday party touched off a racially charged controversy.” At the time, Sen. Charles Hagel (R-NE) said the remark was a “dumb statement” that “raises questions about his judgment.” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said Lott needed to “proactively send a message to his colleagues in the Senate and the American people that he is absolutely opposed to any segregation in any form and racism in any form and discrimination in any form.”
In 2002, it was racism. Today, it’s a complete non-event. And we’re not talking about benign, garden-variety racism. Trent Lott’s “insert foot in mouth moment” at a birthday party for the late Strom Thurmond was neither subtle nor light-hearted, He was justifiably and appropriately reviled for his racism, which has no place in today’s politics. Yes, Lott may be a “good ol’ boy” from Mississippi, but he has a responsibility to ALL residents of Mississippi, and indeed all Americans. Though his raw, obtuse racism was exposed for all to see in 2002, the passage of four years seems to have found him rehabilitated…at least in the minds of his fellow Republican Senators. Even John McCain is calling Lott “the most effective leader I know.” (It doesn’t hurt that Lott is supporting McCain’s nascent Presidential campaign.)
The truly sad and disappointing thing about Lott’s election as Senate Minority Whip is that his racist comments never even came up during his nomination. It’s as if they never happened…and in the minds of Senate Republicans, they didn’t. Being a Reprublican means never having to say you’re sorry- or face up to the reality that you’re openly and aggressively supporting a racist. Nice, eh?
That was then…this is now…boys will be boys.