Even if Lott didn’t mean that Thurmond should’ve been elected on the segregationist ticket and that integration shouldn’t have occurred, he can’t explain away this statement:

“I want to say this about my state. When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We’re proud of it.”

They voted for Thurmond’s politics. Not the man or his life, but the platform on which he ran. And that, Mr. Majority Leader, is certainly something of which one should be proud.

Guess that means Mr. Lott voted straight segregationist.

If race were the only issue in 1948, you’d have a point. However, it was not.

Strom Thurmond ran as a dixiecrat in 1948, a party that was formed as a segregationist political party. So yes, that was the only issue. If you are voting for or supporting a dixiecrat, you are supporting segregation, plain and simple.

Exactly. Even if there were a ton of other issues in 1948, one as divisive and morally wrong as segregation should have prevented people from voting for a Dixiecrat.

Come on, thousands of people didn’t vote for Clinton based on the belief that he dodged the draft. And that wasn’t the only issue. But people didn’t vote me him because they thought they might be supporting a so-called draft-dodger.

I`m a proud Racist and it`s about time Mr Lott came out of the closet and spoke his mind, in this God awful politically correct world we live in.
If more people, like Mr. Lott, come out of the closet, their is still time to correct the wrong that the Kennedy`s and Martin Luther King started.

I agree with Racerat on one thing: it is time that these racists in our midst spoke their minds. That way, we can censure them and get them out of office. Now, I believe in free speech, and I think that Racerat and anyone else can say and think anything that he/she wants, but there’s trouble when people who are governing our country hide their beliefs and opinions and simply act on them behind closed doors. So, yes, Racerat, we do need for all these racists to let us know who they are.

you ridiculous neopyte liberals. will you never learn? still playing your only pathetic card, the race card. tsk tsk. watch as this “controversy evaporates into the ether. afte all, it must, and the dems know this all to well, and are merely testing the wind…again, seeing if it’s safe to go back in the “intolerant liberal waters”,and start the old ways back up again. calling pubs racist over and over to see if it will stick like in the old clinton days. well, it ain’t happenin’

what lott said was not racist. it was what it was.

grand dragon of the klan is just a bit more overtly racist, don’t you think?

and isn’t that dem sen byrds weekend hobby afterall?

in fact, lets cut the bullshit here.
the ONLY party with a long history of klan membership is… all together now
the democrats…all the way back to slavery days.

truth is, the majority of people in this country are white. they’re sick of only being considered an after thought in in the nation they and their forefathers overwhelmingly created. all of these assumptions about race and equality have been scream about but nobody dare speak about…comparisons. paerhaps the tempermental differences between the recessive gene euroman and the strong african genetic racial traits of africanus negroid aren’t on the same par. have we become some absolutely childlike and stunted as to allow absolutley no questioning of “racial laws”? have we really come to the point to where the mere voiced support of a sitting sen. for president in 48 is automatically a statement in support of all the supposed evils associated with said sen. thurmond?

does this also mean clintons hiring of an advisor that said “we’ll have them niggers voting democrat for the next 200 years” is proof of HIS alignment with a certain hardcore racist bald cajun named james carville.

oh this minefield is far to loaded on the dem side
to start stepping in it would only reduce the entire democratic party to dust

not to mention all of the america hating liberal communist sympathizers that infest the democratic party to this day.

There are so many problems with wiseowl’s post that I haven’t the time nor the inclination to mention them all. That being the case, I’ll start with the first fragment.

“you ridiculous neopyte liberals.”
I can only assume you mean neophyte since neopyte isn’t a word. However, neophyte means novice or new convert. (Unless you’re referring to the words origins, which newly planted.) Either way, those of us who are liberals are not new converts or novices.

Those who post here who aren’t liberals can still see racism when it’s presence is as obvious as the sun. In fact, you might consider reading about the conservative politicians who’ve come out against Lott’s statement. Why? Because no matter the political affiliation, racism is still racism.

All of you racists are sick bastards Lott made a comment about a man who ran a segregationists ticket. If we elected him a racist would be in the White House. So how can Lott say he didn’t make a racist comment? He was endorsing a man who was a racist in 1948! We wouldn’t have all these problems if all the good people in this country were not killed like John and Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Medger Evers. If only these five men lived long lives.

I have to agree with that person Kevin. The fact of the matter is Trent Lott said we should have elected Strom Thurman in 1948. Strom Thurman was a racist man at the time. If we elected him who knows how bad things might have been.He didn’t even care that black people were being lynched!The fact of the matter is Lott must go he made a poor racist remark.

This isn’t the first time Lott has uttered racist remarks about Thurmond. During a Reagan campaign rally in 1980 in Jackson, Miss., Lott took the microphone after Thurmond had finished and said, “If we had elected this man 30 years ago, we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in today.” Slip up once, shame on you; slip up twice — STEP DOWN, you racist pig!

And, by the way, wiseowl is an idiot … who signed the Voting Rights Act? A Democrat. Who have fought for civil rights over the past 40, 50 years? Democrats. What rock do you live under, for Christ’s sake? And as for “all of AMerica hating liberl communist sympathizers …” I think America would ALSO hate CONSERVATIVE communist sympathizers … which is where Lott and Thurmond fall.

What amazes me is people in Thurmond’s home state continued to elect the ol’ bastard all these years. And Lott’s “apology” said something to the effect of, “I apologize if my remarks offended anyone.” Hey Trent, ol’ buddy, It’s not your remarks, it’s your ideology, your line of thinking, that are offensive. After all, you wouldn’t SAY it if you didn’t THINK it …

Wiseowl’s commentary reflects the belief of the majority of Conservatives in this country, including most of the prominent Republican leaders. However, they realize that they cannont state these views publicly in the way that Wiseowl does. If only they would, this country could honestly face some of its problems. Any white person living in the United States realizes that racism is still common. Why does the south vote overwhelmingly Republican? Isn’t this the same base upon which Dixiecrats Like Strom Thurmond and George Wallace based their support? And didn’t they both (along with the vast majority of other Dixiecrats) become Republicans. The fact that the Southern Dixiecrats were ever Democrats only reflects how elitist and pro-business the Republican party was in the early 20th Century. The Great Depression caused such disparate groups as Southern racists and big city socialists (among others) to form the New Deal coalition which probably saved the capitalism system in this country. When Civil Rights were endorsed at the 1948 Democratic Party, the Southern Democrats start to bolt from the party. Trent Lott himself worked on the staff of a segregationist Democratic Senator in the 1960’s — and then became a Republican. The point is that this country needs all the
Wiseowls to speak their minds so their positions can be honestly debated.

Tommyj6168 said:
“Wiseowl’s commentary reflects the belief of the majority of Conservatives in this country, including most of the prominent Republican leaders.”

How are you an authority on what the majority of conservatives (especially the leaders) think? If they think that, then why did President Bush denounce him thursday in a speech in front of republicans, then get a 30 second standing ovation for it. I was watching it on CNN.

Wiseowl said, “truth is, the majority of people in this country are white. they’re sick of only being considered an after thought in in the nation they and their forefathers overwhelmingly created.”

Again, how can he speak on behalf of the majority of whites? I’m white. 75% of all my friends are white. I don’t know a single one that thinks this way. I don’t know a single white that feels like “an afterthought.” If a majority of whites really feel this way, I would have met one by now. Several of my friends are conservative, too.

Wiseowl wrote:
“paerhaps the tempermental differences between the recessive gene euroman and the strong african genetic racial traits of africanus negroid aren’t on the same par. have we become some absolutely childlike and stunted as to allow absolutley no questioning of “racial laws”?”

The above statement is as ignorant as they come. That sounds like a Jimmy The Greek comment, blaming your feelings of inadequacy on genetics. 99.8% of all human genes are identical. that is a scientific fact. If you take DNA alone, you can NOT determine a persons race from their genes. It’s scientifically impossible. In fact, you are 99% identical to the Orangutan on the top of this Web site. Maybe that’s why he’s screaming.

Wiseowl says:
“have we really come to the point to where the mere voiced support of a sitting sen. for president in 48 is automatically a statement in support of all the supposed evils associated with said sen. thurmond?”

Yes and yes! He was a dixiecrat. A party founded on racism. Support of a dixiecrat is support of racism. It’s that simple.

If Sen. Lott was so sorry for the comment, how’s come he did not apologize right afterward when he was told by members of his party that the comment was out of line? Why did he wait 4 days (when the media picked it up) to issue a comment?

“Trent Lott himself worked on the staff of a segregationist Democratic Senator in the 1960’s…”

What senator was it? Is it a senator still in power? Is it a senator spouting racist talk? If so, he should be booted out of office. No one here is playing the Republican vs. Democrat game. Racism is racism and no matter who participates in it needs to be tar and feathered.

Tommyj6168 and Wiseowl, I’m guessing you are both white and have never had anyone call you the N word. I’m guessing you’ve never not been seated at a food establishment because of your skin color. You have no idea how that hurts to the core of your soul. The founding fathers that said we’re all equal to be counted… then quickly added the 5/8’s rule. I don’t think the founding fathers (some of whom were slave owners) should be held as authorities on this issue.

Oh lookie, Senator Trent Lott helped lead a successful battle to prevent his college fraternity from admitting blacks to any of its chapters.

Wiseowl said:
“what lott said was not racist.”

Maybe you’re right. but what he did was. Actions speak louder than words.

Jetteva wrote above: “‘My comments were not an endorsement of his positions of over 50 years ago, but of the man and his life.’ How can you endorse a man and his life, but not his positions? A man is the positions he takes on things. Hilter had a position on Jews. It doesn’t matter if Hilter like puppies and violets, it’s the position on Jews that made the man.” Let me retort in a round-about sort of way.

But first let me state that I believe most all Americans are quite sick of the proverbial bloody sacrificial prairie-killing when the lone donkey or elephant becomes separated from its herd. But also, be on notice: this is partisan politics at best and at worst a career politician making a severely ill-mannered, ill-timed, and obviously insensitive comment.

Back to the retort. And I retort not because I am in defense of the Senator’s comments, but because I am disgusted by the overt attempt by the Democratic pundits to blow this up without some level of introspection. So let’s look. . .

Bill Clinton openly–OPENLY–acknowledges that one of his greatest mentors is William J. Fulbright. Mr. Fulbright was one of 19 Senators to criticize the Supreme Court’s decision to integrate the public school system in Brown vs. Board of Education. Did any of you call for Clinton’s head because–get this–he OPENLY SUPPORTS a known racist? No. He is championed as the “first Black President”. Jetteva writes, “How can you endorse a man and his life, but not his positions?” I don’t know. You tell us.

Jesse Jackson, not only an acknowledged philanderer and dispenser of bodily fluids into “white people’s food” (please see Rev. Al Sharpton’s clever backtrack on Hannity and Colmes), at one time called Chicago “himey-town”. Himey is a known derogatory term for a Jew. And not only has he yet to apologize for that comment, he to this day remains a leading Democratic spokesman. Did any of you call for his head because–get this–he is a KNOWN RACIST HIMSELF? No. He is championed as a great civil-rights leader. Jetteva writes, “Hitler had a position on Jews.” Well, so did the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

So, as Jetteva so truthfully notes, “A man is the position he takes on things.” Well, if you count Clinton’s obstruction of justice, Clinton’s lying to a Grand Jury and America, Clinton’s use of the “Oral” office, Jackson’s adultery, Jackson’s lack of self-restraint for spitting in white people’s food, Jackson’s position on Jews, Al Sharpton’s well-documented support of an admitted lying “rape victim” in New York, I would venture to say that the Democratic party has in its ranks some of their own who need to be either discounted or dismissed. Trent Lott is just one of the many. But DO NOT turn this into a headhunt for headhunting sake. Racism is not politics, it is real.

then that’s probably why I said this earlier, “No one here is playing the Republican vs. Democrat game. Racism is racism and no matter who participates in it needs to be tar and feathered.”

I never said Lott was evil and Clinton was good. I’ve been saying, since way back to my very first job as a cultural diversity trainer in Columbus Public Schools, that racism is racism and those that commit it should be punished.

The black caucus is racist to label Lott’s recent comment as racist. Maxine Waters just noted on MSNBC that Lott voted for Thurman in ‘48 and still supports his separatist platform today. Well, he was about 8 years old in ‘48, not of voting age or likely to be absorbing therman’s policies.

The non-Maxine interpretation is that he was reflecting on his working knowledge of Thurman, a period when Thurman was singing a less abrasive but good GOP tune. However, his error was in suggesting thurman should have won, w/o knowing the full implications of this event (he was about 8 then).

He should be asked to step down by the GOP, because his loose lips rocks the ship, not beacuse he is racist. That neanderthal would be about my last choise for majority leader.

If Strom Thurman, in Trent Lott’s considered opinion, was the best that this country had to offer circa 1948, then let’s just hang ourselves now. Thurman only carried a meagre 39 electoral votes and was hardly a player. States won by Thurman included South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The American public had no appetite for Thurman, and so voted. Harry Truman won with 303 electoral votes, and Thomas Dewey earned 189. So to review Trent Lott’s statement about “we voted for him”. So what? He voted among bigots, and Thurman is Lott’s prize cow.

“If Strom Thurman, in Trent Lott’s considered opinion, was the best that this country had to offer circa 1948, then let’s just hang ourselves now”

Key words ‘considerd opinion’ …. it was a superficial opinion w/o consideration of specific implications. But hey, just continue to flatulate erronious intent and fan those flames.

Regardless as to what was said and the way we all interpreted it. Mr. Lott asked for forgiveness and we all have to forgive. We all have a little racism inside of us whether it be against black or white. He who is without sin (or racial comment) let him cast the first stone. The man admitted his mistake and asked for our forgiveness and we have to forgive him. Now let’s move on with our lives.

Forgive, sure. But a verbally clumsy person like lott should not be ’speaker’ of the Senate.

Well, then we all agree that racism is bad. Let’s applaud ourselves on the obvious. But such definitions as “hate speech” that are so conveniently tagged onto racism for the purposes of “punishing” someone is completely a different story.

Trent Lott should be able to step down on his own. He should not be “forced” out of office based upon something that, at best, he implied. If the man wants to position himself in this manner, then let him show his true colors–if they even were his true colors.

Just remember that the same amendment that allows you to post your opinions on this website is the same amendment that allow Sen. Lott to express his desire for a man to win an election 54 years ago. And if you don’t like it, then maybe–just maybe–you should yourself look introspectively to find out exactly why you keep focusing on these little dots instead of backing away to see the whole picture?

No one said he couldn’t exercise his 1st Admendment rights. Of course he can. But as a public official, he has to represent the public. All of them. When he makes comments that are suspect, has actions that are more suspect (like voting against MLK, Jr. day, trying to keep blacks out of his college) then the questions is raised, who does he represent in DC? Clearly not everyone.

He likely doesn’t represent much more than big biz, just like every other politican, democrat or repub, but the philosophy when we like to convince ourselves might be true, is now completely broken.

See, on this site, I speak for me and only me. In DC, Lott is suppose to speak for everyone in his state, not everyone in his state who happens to be white. And that’s what people wonder now.

I urge people to check out the op/ed by Peggy Noonan on this issue. She has summed it all up greatly.

Responding to Jetteva’s points about my previous posting, you are correct that I am white and I do not know what it is like to be African-American in this country. Listening to my African-American friends, I can only gain a mere inkling of what their experience is. But I have a lot of experience conversing with white people in situations in which African-Americans are not around. The comments range from off-color jokes to overt racism. The vast majority of these people have learned that they cannot make these statements when African-Americans are present. Racism still exists in this country and Senator Lott’s statement is a stark and public reminder of it. You are also correct to point out that I should not pretend to speak for all conservatives. However, I fervently believe that the current Conservative majority is based largely upon the vote of unreformed Southern bigots. Is it a coincidence that only months after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Barry Goldwater (who overtly campaigned against the Civil Rights Act) was soundly defeated, but generated overwhelming support in the deep South. That was the first time that the South voted so uniformly for a Republican presidential candidate since Reconstruction! This was the same southern voting bloc which helped to elect Nixon, Reagan, and George W. Bush. Trent Lott is a direct reflection of this phenomenon. With this in mind, his support of the 1948 Dixiecrats is not much of a surprise.

I forgot to mention that the segregationist Dixiecrat for whom Trent Lott worked in the 1960’s was William Colmer. And yes Mr. America he was a Democrat. Isn’t it interesting, though, that when he died in 1972, his handpicked successor Trent Lott ran as a Republican. Did the racists who elected Colmer instantly have a change of heart and go back to the “party of Lincoln” when Colmer died? Oh I’m sorry, there are no racists in Mississippi and they certainly would not vote Republican! That is ancient history. We should all forget about that and unite to fight a war against Iraq.

is racism bad? yes. Should people be allowed to speak their minds or make “off color” jokes? yes. What bothers me and what a lot of people forget is these people are in positions of power and make decisions that affect all americans. It is scary that people like Strom Thurmond exist and even scarier that he was a american senator until he was 100 years old. America is by no means a perfect place but I believe in the ideal that is “sold” to us as americans that we should all recieve fair and equal opportunities.

yes, lets forget about all this and “unite to fight a war against Iraq”. nothing in this country is as important as gotng out and getting that perrenial arch-nemesis.

Angel Ne wrote: “The man admitted his mistake and asked for our forgiveness and we have to forgive him. Now let’s move on with our lives.”

Even if Trent Lott deserves to be forgiven, we must note that forgiving does not mean forgetting.

Forgiving means making an allowance for or excusing a mistake. Assuming his statement was a mistake, despite its previous utterance in very similar clothing, forgiving him does not mean we should dismiss the so-called mistake from our minds. And that is what makes moving on with our lives a little tough.

You see, he’s not just a senator, but he’s also Speaker of the House. That means he’s in a leadership position in a nation that claims to be a melting pot. Yet he doesn’t seem to represent that melting pot. Can we forgive him for that? Sure. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. But should we forget that a leader of this nation has uttered racist rhetoric on more than one occasion. No.

And I don’t say, “No” because we never seem to forget anything politicians do in their past. I say, “No” because we should not forget that certain aspects of a person’s character can affect his or her ability to do a particular job. If uttering racist statements means Lott has racist tendencies or is racist, then he will not act in a non-discriminatory fashion when it comes to representing the people of his state or nation.

So, while I applaud your willingness to forgive, I must take issue with your apparent willingness to forget. Particularly since when it comes to politics and race, this country has moved on with its life far too often and forgotten far too many acts and statements that continue to bite those of color in their respective asses.

Senator Lott has bad hair, he used to be a cheerleader in school. He his comments are only the tip of the iceberg. I challenge everyone to look into the Council of Conservative Citizens. This a group Lott associates with, and they different chapters in various states. Upon further invetsigation you should see a pattern, or network known racist. This group, sporting about 15,000 members, mostly in the South, is essentially a descendant of the white Citizens’ Councils that formerly opposed integration in the South. Headed by Gordon Lee Baum, a St. Louis lawyer, its issues involve the protection of “European-American” heritage against the hordes of minorities.

This is Gay and so am i.

Oh you can all just go screw american government. It’s for the birds and i personally say lets all just go screw bill and then later, mabey perhaps the next day, Kill all the Jews and handicaps. Who’s with me? Eh!

The comment was not racist,huh?

You just keep on telling yourself that.That’s all I have to say.