Reply #115: He's just trotted out a new version of an old remark.

[CBHagman]

When Michel Camdessus was head of the International Monetary Fund, Lott was majority leader and made some derogatory comment about Camdessus, blasting him as a "socialist from France."

Camdessus, confronted with this quote during a question after a speech at the National Press Club, laughed merrily -- yes, there's no other way to put it -- and said something like, "Well, I am very proud to be from France, but I do not think anyone would call me a socialist." I don't know Camdessus's party affiliation, but my guess is he's more to the right or the center than the left, at least by European standards.