Trent Lott, a racist?

[kentuck]

I remember when Trent Lott made his comments at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party. Although it came across as racist to a lot of people, at that time, I did not think that Lott meant it as it sounded. I think it was very similar to the John Kerry "joke" that was taken out of context.

Afterwards, it was not the Democrats that went after Lott, but it was Bill Frist and the White House. They forced him out and Bill Frist took over as Majority Leader. In hindsight, I think Frist was worse than Lott. Lott, with all his faults, did manage to work some with Bill Clinton and the Democrats. That's more than could be said for Bill Frist.

But, the point to remember is that it was not the Democrats that forced him out, although many were very critical, it was his own Party. And Lott has not forgotten that...

[dsc]

1. he is a racist

I know from a trusted source how racist he really is.

[Catherine Vincent]

2. I agree.

Lott knows it was the republicans that forced him out and not the Democrats.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. No he meant what he said.

He meant and said that the nation would have been much better off had segregationist Strom won his bid for the presidency in '48, way back before Nixon gathered all the racists into the Republican Party, when Dixicrats were still nominally Democrats. It weren't no joke. He meant it.

[MADem]

10. Nominally Democrats? The Dixiecrats held the rest of the party HOSTAGE

They were a lot like the far right wing of the GOP is today, at least in terms of their bullying, their usurping of the agenda, and their hateful "my way or the highway" attitude. Look back in time at Senator Russell, how he cracked the whip, enforced party discipline, and made anyone who didn't go along with his votes regarding "the negro" pay through the nose, and with their seat, if need be.

The Democrats who were "for the working man" (back in the day, well, screw the women, it was a man's world) and union types up north and out west had to kowtow to the powerful Southern Caucus, even when they didn't agree. They had the deck and the conn, back then.

LBJ was right when he said that signing that civil rights legislation ensured the loss of the south for a generation. He was right, only it was MORE than a generation. It was a painful bit of surgery, cutting off that cancerous chunk, but it needed to be done. Now, it's spread to the GOP, and they'll have to do a little healing, themselves...

[Warren Stupidity]

13. In 48 they broke off and ran Strom.

So for that year they were 'nominally' Democrats. They camed back into the fold after that until LBJ finally killed the FDR coalition from hell by passing the civil rights act.

[MADem]

14. Yep, I'll buy that. But they held WAY too much sway, for way too long.

Made the rest of us look bad. The only bright spot is that they're infecting the hell out of the GOP now.

[flamingyouth]

4. Yes, he is a racist.

He got his first job in politics as administrative assistant to leading segregationist William M. Colmer. When Colmer retired, he endorsed Lott as his successor and he won handily. Plus, that delightful tribute to Thurmond was just the latest in a string of similar comments he'd made. You can bet your bottom dollar that guy's a racist, even though the Republicans cut him loose at the time.

[Vox Acerbus]

5. Sky, blue?

[MADem]

6. He's a "personal" racist, not an "institutional" racist (though he USED to be the latter)

Trent used to be a Democrat, back in the days when Southern+Democrat equalled Racist Cracker Assshole. Just like Strom. Just like most of the old "Southern Caucus" that flipped to the GOP when LBJ signed the Civil Rights legislation.

He's gone through his White Conservative phase, his No MLK Holiday phase, his pragmatic phase, but through it all, what he has done and still does is bring J-O-B-S and pork to his state, and those bounties do NOT discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, or creed.

See, the citizenry of his state KNOW where he's coming from. They always have. They don't care, because they don't particularly want to hang out with the guy, either. They like the pork, and he brings it home. You can appreciate the work someone does in their job, but not have to like them on a personal level. He serves his constituency, and he serves them all.

[tsuki]

15. It's called grassroots, and Lott has them, in both the black and

white communities. It is a strange mix, but one that many in the south understand.

[MADem]

16. Yes, indeed. I have a friend who is a constituent of Trent's, who just "loves" the guy

...because Trent and his barrel of pork are good for his business. That said, he wouldn't particularly want to be photographed with the man, and he certainly wouldn't want to have him to dinner!!! This guy is a pragmatic Democrat, too...!

[still_one]

7. yes, always has been one

much more cleaver with the media now

Hell, the media white washed all those racists including thurmond for years

Remember the wonderful zell miller, he started his career with lester maddox antoher racist pig

The press is so ready to jump on "Krammer" for his racist words, but remain very kind to the Southern racists

They were also realatively kind to Jessie Jackson in 1984 when he referred to NYC as Hymietown in off-the-record conversations with reporters

racism in all its forms should be condemne AND EXPOSED

[EST]

8. There was a thread on DU that detailed a bit of his history

of vitriolic racism. I am too tired to do a search for it at this moment, but it was up in the last week and should be easy to find.

He is a racist bigot of the first water.

[tblue]

9. I don't give a damn and will never know what is in his heart. What matters is the legislation he

supports, how he treats people, etc.

[EST]

11. Here ya go-

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/news/opinion/16094771.htm

Courtesy of the remarkable Judi Lynn at this thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=247926

[Warpy]

12. He's a shill for the C of CC

Check out the "crime" section on their web page.

Nobody but black folks are out there committing crimes, I guess.

The stars and bars with the C of CC logo in the middle is a nice touch. I didn't check to find out how much it costs.

http://www.cofcc.org/info/Black_on_white_crime.php

Note: there is no section for white on black crime.

[DaveinMD]

17. Lott was a dixie crat

who switched parties because of the Dem position on civil rights. He has a career of being a racist.