Is Trent Lott a segregationist? What do you think?

[SwedishBizerker]

During an honorary ceremony for Strom Thermond, majority party leader Republican Senator Trent Lott stated America would have been a better place today if Sen. Strom Thermond had been elected president in his 1948 campaign for presidency(Strom was a segregationist and that was what his single-issue campaign was based on). Apparently this is not the first time Lott made such a comment. He made a similar comment many years ago according to news.

Was this statement of Lott's an accident? Perhaps it holds true to the notion that sometimes people accidently spit something out that they believe but do not want others to know about. What do you think-comments, discussion, questions?

[Samerikindasira]

Prior to this event Lott did other things that gave clues to his racist attitude.Earlier, I am led to believe that he had pictures taken with the KKK.

As many are aware that Strom Thurmond was an arch segregationist who had a history of opposing legislation that would have struck down segregationist laws. Thurmond fought tooth and nail to keep blacks and whites from mixing. Ironically, he fathered a child with the family's
black housekeeper. He did run for presidency but unsuccessfully. Lott was referring to this event when he remarked that the U.S.A. would have been better off if
Thurmund did become the president( with his outmoded and
ridiculous racist beliefs).

Were the controversial words a slip of the tongue? One's tongue expresses one's thoughts.Some Republicans may say that Lott has the right to express himself. He certainly has and hence justified the hatred for him by many Americans. Why has the Republican Party been unsuccessful in attracting more people of colour? Need I respond?

[puppyshoes]

I was born in Norfolk , VA and came from an old southern family on my mother's side. People who don't understand the south or it's history,as shameful as it was at times. Don' know why popular politicians like George Wallace and Trent Lott,among many were once considered racist and then elected to office with large numbers of blacks supporting them. Sen. Byrd of West VA was once in the klan, now he is on of our most liberal senators. Before the civil rights movement anyone who wanted to be elected to office "kissed up" to the klan. They had to or they wouldn't be elected. Look at the former Soviet Union,see all the former KGB people in office. Even Pres. Putin was KGB. When an order of great magnitude changes, the former leaders resurface. Gov. George Wallace once stood in the school door saying no Negro would ever enter an Alabama public school. Five years later he was elected with the help of the Black community. He was much loved by all races in the deep south, not ever by me. My point is that Trent Lott may have been just using the klan to get votes, back then,I have know idea what he really believes.