What should be the lot for Trent Lott? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Diesel-Lover · #1 12-16-2002, 08:48 PM

Hi all,

Just wondered what the forum members think of the Lott fiasco?
I'm kinda in the middle dont know which way to go.
His record are kinda indicative of his beliefs, but then isn't this a free country and are there not people who help balance out and round out the senate?
If he said he was sorry and really means it, then hey lets give him a chance and see. There is always the next election eh. No need to string him up, the republicans are just foaming for nothing. Perhaps he should just step down as the majority leader before he gets whipped, BUT stay in his seat and not flinch at doing his job as he sees fit.

Cap'n Carageous · #2 12-16-2002, 09:13 PM

Bill, I couldn't agree more. But we all know THAT ain't gonna happen because it's fodder for the press. Maybe when we bomb somebody he'll get a break.

9/11 sure put an end to the minute by minute 'no new leads' reports in the Chandra Levy story! The press and the public loves a scandal, but they don't need to stir up race relations that happened over 50 years ago. Let's move forward.

drbrandini · #3 12-16-2002, 10:14 PM

I only heard of this briefly do to exams but If all he said was, "Strom Thurman should have been elected president a long time ago" I think this thing has been blown way out. Think about it even if he really felt this way I am sure he is smart enough not to make a comment like this on national television intentionally. I think he just misspoke.

Snibble · #4 12-16-2002, 11:09 PM

Just shows you how "free" this country is. What happened to "freedom of speech"? So what if he said something that made many people angry? He can say whatever he wants as long as it makes him look like an ass. He appologized for his stupidity and we should move on. The media was waiting for something new to grab a bite of and it has found this.

suginami · #5 12-16-2002, 11:33 PM

I'm a card carrying, conservative Republican in good standing, and I believe he should go. His voting record and life history in regards to race is bad, his comments are an embarrassment to himself and his party, he presents an easy target for Democrats in the next two years and next election cycle, and he hurts George Dubbya Bush's objective in reaching out to Hispanics and African Americans.

In the words of the new Los Angeles Chief of Police William Bratton, "hang 'em high!".

kchemers · #6 12-16-2002, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tkamiya
Absolutely nothing has happened to the freedom of speech. It's his guranteed right to speak his mind and he did. That does not mean others has to like what he had to say.

This time, majority seem to disagree with him. Because he is/was a representative of us, the citizens, and his view no longer reflects that of the majority, he is being asked to (by many) leave his office.

If he was an ordinary citizen, like you and I, people will dis-like us for having unpopular view. He is a politician and we are in democratic country where they are supposed to be our representatives carrying our values and acting on our behalf. Obviously, he didn't reflect majority views in his statement. Mistake or otherwise, he should have been alot more careful.

Because there is a freedom of speech, he is not procecuted for what he said. Police or the goverment is not arresting him. He is not in jail. He did nothing illegal. This is in contrast to some contries such as old Russia, current China, and many current middle eastern countries. In these countries, where freedom of speech does not exist, if you mis-speak, you could be arrested, jailed or even killed.

Freedom of speech says this in the first amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

As you can see here, it only gurantees that there will be no laws that will prohibit the freedom of speech. It does not say one can say anything he/she wants and there will be no consequences.

Freedom of speech is a precious and noble idea. Let's treat it that way....

By the way, Snibble, what you said is your view, and you certainly have the right to think that way. If the Lott's action is within the acceptable range for you, then he could be your representative.

He does not reflect my view, so I support his resignation. What I just said is my view guranteed by the first amendment, too.

(Let's keep this thread Civil, folks.... We had too many threads that went wild recently. We need not another one!!)

ditto

-Volkl42

Snibble · #7 12-16-2002, 11:43 PM

By the way, Snibble, what you said is your view, and you certainly have the right to think that way. If the Lott's action is within the acceptable range for you, then he could be your representative.

I never said its acceptable, but can we label him in the "black book" for saying something stupid in a vague way?

kchemers · #8 12-16-2002, 11:46 PM

Trent Lott had every right to say what he did. Just like America has every right to ask him to step down. In his interview on BET, Mr. Lott said that he is behind and supports affirmative action. WHAT? I am in both college democrats and college republicans. I am against affirmative action. The republicans are against affirmative action. Shouldn't one of the top republican party leaders hold all the views of the party? I think so. This isn't just something the media has blown out of proportion. Lott has been a problem for a while now, just that this particular issue, him being a racist, has finally been shed light on and people are taking notice.

-Volkl42

rdanz · #9 12-16-2002, 11:51 PM

Lott needs to go.

kchemers · #10 12-16-2002, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snibble

I never said its acceptable, but can we label him in the "black book" for saying something stupid in a vague way?

It is a little more than that. In his statement to Thurmond, he said not only not only did Mississippi vote for Strom, but "And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years either." Is saying this man is a racist blowing it out of proportion? No. He voted against making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday. During the civil rights movement, he was an open segregationist. As head of the national board for his fraternity, he proposed and implented, with quite an opposition, a clause stating that only white males could join that greek circle. This man grew up in the South during some turbulent times. If he wants to be racist, he can be a racist. If the american people ask him to step down as the majority leader, then they have every right to have their wishes met. But then of course, the American had every right to have Al Gore as president, but...

-Volkl42

Gil · #11 12-17-2002, 12:00 AM

I have to wonder what they'd all be talking about were it not for one social faux pas by one Senator. This thing has gone into turbo overkill.

This is being milked for all it can be in a transparent attempt to black-ball the entire Republican party. Nobody did this when Senator (Sheets) Byrd used the "N" word to describe black people more than once in an interview about three years ago. He also voted against the 1964 civil rights act, yet he's accepted by modern Democrats. Shouldn't Byrd be asked to leave too?

I say Lott should stay, since it seems to me the Republicans are the only ones ever asked to resign over anything (Gingrich, Livingston, etc) while the Democrats have to literally be thrown out or hauled off to jail before they part with their seats (Rostenkowski, Torcelli, Jim Wright, etc.)

Resignation is a losers bet and a cheap, unwarranted guilt trip.

Gil

kerry · #12 12-17-2002, 12:09 AM

I guess trying to impeach someone doesn't count as asking someone to resign.

kchemers · #13 12-17-2002, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gil
I have to wonder what they'd all be talking about were it not for one social faux pas by one Senator. This thing has gone into turbo overkill.

This is being milked for all it can be in a transparent attempt to black-ball the entire Republican party. Nobody did this when Senator (Sheets) Byrd used the "N" word to describe black people more than once in an interview about three years ago. He also voted against the 1964 civil rights act, yet he's accepted by modern Democrats. Shouldn't Byrd be asked to leave too?

No one, well, at least I'm not saying he should be thrown out of congress. Even racists need their representation. What I am saying is he should step down from the Senate Majority leader position. I beleive that's what America is asking too. The reason "this is being milked for all it can be in a transparent attempt to black-ball the entire Republican party" is because he is the Senate Majority leader. He, aside from George and Dick, are the faces for the republicans. I say bring on McCain

-Volkl42