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CNN Live At Daybreak

Update on Trent Lott Controversy

Aired December 18, 2002 - 05:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now we turn to the Trent Lott controversy in Washington. A bill signing taped by CNN two years ago highlights an apparent statement of supporter for Strom Thurmond's segregationist campaign for the White House. In this tape, Thurmond and House Speaker Dennis Hastert are signing a defense authorization bill. Lott is standing in the background and can be heard off camera.
Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRENT LOTT (R-MI), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: Now this is a famous signature right here. Should have been president in 1947.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Lott's office has provided CNN with a list of what it calls the senator's record of opportunity. Among the points made, Lott's support for funding historically black colleges and backing for trade with Africa.

While a national debate goes on over what Trent Lott said or what he meant to say. A GOP Senate debate on Lott as leader convenes in three weeks.

As CNN'S Jonathan Karl reports, it's not an open and shut case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN KARL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Trent Lott's fellow Senate Republicans are not now clamoring for his resignation, but most of them are not offering their support, either.

SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R), IOWA: Maybe we will have a new leader, but I'm going to wait and not waste any time on that until I have to make that decision.

KARL: With headlines in the major newspapers declaring President Bush wouldn't mind seeing Lott go, the official White House line is that although the president doesn't think Lott needs to resign, he will not side with him in a leadership battle.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Senators have indicated that they are calling for a meeting on January 6 and the White House will not comment on that meeting or anything leading up to that meeting. KARL: Republicans are divided. GOP Senate sources say at this point Lott does not have enough support to stay on as leader. But there are not enough votes to remove him, either, and Lott himself is determined to fight, telling ABC, "I'm the son of a shipyard worker from Pascagoula, Mississippi. I've had to fight all my life and I'm not stopping now."

And he has the support of some key Republicans, including Ted Stevens, the incoming Appropriations chairman and the most senior GOP senator, who said, "I'm going to go back and I'm going to defend my friend and I'm going to tell him he stays as our leader."

Rick Santorum, the number three Republican in the Senate, also reaffirmed his support for Lott. But Jim Talent, the newly elected senator from Missouri, took an unusual step for a freshman, suggesting in a statement that Lott is too weak to push for the GOP agenda. There is now a substantial question as to whether Senator Lott has the capacity to move that agenda forward.

(on camera): As for Democrats, they're perfectly content to sit on the sidelines while the Republicans fight this out. Senator Tom Daschle told CNN that the idea of censuring Trent Lott has been put on hold while Democrats wait to see if Republicans keep him as their leader.

Jonathan Karl, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Now, Jonathan Karl also appeared on PBS's "Charlie Rose Show" as part of a panel discussing Trent Lott. Jonathan says the story has gained momentum and has moved far beyond Lott's initial remarks about Strom Thurmond's segregationist campaign.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: Most of his friends and even his critics can see that at this point there's nothing the guy can do to change the dynamic. This is a dynamic now that is beyond Trent Lott. He's apologized, depending on how you're counting, five times now. It's hard to see, they say, that he can do anything that really changes this dynamic. Really, it depends, are there any more revelations and what are the signals coming out of the White House? And we've seen some pretty loud signals coming out of the White House that they wouldn't be sad to see him go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Among those keeping silent about the matter, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, who was a Senate colleague of Trent Lott's. But in an interview with CNN's Larry King, Ashcroft declined to give a personal opinion of the Lott controversy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Well, the president spoke very eloquently about the position of this administration and it was imply that every day America lived under segregation was a day that we betrayed the principles of this country. And he's made it clear that that's the position of this administration.

He stated the position very eloquently. For me to add or detract from it simply wouldn't be appropriate for me.

LARRY KING, HOST: But you know the senator well. You served with him in the Senate. Did it surprise you that he said what he said?

ASHCROFT: Well, Trent Lott's been my friend for a long time and I did serve him very well. I served with him and enjoyed my service with him. The president's really spoken clearly for this administration on this issue and I think I'll leave the situation there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 18, 2002 - 05:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now we turn to the Trent Lott controversy in Washington. A bill signing taped by CNN two years ago highlights an apparent statement of supporter for Strom Thurmond's segregationist campaign for the White House. In this tape, Thurmond and House Speaker Dennis Hastert are signing a defense authorization bill. Lott is standing in the background and can be heard off camera.
Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRENT LOTT (R-MI), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: Now this is a famous signature right here. Should have been president in 1947.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Lott's office has provided CNN with a list of what it calls the senator's record of opportunity. Among the points made, Lott's support for funding historically black colleges and backing for trade with Africa.

While a national debate goes on over what Trent Lott said or what he meant to say. A GOP Senate debate on Lott as leader convenes in three weeks.

As CNN'S Jonathan Karl reports, it's not an open and shut case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN KARL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Trent Lott's fellow Senate Republicans are not now clamoring for his resignation, but most of them are not offering their support, either.

SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R), IOWA: Maybe we will have a new leader, but I'm going to wait and not waste any time on that until I have to make that decision.

KARL: With headlines in the major newspapers declaring President Bush wouldn't mind seeing Lott go, the official White House line is that although the president doesn't think Lott needs to resign, he will not side with him in a leadership battle.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Senators have indicated that they are calling for a meeting on January 6 and the White House will not comment on that meeting or anything leading up to that meeting. KARL: Republicans are divided. GOP Senate sources say at this point Lott does not have enough support to stay on as leader. But there are not enough votes to remove him, either, and Lott himself is determined to fight, telling ABC, "I'm the son of a shipyard worker from Pascagoula, Mississippi. I've had to fight all my life and I'm not stopping now."

And he has the support of some key Republicans, including Ted Stevens, the incoming Appropriations chairman and the most senior GOP senator, who said, "I'm going to go back and I'm going to defend my friend and I'm going to tell him he stays as our leader."

Rick Santorum, the number three Republican in the Senate, also reaffirmed his support for Lott. But Jim Talent, the newly elected senator from Missouri, took an unusual step for a freshman, suggesting in a statement that Lott is too weak to push for the GOP agenda. There is now a substantial question as to whether Senator Lott has the capacity to move that agenda forward.

(on camera): As for Democrats, they're perfectly content to sit on the sidelines while the Republicans fight this out. Senator Tom Daschle told CNN that the idea of censuring Trent Lott has been put on hold while Democrats wait to see if Republicans keep him as their leader.

Jonathan Karl, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Now, Jonathan Karl also appeared on PBS's "Charlie Rose Show" as part of a panel discussing Trent Lott. Jonathan says the story has gained momentum and has moved far beyond Lott's initial remarks about Strom Thurmond's segregationist campaign.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: Most of his friends and even his critics can see that at this point there's nothing the guy can do to change the dynamic. This is a dynamic now that is beyond Trent Lott. He's apologized, depending on how you're counting, five times now. It's hard to see, they say, that he can do anything that really changes this dynamic. Really, it depends, are there any more revelations and what are the signals coming out of the White House? And we've seen some pretty loud signals coming out of the White House that they wouldn't be sad to see him go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Among those keeping silent about the matter, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, who was a Senate colleague of Trent Lott's. But in an interview with CNN's Larry King, Ashcroft declined to give a personal opinion of the Lott controversy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Well, the president spoke very eloquently about the position of this administration and it was imply that every day America lived under segregation was a day that we betrayed the principles of this country. And he's made it clear that that's the position of this administration.

He stated the position very eloquently. For me to add or detract from it simply wouldn't be appropriate for me.

LARRY KING, HOST: But you know the senator well. You served with him in the Senate. Did it surprise you that he said what he said?

ASHCROFT: Well, Trent Lott's been my friend for a long time and I did serve him very well. I served with him and enjoyed my service with him. The president's really spoken clearly for this administration on this issue and I think I'll leave the situation there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com