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CNN Live At Daybreak

Talk of CNN: Lott's Troubles

Aired December 18, 2002 - 06:37   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: Trent Lott's political future is still the big topic of conversation on talk radio as well.
Syndicated talk show host Neal Boortz joins us by phone. He's in Atlanta.

Good to hear from you, Neal. What are the listeners saying?

NEAL BOORTZ, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Well, every day, I'm hoping we can go on the air and not talk about Trent Lott today, and then every day, something else happens that just -- you have to talk about Trent Lott.

WHITFIELD: Well, who's driving that, your listeners? They want to talk about it, huh?

BOORTZ: Well, the listeners are and the news is. For instance, John Lewis this morning, who is a wonderful man, coming out endorsing Trent Lott. Well, of course, he's endorsing Trent Lott. Trent Lott is the biggest friend they have on Capitol Hill right now. He can be counted -- I mean, John Lewis could introduce a bill in the next Congress to mandate the metric system in the United States, call it a civil rights bill, and Trent Lott's going to support it.

The biggest question right now is whether Trent Lott -- if Trent Lott is going to leave the Senate after he loses his leadership position, is he going to do it this year or next year? This year, they have a special election in 90 days. Next year, it's a 50/50 split in the Senate until the November elections.

WHITFIELD: Well, Neal, you're sounding like a Capitol Hill correspondent. What are some of your listeners saying about whether they think Trent Lott can indeed continue to be an effective leader?

BOORTZ: Very few, Fredricka -- very few of the listeners are saying that he can be an effective leader for the Republican agenda in Congress. He can be now a very effective leader for the agenda of the Black Congressional Caucus.

WHITFIELD: All right, Neal Boortz, thank you very much.

BOORTZ: Thank you.

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 - 06:37   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Trent Lott's political future is still the big topic of conversation on talk radio as well.
Syndicated talk show host Neal Boortz joins us by phone. He's in Atlanta.

Good to hear from you, Neal. What are the listeners saying?

NEAL BOORTZ, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Well, every day, I'm hoping we can go on the air and not talk about Trent Lott today, and then every day, something else happens that just -- you have to talk about Trent Lott.

WHITFIELD: Well, who's driving that, your listeners? They want to talk about it, huh?

BOORTZ: Well, the listeners are and the news is. For instance, John Lewis this morning, who is a wonderful man, coming out endorsing Trent Lott. Well, of course, he's endorsing Trent Lott. Trent Lott is the biggest friend they have on Capitol Hill right now. He can be counted -- I mean, John Lewis could introduce a bill in the next Congress to mandate the metric system in the United States, call it a civil rights bill, and Trent Lott's going to support it.

The biggest question right now is whether Trent Lott -- if Trent Lott is going to leave the Senate after he loses his leadership position, is he going to do it this year or next year? This year, they have a special election in 90 days. Next year, it's a 50/50 split in the Senate until the November elections.

WHITFIELD: Well, Neal, you're sounding like a Capitol Hill correspondent. What are some of your listeners saying about whether they think Trent Lott can indeed continue to be an effective leader?

BOORTZ: Very few, Fredricka -- very few of the listeners are saying that he can be an effective leader for the Republican agenda in Congress. He can be now a very effective leader for the agenda of the Black Congressional Caucus.

WHITFIELD: All right, Neal Boortz, thank you very much.

BOORTZ: Thank you.

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