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A Troubled Lott

Aired December 16, 2002 - 13:01   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: First, the battle brewing against Trent Lott. Is the leader becoming a liability, or can he convince his critics he's not a racist? Some Republican senators are challenging their comrade. Our Jonathan Karl is talking to people on Capitol Hill. He joins us now with the very latest -- Jon.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the very latest is the Republicans have decided that they will go forward and convene a meeting, a conference of the 51 Republican senators, to decide the fate of Senator Trent Lott. This is something that a few Republicans have been calling for. Let's remember, make very clear, Trent Lott was elected to a two-year term as Republican leader back in November. So this is a fairly extraordinary measure.

The Republicans have decided to go forward with this. They've set aside some time on January 6th at 2:00. This would be bringing the Republican conference back just one day earlier than they normally would be. There is significant movement within the Republican Party up on the Hill, the 51 senators, to do this earlier than January, a point that was underscored by Chuck Hagel in an interview with me earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: How in the world can we go into a new Congress in this kind of world with that in play, with this thing accelerating every day about charges and counter charges? This is dangerous, and it's irresponsible. And I don't care where my colleagues are, we need to get back here. We need to get this done, and focused on and get it behind us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: Of course, it would be a logistical challenge, to say the least, to get all 51 Republicans back before January, because they are all spread out all over the country in their home state. Some of them, in fact, are outside the country on international delegations. So bringing them back before January is an incredible challenge.

Right now, at the very least, they will be coming back one day earlier, on January 6th, to decide the fate of Trent Lott.

Back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: John, we were talking about that on Friday, the fate of Trent Lott, and this process that's happening, this vetting process, and looking at other people possibly that may replace him. Is that still going forward?

KARL: Certainly. And what's happening is people are trying to be very tentative in terms of talking about who would actually challenge Trent Lott. There are some names that are talked about, for instance, Don Nickles, who was the first one to float the idea that Trent Lott, Republicans need to decide whether or not he still should be their leader. He is somebody who has made no secret in the past for his desire to move up. He's somebody you could expect to throw his hat in the ring. He said now this is about simply bringing the Republicans together to decide if Lott should continue to be their leader and if that's the direction to go.

Another name you hear mentioned a lot is Bill Frist, senator from Tennessee, somebody who's been a close ally of Trent Lott, somebody who is a favorite of the White House.

But, again, Bill Frist has put out a statement, he has made absolutely no decision about what should happen in terms of this controversy, about whether or not there should be a leadership change, let alone whether or not he would be the one that would try to run for leader.

PHILLIPS: Jonathan Karl, 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 16, 2002 - 13:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: First, the battle brewing against Trent Lott. Is the leader becoming a liability, or can he convince his critics he's not a racist? Some Republican senators are challenging their comrade. Our Jonathan Karl is talking to people on Capitol Hill. He joins us now with the very latest -- Jon.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the very latest is the Republicans have decided that they will go forward and convene a meeting, a conference of the 51 Republican senators, to decide the fate of Senator Trent Lott. This is something that a few Republicans have been calling for. Let's remember, make very clear, Trent Lott was elected to a two-year term as Republican leader back in November. So this is a fairly extraordinary measure.

The Republicans have decided to go forward with this. They've set aside some time on January 6th at 2:00. This would be bringing the Republican conference back just one day earlier than they normally would be. There is significant movement within the Republican Party up on the Hill, the 51 senators, to do this earlier than January, a point that was underscored by Chuck Hagel in an interview with me earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: How in the world can we go into a new Congress in this kind of world with that in play, with this thing accelerating every day about charges and counter charges? This is dangerous, and it's irresponsible. And I don't care where my colleagues are, we need to get back here. We need to get this done, and focused on and get it behind us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARL: Of course, it would be a logistical challenge, to say the least, to get all 51 Republicans back before January, because they are all spread out all over the country in their home state. Some of them, in fact, are outside the country on international delegations. So bringing them back before January is an incredible challenge.

Right now, at the very least, they will be coming back one day earlier, on January 6th, to decide the fate of Trent Lott.

Back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: John, we were talking about that on Friday, the fate of Trent Lott, and this process that's happening, this vetting process, and looking at other people possibly that may replace him. Is that still going forward?

KARL: Certainly. And what's happening is people are trying to be very tentative in terms of talking about who would actually challenge Trent Lott. There are some names that are talked about, for instance, Don Nickles, who was the first one to float the idea that Trent Lott, Republicans need to decide whether or not he still should be their leader. He is somebody who has made no secret in the past for his desire to move up. He's somebody you could expect to throw his hat in the ring. He said now this is about simply bringing the Republicans together to decide if Lott should continue to be their leader and if that's the direction to go.

Another name you hear mentioned a lot is Bill Frist, senator from Tennessee, somebody who's been a close ally of Trent Lott, somebody who is a favorite of the White House.

But, again, Bill Frist has put out a statement, he has made absolutely no decision about what should happen in terms of this controversy, about whether or not there should be a leadership change, let alone whether or not he would be the one that would try to run for leader.

PHILLIPS: Jonathan Karl, 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