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American Morning
Growing Controversy Surrounding Senator Trent Lott
Aired December 11, 2002 - 07:36 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bill, we're going to shift over to the growing controversy surrounding Senator Trent Lott. The Republican leader apologized for what he called his poor choice of word during Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party. Lott's comment last week have brought charges of racism and calls for his resignation. And apparently Lott also expressed similar sentiments back in 1980.
Jonathan Karl is on Capitol Hill this morning and he has the latest -- Jon, good morning.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
This is an interesting development that happened overnight. It turns out that Trent Lott said virtually exactly the same thing as those comments that he made last week at Strom Thurmond's birthday party back in 1980. It was a rally in support of the candidacy of President Reagan, then candidate Ronald Reagan.
Trent Lott was speaking after Strom Thurmond. Reagan was not in attendance, but several other prominent Republicans were. And after Strom Thurmond gave a speech in support of Ronald Reagan, Trent Lott got up and said, according to an account at the time published in a Jackson, Mississippi newspaper: "You know if we had elected this man" -- meaning Strom Thurmond -- "30 years ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we are today."
That was the comment. Trent Lott's office does not dispute that he said that back in 1980. But Trent -- in a statement they said that his comments were strictly about Ronald Reagan, about what Strom Thurmond had said about Ronald Reagan.
The statement from Trent Lott's office reading: "Clearly, Senator Lott was expressing his support for Ronald Reagan's policies of smaller government and fiscal responsibility."
But this is something that is sure to continue the controversy surrounding this whole situation, which looked like it was ending yesterday. But even before this, Lott was under enormous pressure. The president of the NAACP did not accept his apology and called on him to resign as majority leader.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KWEISI MFUME, PRESIDENT, NAACP: And I, quite frankly, I don't think that the Republican Party is served well now or into the future, if Trent Lott, after these remarks, are allowed to stay in that position as the leader of the Senate, representing all Republicans, because it doesn't represent all Republicans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: Now, Lott's supporters are saying that this controversy is about politics and Democrats wanting to exploit the situation to hurt him politically and not about race. Lott's supporters are saying that he was, that he has long been a supporter of integration, not standing for the segregationist policies of Strom Thurmond, and point out that he was at the University of Mississippi at the time that James Meredith became the first African-American to attend that school and that Lott stood up against the race riots that ensued and was later recognized for that.
But, Daryn, you can be sure that this new revelation, which came out late last night, is sure to stir this controversy and create more headaches for Trent Lott today.
KAGAN: Well, Jonathan, I guess the question is what more can Trent Lott do? He apologized for the remarks at Strom Thurmond's birthday party. Does he need to come out again and apologize for something he said all those years ago or, as you said, has this thing just taken on a life of its own?
KARL: Well, Trent Lott apologized for his choice of words last week, saying he did not intend to speak that way. So what's going to happen now is he will face demands for him to come out and explain if he was apologizing for his choice of words last week, why was he using almost precisely the same choice of words 22 years ago?
KAGAN: Democrats haven't been able to stir up much on Capitol Hill. Do you think they'll be able to keep this one going?
KARL: This one may have a life of its own. It's all going to depend on what Trent Lott says in response to this. This is clearly something that has outraged a lot of people. Initially, Tom Daschle, the top Democrat here, basically gave Trent Lott a pass on this issue, saying well, look, we all misspeak from time to time. But Daschle was even forced to come out and condemn these remarks stronger after the amazing outrage, the tremendous outrage coming from many prominent African-American leaders.
KAGAN: All right, Jonathan Karl on Capitol Hill, 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 11, 2002 - 07:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bill, we're going to shift over to the growing controversy surrounding Senator Trent Lott. The Republican leader apologized for what he called his poor choice of word during Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party. Lott's comment last week have brought charges of racism and calls for his resignation. And apparently Lott also expressed similar sentiments back in 1980.
Jonathan Karl is on Capitol Hill this morning and he has the latest -- Jon, good morning.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
This is an interesting development that happened overnight. It turns out that Trent Lott said virtually exactly the same thing as those comments that he made last week at Strom Thurmond's birthday party back in 1980. It was a rally in support of the candidacy of President Reagan, then candidate Ronald Reagan.
Trent Lott was speaking after Strom Thurmond. Reagan was not in attendance, but several other prominent Republicans were. And after Strom Thurmond gave a speech in support of Ronald Reagan, Trent Lott got up and said, according to an account at the time published in a Jackson, Mississippi newspaper: "You know if we had elected this man" -- meaning Strom Thurmond -- "30 years ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we are today."
That was the comment. Trent Lott's office does not dispute that he said that back in 1980. But Trent -- in a statement they said that his comments were strictly about Ronald Reagan, about what Strom Thurmond had said about Ronald Reagan.
The statement from Trent Lott's office reading: "Clearly, Senator Lott was expressing his support for Ronald Reagan's policies of smaller government and fiscal responsibility."
But this is something that is sure to continue the controversy surrounding this whole situation, which looked like it was ending yesterday. But even before this, Lott was under enormous pressure. The president of the NAACP did not accept his apology and called on him to resign as majority leader.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KWEISI MFUME, PRESIDENT, NAACP: And I, quite frankly, I don't think that the Republican Party is served well now or into the future, if Trent Lott, after these remarks, are allowed to stay in that position as the leader of the Senate, representing all Republicans, because it doesn't represent all Republicans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARL: Now, Lott's supporters are saying that this controversy is about politics and Democrats wanting to exploit the situation to hurt him politically and not about race. Lott's supporters are saying that he was, that he has long been a supporter of integration, not standing for the segregationist policies of Strom Thurmond, and point out that he was at the University of Mississippi at the time that James Meredith became the first African-American to attend that school and that Lott stood up against the race riots that ensued and was later recognized for that.
But, Daryn, you can be sure that this new revelation, which came out late last night, is sure to stir this controversy and create more headaches for Trent Lott today.
KAGAN: Well, Jonathan, I guess the question is what more can Trent Lott do? He apologized for the remarks at Strom Thurmond's birthday party. Does he need to come out again and apologize for something he said all those years ago or, as you said, has this thing just taken on a life of its own?
KARL: Well, Trent Lott apologized for his choice of words last week, saying he did not intend to speak that way. So what's going to happen now is he will face demands for him to come out and explain if he was apologizing for his choice of words last week, why was he using almost precisely the same choice of words 22 years ago?
KAGAN: Democrats haven't been able to stir up much on Capitol Hill. Do you think they'll be able to keep this one going?
KARL: This one may have a life of its own. It's all going to depend on what Trent Lott says in response to this. This is clearly something that has outraged a lot of people. Initially, Tom Daschle, the top Democrat here, basically gave Trent Lott a pass on this issue, saying well, look, we all misspeak from time to time. But Daschle was even forced to come out and condemn these remarks stronger after the amazing outrage, the tremendous outrage coming from many prominent African-American leaders.
KAGAN: All right, Jonathan Karl on Capitol Hill, 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
