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American Morning
Lott Controversy
Aired December 16, 2002 - 07:05 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the troubles of Republican Senate leader, Trent Lott. There are significant cracks in his support today. Three top Republicans are pushing for a party conference to discuss the controversy. But does he still have the confidence of the president?
Let's turn to John King, who is standing by at the White House with the very latest on all of that.
Good morning -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.
The public White House line still is that the president believes Senator Trent Lott should not be forced to resign over remarks that many consider to be racially divisive.
However, here at the White House, senior officials tell us privately that if there is a challenge to Lott's leadership, the White House will not intervene to try to protect him. Many at the White House now believe that Senator Lott is in a very precarious position, and I'll tell you, Paula, they are not complaining about that behind the scenes.
The president condemned the remarks last week. Many now believe here at the White House that Lott's hold on the job of Senate Republican leader is in serious jeopardy.
One senator, a long-time rival, Don Nickles, called for a conference meeting yesterday of all Republicans; other Republicans appear to be joining that. Still unclear whether there will be a new vote on Lott's leadership, but if there is a meeting -- and now, we are told there could be one as early as within the next week to 10 days -- then, there certainly could be a challenge to Lott's leadership.
Here at the White House, they say they are prepared to deal with Lott if he holds on, but many are privately believing, there will be a new senator in charge of the Republican Party when the new Congress returns in January -- Paula.
ZAHN: In the meantime, John, help us better understand the White House calculation here. If they have not stated publicly that they want him to resign, what does the White House gain by that position at this point?
KING: Well, the White House...
ZAHN: Are they trying to (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
KING: The White House had hoped to stay out of this, and their official line is that this is a question for Senate Republicans, not for the president of the United States. Initially, they thought Lott could survive, and they were prepared to deal with that.
This president knows the Senate majority is 51 Republicans, very narrow. They did not want to get into a fight with Senator Lott, but they now believe the longer this has lingered on -- they are very disappointed here at the White House with how Senator Lott has handled this publicly. They believe it is hurting the Republican Party with African-Americans, perhaps even with Hispanic and with women voters as well, because Lott's remarks are viewed as so insensitive.
And the bottom here is the president needs to sell an agenda to the Congress beginning in January. They don't want that complicated by a continuing fight over who is leading the Republican Party.
So they had hoped Lott could survive. They still hold out the prospect he could, but more and more, you hear here that perhaps the Republicans need a new leader.
ZAHN: If Senator Lott goes, who does the White House want in his place?
KING: The clear favorite here at the White House would be Senator Bill Frist. He is from Tennessee. He was the chairman of the Republican Campaign Committee for the senators in this past election. He worked very closely with the White House, especially with the president's top political advisor, Karl Rove. He has a great number of fans here at the White House. He would be their first choice, if the White House has to make one. They will not publicly get involved in this, but behind the scenes, Senator Frist is somebody the White House would be quite comfortable working with.
Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania is a deputy to Lott right now, too removed from the leadership position in the Senate Republicans, also somebody viewed highly here at the White House, somebody though who is not seen as yet as having enough support to be the leader.
Both of those would be good choices from the White House perspective. Senator Frist would certainly be the favorite.
ZAHN: All right, keep an eye on this for us. Thanks so much, John -- appreciate it.
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 - 07:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the troubles of Republican Senate leader, Trent Lott. There are significant cracks in his support today. Three top Republicans are pushing for a party conference to discuss the controversy. But does he still have the confidence of the president?
Let's turn to John King, who is standing by at the White House with the very latest on all of that.
Good morning -- John.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.
The public White House line still is that the president believes Senator Trent Lott should not be forced to resign over remarks that many consider to be racially divisive.
However, here at the White House, senior officials tell us privately that if there is a challenge to Lott's leadership, the White House will not intervene to try to protect him. Many at the White House now believe that Senator Lott is in a very precarious position, and I'll tell you, Paula, they are not complaining about that behind the scenes.
The president condemned the remarks last week. Many now believe here at the White House that Lott's hold on the job of Senate Republican leader is in serious jeopardy.
One senator, a long-time rival, Don Nickles, called for a conference meeting yesterday of all Republicans; other Republicans appear to be joining that. Still unclear whether there will be a new vote on Lott's leadership, but if there is a meeting -- and now, we are told there could be one as early as within the next week to 10 days -- then, there certainly could be a challenge to Lott's leadership.
Here at the White House, they say they are prepared to deal with Lott if he holds on, but many are privately believing, there will be a new senator in charge of the Republican Party when the new Congress returns in January -- Paula.
ZAHN: In the meantime, John, help us better understand the White House calculation here. If they have not stated publicly that they want him to resign, what does the White House gain by that position at this point?
KING: Well, the White House...
ZAHN: Are they trying to (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
KING: The White House had hoped to stay out of this, and their official line is that this is a question for Senate Republicans, not for the president of the United States. Initially, they thought Lott could survive, and they were prepared to deal with that.
This president knows the Senate majority is 51 Republicans, very narrow. They did not want to get into a fight with Senator Lott, but they now believe the longer this has lingered on -- they are very disappointed here at the White House with how Senator Lott has handled this publicly. They believe it is hurting the Republican Party with African-Americans, perhaps even with Hispanic and with women voters as well, because Lott's remarks are viewed as so insensitive.
And the bottom here is the president needs to sell an agenda to the Congress beginning in January. They don't want that complicated by a continuing fight over who is leading the Republican Party.
So they had hoped Lott could survive. They still hold out the prospect he could, but more and more, you hear here that perhaps the Republicans need a new leader.
ZAHN: If Senator Lott goes, who does the White House want in his place?
KING: The clear favorite here at the White House would be Senator Bill Frist. He is from Tennessee. He was the chairman of the Republican Campaign Committee for the senators in this past election. He worked very closely with the White House, especially with the president's top political advisor, Karl Rove. He has a great number of fans here at the White House. He would be their first choice, if the White House has to make one. They will not publicly get involved in this, but behind the scenes, Senator Frist is somebody the White House would be quite comfortable working with.
Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania is a deputy to Lott right now, too removed from the leadership position in the Senate Republicans, also somebody viewed highly here at the White House, somebody though who is not seen as yet as having enough support to be the leader.
Both of those would be good choices from the White House perspective. Senator Frist would certainly be the favorite.
ZAHN: All right, keep an eye on this for us. Thanks so much, John -- appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
