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American Morning
Lott's Troubles
Aired December 19, 2002 - 07:18 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: While the chorus criticizing Senator Trent Lott grows louder by the day, prominent Republicans we have heard from already. Former President Bill Clinton weighing in on the controversy, and one Republican senator, Rhode Island's Lincoln Chafee, has even gone so far as to publicly call for the majority leader to step down -- those words from yesterday.
But with a Republican vote only a few weeks away -- the possibility of a vote there, we know on January 6 they will convene and talk about it anyway -- the senator's fate right now anything but sealed.
Our Kathleen Koch on Capitol Hill now more live this morning for us.
Kathleen -- good morning.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
And it has been a very tough week for Senator Trent Lott, and yesterday, a very prominent Democrat spoke out on the subject for the very first time, not so much attacking Senator Lott, but taking on the entire Republican Party for its treatment of the conservative leader.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Right now, their policy is, in my view, inimical to everything this country stands for. They try to suppress black voting, they ran on the Confederate flag in Georgia and South Carolina, and from top to bottom the Republican supported it. So, I don't see what they're jumping on Trent Lott about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: The former president brings up a very little-discussed issue since this controversy began back on December 5 that only Trent Lott, well, he's the only one who knows what he meant by his statements about Senator Thurmond. His conservative voting record has never been a secret. He has never hidden the fact that he was conservative, and so much of this outrage about him voting against affirmative action, a Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, school bussing, that that criticism is disingenuous at best.
Now, but when it does come to one liberal-leaning conservative, as you mentioned, Republican Lincoln Chafee of -- excuse me -- of Rhode Island, that he has come out for the first time, being the first senator saying that Trent Lott should leave. Lincoln Chafee saying he is not happy with Lott's leadership.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINCOLN CHAFEE (R), RHODE ISLAND: I have not been satisfied myself with the majority leader, Trent Lott's, explanations. Friday's press conference, as I said, it was very disappointing, and I understand the position that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) are taking.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want change though.
CHAFEE: Yes. I think the time is right. He was unopposed in our election in November, and you know, we'd like to have some choices. It's good for the party.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Now, while the White House continues to stay relatively mum on this subject, White House surrogates are stepping forward. President Bush's brother, Jeb Bush, governor of Florida, has told reporters that Lott is -- quote -- "damaging the party."
Also another person who has spoken out is Secretary of State Colin Powell, someone from whom, initially at least, Senator Lott sought support but was rebuffed. Colin Powell was saying that he -- quote -- "deplored the sentiments that Senator Lott expressed back on December 5 -- Bill.
HEMMER: Kathleen, thanks -- Kathleen Koch on Capitol Hill.
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 19, 2002 - 07:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: While the chorus criticizing Senator Trent Lott grows louder by the day, prominent Republicans we have heard from already. Former President Bill Clinton weighing in on the controversy, and one Republican senator, Rhode Island's Lincoln Chafee, has even gone so far as to publicly call for the majority leader to step down -- those words from yesterday.
But with a Republican vote only a few weeks away -- the possibility of a vote there, we know on January 6 they will convene and talk about it anyway -- the senator's fate right now anything but sealed.
Our Kathleen Koch on Capitol Hill now more live this morning for us.
Kathleen -- good morning.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
And it has been a very tough week for Senator Trent Lott, and yesterday, a very prominent Democrat spoke out on the subject for the very first time, not so much attacking Senator Lott, but taking on the entire Republican Party for its treatment of the conservative leader.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Right now, their policy is, in my view, inimical to everything this country stands for. They try to suppress black voting, they ran on the Confederate flag in Georgia and South Carolina, and from top to bottom the Republican supported it. So, I don't see what they're jumping on Trent Lott about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: The former president brings up a very little-discussed issue since this controversy began back on December 5 that only Trent Lott, well, he's the only one who knows what he meant by his statements about Senator Thurmond. His conservative voting record has never been a secret. He has never hidden the fact that he was conservative, and so much of this outrage about him voting against affirmative action, a Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, school bussing, that that criticism is disingenuous at best.
Now, but when it does come to one liberal-leaning conservative, as you mentioned, Republican Lincoln Chafee of -- excuse me -- of Rhode Island, that he has come out for the first time, being the first senator saying that Trent Lott should leave. Lincoln Chafee saying he is not happy with Lott's leadership.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINCOLN CHAFEE (R), RHODE ISLAND: I have not been satisfied myself with the majority leader, Trent Lott's, explanations. Friday's press conference, as I said, it was very disappointing, and I understand the position that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) are taking.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want change though.
CHAFEE: Yes. I think the time is right. He was unopposed in our election in November, and you know, we'd like to have some choices. It's good for the party.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Now, while the White House continues to stay relatively mum on this subject, White House surrogates are stepping forward. President Bush's brother, Jeb Bush, governor of Florida, has told reporters that Lott is -- quote -- "damaging the party."
Also another person who has spoken out is Secretary of State Colin Powell, someone from whom, initially at least, Senator Lott sought support but was rebuffed. Colin Powell was saying that he -- quote -- "deplored the sentiments that Senator Lott expressed back on December 5 -- Bill.
HEMMER: Kathleen, thanks -- Kathleen Koch on Capitol Hill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
