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CNN Saturday Morning News
Reactions Form Senator Trent Lott's Hometown
Aired December 14, 2002 - 08:18 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.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As you know, Senate Republican leader Trent Lott has apologized for comments many thought were racist. In the political hothouse that is in Washington, D.C., reaction has ranged from support to outrage.
For reaction from Senator Lott's hometown of Pascagoula, Mississippi, we're joined by CNN national correspondent Gary Tuchman -- good morning, Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Arthel, good morning to you.
To most of the nation, Trent Lott is known as the highest ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate. But here on Mississippi's Gulf Coast, friends and foes alike tend to think of him first as a Pascagoulan, because Trent Lott was raised here in Pascagoula, Mississippi and he still lives here. For that reason it was no big surprise that he decided to come back home to have this big news conference yesterday. And the local newspaper summed it up accurately and cleverly when the "Sun-Herald" said, "Homeland Defense."
Here in Pascagoula, Mississippi, people are really not neutral when it comes to Trent Lott.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN (voice-over): A message on a hotel marquis in Trent Lott's hometown, a sentiment shared in Pascagoula, Mississippi by many.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe what he was, what he was at the moment, he was trying to make a 100-year-old senator who he feels like is a father image to him feel good on his birthday.
TUCHMAN: But not a sentiment shared by all.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he can't correct the wrong that he's done. It's no way.
TUCHMAN: Trent Lott's news conference was a poignant viewing in Pascagoula.
SEN. TRENT LOTT (R-MI), MINORITY LEADER: I apologize for opening old wounds and hurting many Americans who feel so deeply in this area.
TUCHMAN: These are some of the people who feel so deeply in this area. The Progressive Club, a Pascagoula tavern with an all black clientele on the night of the news conference, where nobody thought their senator's apologizes had been genuine.
(on camera): What do you think he really means then? What do you think he's trying to do?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put things back the way they were, the way they were back during the time of segregation. I think that's what he really wants. The statement he made is self-evident. If we had voted this way during this time we wouldn't have the problems we have now.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): The Jazz Club, only a few blocks away, an all white clientele in this evening, a place where the sentiment is 180 degrees different.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think everything is blowed quite out of proportion.
TUCHMAN: Richard Lawrence has known Trent Lott since they were both in first grade.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We graduated in 1959 from Pascagoula High School. He went to Old Miss, I went to LSU.
TUCHMAN: Lawrence says he has complete and utter faith in what his old friend says and does.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was not racist. Trent is just not that kind of person. He never has been, never will be.
TUCHMAN: But at the Progressive Club, the customers think the Senate majority leader has been anything but progressive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He made a bad mistake. But what's in you will come out of you and it's been in him so it came out.
TUCHMAN: Two taverns only a three minute drive apart. But when it concerns the actions of their senator, they're in different war lords.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: Behind me a pharmacy here in downtown Pascagoula. Inside the pharmacy, an old-fashioned soda fountain. It's a place that Trent Lott comes to sometimes for a little breakfast or a little lunch. We will go inside and talk to the locals about their senator in the next hour.
Arthel, back to you.
NEVILLE: OK, Gary Tuchman, thank you so much for that live report.
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 14, 2002 - 08:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As you know, Senate Republican leader Trent Lott has apologized for comments many thought were racist. In the political hothouse that is in Washington, D.C., reaction has ranged from support to outrage.
For reaction from Senator Lott's hometown of Pascagoula, Mississippi, we're joined by CNN national correspondent Gary Tuchman -- good morning, Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Arthel, good morning to you.
To most of the nation, Trent Lott is known as the highest ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate. But here on Mississippi's Gulf Coast, friends and foes alike tend to think of him first as a Pascagoulan, because Trent Lott was raised here in Pascagoula, Mississippi and he still lives here. For that reason it was no big surprise that he decided to come back home to have this big news conference yesterday. And the local newspaper summed it up accurately and cleverly when the "Sun-Herald" said, "Homeland Defense."
Here in Pascagoula, Mississippi, people are really not neutral when it comes to Trent Lott.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN (voice-over): A message on a hotel marquis in Trent Lott's hometown, a sentiment shared in Pascagoula, Mississippi by many.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe what he was, what he was at the moment, he was trying to make a 100-year-old senator who he feels like is a father image to him feel good on his birthday.
TUCHMAN: But not a sentiment shared by all.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he can't correct the wrong that he's done. It's no way.
TUCHMAN: Trent Lott's news conference was a poignant viewing in Pascagoula.
SEN. TRENT LOTT (R-MI), MINORITY LEADER: I apologize for opening old wounds and hurting many Americans who feel so deeply in this area.
TUCHMAN: These are some of the people who feel so deeply in this area. The Progressive Club, a Pascagoula tavern with an all black clientele on the night of the news conference, where nobody thought their senator's apologizes had been genuine.
(on camera): What do you think he really means then? What do you think he's trying to do?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put things back the way they were, the way they were back during the time of segregation. I think that's what he really wants. The statement he made is self-evident. If we had voted this way during this time we wouldn't have the problems we have now.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): The Jazz Club, only a few blocks away, an all white clientele in this evening, a place where the sentiment is 180 degrees different.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think everything is blowed quite out of proportion.
TUCHMAN: Richard Lawrence has known Trent Lott since they were both in first grade.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We graduated in 1959 from Pascagoula High School. He went to Old Miss, I went to LSU.
TUCHMAN: Lawrence says he has complete and utter faith in what his old friend says and does.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was not racist. Trent is just not that kind of person. He never has been, never will be.
TUCHMAN: But at the Progressive Club, the customers think the Senate majority leader has been anything but progressive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He made a bad mistake. But what's in you will come out of you and it's been in him so it came out.
TUCHMAN: Two taverns only a three minute drive apart. But when it concerns the actions of their senator, they're in different war lords.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCHMAN: Behind me a pharmacy here in downtown Pascagoula. Inside the pharmacy, an old-fashioned soda fountain. It's a place that Trent Lott comes to sometimes for a little breakfast or a little lunch. We will go inside and talk to the locals about their senator in the next hour.
Arthel, back to you.
NEVILLE: OK, Gary Tuchman, thank you so much for that live report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
