Dec 12, 2002 2 min read

There comes a time for each of us when we would wish to take back words that spilled inappropriately from our mouths. Such a time has arrived for U.S. Sen. Trent Lott (R-Mississippi). In speaking last week at Strom Thurmond’s 100th birthday party, Lott said, “I want to say this about my state. When Strom Thurmond ran for president we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had of followed our lead, we wouldn’t of had all these problems over all these years, either.”

Lott was referring to Thurmond’s racist Dixiecrat candidacy for presidency in 1948. Surely Lott who will return to the position of Senate majority leader in just a few weeks knew that he would be called upon to speak. The country has yet to create a politician capable of rising to Lott’s level who fails to understand that speech is a powerful tool or weapon and that much thought must be given. Therefore, we wonder what was Lott thinking?

What problems would this country not have had over all these years had Thurmond won and brought a reign of continued segregation?

That most Mississipians had wanted 50 years ago to keep blacks subordinate to whites and thought they would be much better off if we went back to the days of whips, chains and picking cotton, is not something in this day to brag about.

With calls for everything from his resignation to the president being asked to denounce Lott’s remarks gaining momentum, Lott apologized for what he at first termed lighthearted praise for Thurmond.

Said Lott: “A poor choice of words conveyed to some the impression that I embraced the discarded policies of the past. Nothing could be further from the truth, and I apologize to anyone who was offended by my statement.”

Anyone and everyone should be. We expect more from a man in Lott’s position.