In contrast with previous years, Sen. Trent Lott is expected to have a very low profile at the Republican National Convention this month.
As the new Senate majority leader in 1996, Lott took center stage at that year's GOP convention in San Diego. Right before the acceptance speech from Bob Dole, who left his post as Senate majority leader to run as his party's presidential nominee, Lott stripped off his suit jacket -- revealing a star-spangled sequined vest -- and broke into song with three other Republican senators. After the speech, Lott led 20,000 party faithful in the convention hall in singing "God Bless America." He was the honored guest at lavish lobbyist-sponsored parties. Some GOP delegates -- mostly from Mississippi -- even sported "Trent Lott 2000" buttons. At his party's 2000 convention, Lott gave a prime-time speech on the night Dick Cheney was nominated as vice president. Lott lost his leadership position last year because party leaders were upset at the furor he caused with racially insensitive remarks. [more
]- On Dec. 5, 2002 at a birthday party for centenarian Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), Lott praised Thurmond's run for president in 1948 on a platform advocating racial segregation.
- On BET, Lott repeatedly pledged support for
affirmative action, despite a record of voting consistently against it. Lott
also recanted his vote two decades ago against establishing a federal
holiday for civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and said he
would "listen to and talk to African American leaders" if he retains his Senate position.
- He also said he would reconsider his ties to the Council of Conservative Citizens, a group attacked as segregationist.
- All of this after saying the nation wouldn't have all these problems today if it had elected Strom Thurmond President in 1948 when Thurmond was running a racist campaign.
- Lott was the Republican leader of the Senate until he resigned last year. He is a freak.