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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2002

President Bush on Thursday issued was is being called a stinging rebuke of Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) for comments the Senate majority leader made about segregation.

"Any suggestion that the segregated past was acceptable or positive is offensive and it is wrong. Recent comments by Senator Lott do not reflect the spirit of our country," he said during a speech in Philadelphia that drew a largely black audience.

Despite the words, the tone of which surprised many Republicans, White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer said Bush does not believe Lott should step down as majority leader. Some Democrats have called for Lott's resignation but no Republicans currently in office have openly said the same.

But the situation could get worse, Republicans privately said, as news organizations dig up more on Lott's past. The Washington Post and The New York Times report that Lott hasn't moved much on civil rights issues over the years. He voted against protecting minority voting rights and against a national Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

On the other hand, retired Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C), the man whose segregationist platform was apparently praised by Lott more than once, has changed his views. He supported the measures Lott voted against.

Get the Story:
Text: Bush on Lott (AP 12/13)
Video: Bush on Lott (MSNBC 12/13)
President Decries Lott's Comments (The Washington Post 12/13)
Lott Has Moved Little On Civil Rights Issues (The Washington Post 12/13)
Bush Rebukes Lott Over Remarks on Thurmond (The New York Times 12/13)
Lott's Close Walk to the South's History of Segregation (The New York Times 12/13)
A Primer of Senator Lott's Quotations (The New York Times 12/13)
Republican Party's 40 Years of Juggling on Race (The New York Times 12/13)
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Relevant Links:
Sen. Trent Lott - http://lott.senate.gov

Related Stories:
Lott forced to apologize again (12/12)
Lott continues to face criticism (12/11)
Lott apologizes for 'racist' remarks (12/10)