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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2002

President Bush will no longer defend incoming Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) over racially divisive remarks he made about segregation, according to news accounts.

Ari Fleischer, White House spokesperson, said Bush won't call for Lott to resign his leadership post, but his lack of open support is tantamount to a death sentence, a Senate aide said. Senate Republicans will vote next month on whether to get rid of Lott.

Bush last week rebuked Lott for saying the country would have been better off if Strom Thurmond was elected president in 1948. Thumond's platform was based on keeping the races separate.

Lott appeared on Black Entertainment Television (BET) last night to apologize for a fifth time. He was confident he would survive a leadership challenge and said "it would be a mistake" for Bush to try and force him out.

Get the Story:
Bush Won't Resist Leadership Change (The Washington Post 12/17)
Senate GOP to Decide Lott's Fate on Jan. 6 (The Washington Post 12/17)
From Lott, Denials of Racism -- and Explanations (The Washington Post 12/17)
Black Republicans Speak of Their Outrage at Lott (The New York Times 12/17)
G.O.P. Colleagues to Meet in Private About Lott's Fate (The New York Times 12/17)
Lott Acknowledges 'Misbehavior' (The New York Times 12/17)
Conservatives Led the Way in Criticizing Lott's Remarks (The New York Times 12/17)
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Transcript:
Trent Lott on BET (eMediaMillWorks 12/16)

Relevant Links:
Sen. Trent Lott - http://lott.senate.gov

Related Stories:
Lott faces ouster as Senate leader (12/16)
Bush calls Lott comments 'offensive' (12/13)
Lott forced to apologize again (12/12)
Lott continues to face criticism (12/11)
Lott apologizes for 'racist' remarks (12/10)