The Candidate Shrugs

From yesterday's New York Times:

"Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, who was driven from the Republican leadership four years ago after he made ill-considered remarks at a birthday party for Strom Thurmond, returned to the Senate’s top ranks today, winning election as minority whip in the next session by a single vote. . . .

"Mr. Lott’s downfall began in December 2002, at the 100th birthday party for Mr. Thurmond, the longtime segregationist and 1948 Dixiecrat candidate for president. 'I want to say this about my state,' Mr. Lott began in tribute. 'When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn’t have had all these problems over the years, either.'"

Some things just never change. Like racism and the right.