Fox News Channel's Special Report with Brit Hume raised an interesting point on Lott this evening. Fred Barnes and Brit Hume pointed out that Lott has made similar remarks in the past, but only when Strom Thurmond was present, indicating that Lott was just engaging in a little collegial flattery. If that is the case, all he had to do when the matter first came up was to say so and flatly deny all the inferences. There would still be a lot of offense taken, but I think it would have been contained. The problem was that it didn't sound like a josh, but a spirited appeal to Rebel pride. Then he compounded it by his insincere and mealy mouthed "explanations."

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as to the charges of racism, but he handled the matter incompetently and has now promised to support affirmative action to try to save himself. He has made too much of a mess of this to continue to lead the Republicans in the Senate. He may have earned his position by being a good soldier, but now he's a casualty and should let someone else lead the troops.