December 20, 2002

Lott Steps Down! Well, how

Lott Steps Down!

Well, how about that. He did the right thing after all. And it looks like Bill Frist is in.

These wise words from Peggy Noonan on Republicans and race are no less relevant and valuable:

Maybe it isn't fair, but think of it this way: The history of the Republican Party on race is mixed. Yes, that's true of the Democrats too, but Democrats are perceived today as sympathetic to the movements for freedom that have marked the past century, and Republicans are not. This has some implications. It means Republicans have to go out of our way to show that our hearts are in the right place. But there's another thing that is even more important. If we are tougher on ourselves, maybe that's good. Why shouldn't we be tougher on ourselves?

If the Democrats all too often treat race as if it were a card to be played in a game, and if the Republicans in contrast attempt to struggle through the issue and be serious and go out of their way to expunge the last vestiges of the old racial ways, isn't that something we should be proud of? History is watching. It will know what we did. What will history think if it sees a new seriousness on race from the Republican Party? I think it will say: Good. And I think that matters.

I still think Bush blew it by failing to come out strongly and unequivocally against Lott's retaining his leadership position. ("Behind the scenes" politicking doesn't count-- it appeared tepid and indecisive, which it was.) That was a squandered opportunity. Nonetheless, I'd say that, ironic as it may seem to some, the Republicans will emerge from the Lott fiasco looking better than the Democrats. With Lott out and very few of them tainted by association, and with practically every one of conservatism's intellectual and journalistic standard-bearers on the record with passionate and eloquent statements affirming the ideals of equality and the civil rights movement, they have just as much claim to the moral high ground.

On the other hand, it is a virtual certainty that Democratic Party spokesmodels will, in the coming months, go way overboard trying to continue to exploit this now-neutralized issue. The smart ones will leave it alone, recognizing that this is a loser for them as well as for everyone, and will seek to avoid the inevitable appearance of demagoguery and opportunism that would result: very few will be able to resist, however. The ones who do resist will find themselves in the position of continually having to defend scurrilous and ridiculous attempts to characterize the Republican Party as a party of racism. It won't work, because it isn't true. Had Lott remained in power, Republicans would have had more explaining to do than they could have managed, though it still wouldn't have been true. But it would have worked.

Posted by Dr. Frank at December 20, 2002 09:43 AM | TrackBack