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“I`ve Been Caught in a Trap”

Posted December. 23, 2002 22:35,   

한국어

It has been pointed out that US Senator (Mississippi) Trent Lott who has resigned from the Republic Leader position on the 19th due to his racial discrimination speech, has been sacrificed by the `Washington`s hypocrisy`.

During his first official speech on the 22nd after his resignation, Congressman Lott stated, “I`ve been caught in a `trap` set up by the political opponents.”

His praise, made on the 5th of December during the 100th birthday party of Senator Strom Thurmond on Congressman Thurmond`s running of the presidential election in 1948 with the policy of racial segregation, wasn`t any surprise. However, the U.S. press has linked this incident with his other incidents of opposition on appointing the African Americans Human Right`s Leader, Pastor Martin Luther King`s birthday as a national holiday and his solo opposition of the African American Justice of the Supreme Court, and have led the atmosphere into his resignation.

Howard Cutz, the Washington Post`s Media reporter, has pointed out on 22nd that “It is a representative incident showing the hypocrisy of Washington because with the fact which everyone was well aware of, such as Lott`s government activity and political color, people have repackaged it, the Democratic Party made a big deal out of it, then the Press reported it and then finally the President `dismissed` him.”

After all, no one is criticizing the past racial discrimination incidents of Congressman Thurmond who has heard praises from Congressman Lott. The internet magazine, Slate.com, has reported that “The long living lie of Washington about Congressman Thurmond is its assumption of Thurmond`s regret about his past.” Nevertheless, during an interview on 50th celebration of his run for the presidential election in 1998, Congressman Thurmond has stated “I have nothing to apologize and I have no regrets”.

It seems like Washington has been connived and tolerated this kind of racial discriminative thoughts. Therefore, the reporters at the party did not bother to write a report on Congressman Lott`s statement. Even Congressman Lott did not realize the seriousness of the problem and went on his vacation to Key West, resting place in Florida State after the party.

However, the Internet media started to make an issue out of his statement and the Washington Post first reported it after four days of the party and then other important press followed.

The Democratic Party who has been defeated during the Off-year election was looking for an incident to convert to aggression and the media wanted to clearly display the abolition of racial discrimination, thus have dragged onto Congressman Lott`s statement. The President George W. Bush tried to protect him at first but after realizing the seriousness of the press, changed his mind to `resignation`. Facing the Presidential Election in two years, this seems like a settlement considering the votes of the African Americans and moderate Caucasians. On top of this, he used this incident to strengthen the power and authority by successfully placing Congressman Bill Frist (Tennessee) as his successor.



Eun-Taek Hong euntack@donga.com