Lott Apology Doesn't Satisfy Blacks, GOP

Dec. 17 -- Sen.Trent Lott's latest attempt to explain and apologize for his record on race relations "rang hollow," according to the man who interviewed him on Black Entertainment Television, and strategists from his own party were also unimpressed.

Lott, whose future as Senate Republican leader will be decided on Jan. 6, was reportedly virtually abandoned by the White House on Monday, when Bush administration officials said that the president would not ask the Mississippi Republican to give up his seat but would not intercede on his behalf.

According to Ed Gordon, who interviewed Lott on BET on Monday evening, the senator failed to take advantage of the opportunity the interview might have given him to turn public opinion.

"It was politically expedient for him to come and talk to me and that's why he was there," Gordon said today on ABCNEWS' Good Morning America.

Lott set off the criticism on Dec. 5 with remarks he made at a birthday celebration for Sen. Strom Thurmond. Lott said the country would be better off today if Thurmond had been elected president when he ran in 1948 on a platform supporting segregation.

"He says, 'I wasn't talking about race, I was talking about communism.' I think that rang hollow to everyone listening," Gordon said today. "Many people thought he had an opportunity to say at this point, 'Look, I did it, I didn't understand at the time. Here's where I am today.' I don't think that he accomplished that yesterday."

Potential New Trouble for Lott

Others seemed equally unimpressed with Lott's apology. The South Carolina NAACP said today that Lott should relinquish his leadership position.

"Things that he has done, the way he has projected himself andparticularly the disrespect that he has shown the people of color of thiscountry … I don't think that there is any other option," said Lonnie Randolph, vice president of South Carolina NAACP.

Movie director Spike Lee, appearing later on Good Morning America to promote his new film, The 25th Hour, put it more bluntly.