Harkin shocked GOP is willing to keep Lott as majority leader Washington, D.C. - Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa issued a blistering condemnation Thursday night of controversial remarks by Republican Sen. Trent Lott, saying it is "shocking" that the White House has not urged Lott to step down as the incoming majority leader. "Or is this a not-too-subtle message to closet bigots and Southern white supremacists that their true political home is the GOP?" Harkin asked in a prepared statement.

Harkin gets to the heart of the Lott matter. It is NOT a question of what Lott said or what Lott believes. It is entirely a question of the kind of people the GOP actively coddles in order to achieve political power. This is the elephant-in-black-face that sits in the middle of the DC living-room. It is the crazy-uncle harry that keeps screaming about them darkies yet no one has the guts to call him out and say he is spoiling the holidays for everyone else. No one has the guts to do it (except Harkin and Al Gore (but then who cares what he has to say?)). Especially not the establishment media.