As a direct result of this website’s efforts, MSNBC is now reporting on the third instance of Lott remarking that Thurmond should have been elected in 1948. The clearly audible comment is made off-camera as Thurmond signs the bill. They’re running the story at the top of every half hour; it may also be on the NBC evening news tonight and in a major daily tomorrow morning. Updates to follow as I have them.

Update 1: From MSNBC’s press release:

SECAUCUS, NJ- Dec, 17, 2002- MSNBC has uncovered a third instance of Sen. Trent Lott saying Sen. Thurmond “should have been President” in 1948, when he ran for President on a segregationist platform. In the video obtained by MSNBC, Sen. Lott is emceeing the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act on Oct. 19, 2000. As Sen. Thurmond signs the bill, Sen. Lott can be heard saying, “Now this is a famous signature right here. He should have been President in 1947 (sic), I think it was.” MSNBC contacted Sen. Lott’s press secretary, Ron Bonjean, who did not deny that Lott made the comments at the event. Bonjean insists that the fact Lott made the statement at the signing of the defense act makes their case that this is not about race and that it has nothing to do with race. Bonjean told MSNBC it proves that Lott meant Thurmond would have been tougher on defense, fighting Communism and best for the economy.

Update 2: made the NBC Evening News.

Update 3: Fox News has picked it up as well.

Update 4: here’s the story on MSNBC’s website (scroll down). It is also referenced in the Lott stories in this morning’s Washington Post and New York Times. I am told it made ABC World News Tonight and the wire stories as well.

Josh Marshall writes:

Trent Lott’s career is currently swirling down the drain in part because he has a long-standing association with a white supremacist group called the Council of Conservative Citizens and because he gave a 1984 interview to a crypto-racist magazine called the Southern Partisan. Attorney General John Ashcroft is going on Larry King Live tomorrow night. Ashcroft also has at least some connection with the very same group and he gave an interview to the same magazine only four years ago.

Is Larry going to ask him about it? If not, why not? Should Ashcroft get a pass for some of the same stuff that’s ending Lott’s career?

His Larryness has his own website. And down in the lower lefthand corner there’s a link where you can send an email suggesting a question for a guest …

I think you know what you need to do.

From this morning’s NY Times:

When the CSX Corporation calculates pension benefits for its chief executive, John W. Snow, nominated by President Bush last week to be Treasury secretary, he will receive credit for 44 years of service to the company, though he has worked there just 25.

Moreover, Mr. Snow’s benefits will be based not just on his salary, or even his salary and bonus, but also the value of 250,000 shares of stock the CSX board gave him.

Getting credit for years not worked, and having virtually all compensation counted toward pension benefits, are two of the newest trends in pay for senior executives, said Judith Fischer, managing director of Executive Compensation Advisory Services. She calls such deals “the eternal wealth syndrome.”

Though he has renounced his claim to about $15 million in severance benefits, Mr. Snow’s pension improvements mean he will collect $2.47 million a year from CSX until he dies, according to company disclosures. If confirmed as Treasury secretary, he will be paid $161,200 annually.

— snip —

As Treasury secretary, Mr. Snow would be in the middle of pension policy-making as the subject heats up in Washington. He would oversee new pension rules announced by the Bush administration last week that experts say can be expected to strip benefits from older workers while benefiting younger workers and saving companies money.

More.

Some excerpts from Trent Lott’s BET interview:

GORDON: What about affirmative action?

LOTT: I’m for that. I think you should reach out to people…

GORDON: Across the board?

LOTT: Absolutely, across the board. That’s why I’m so proud of my own alma mater now, University of Mississippi, that obviously had a difficult time in the 60s and 70s, now led by an outstanding chancellor, Robert Khayat, that has gotten rid of the Confederate flag, that has now has an institute of reconciliation, that has a leadership…

GORDON: Yet your votes in the past have not suggested that you are for affirmative action.

LOTT: I am for affirmative action. And I practice it. I have had African-Americans on my staff, and other minorities, but particularly African-Americans, since the mid-1970s.

I have had a particular program…

GORDON: But to have one on one’s staff — you understand the difference, though, to have a black on your staff and to push legislation that would help African-Americans, minorities across the board, are completely different.

LOTT: You know, again, you can get into arguments about timetables and quotas.

Complete transcript here.