The comparison to Lott and Byrd is a poor one filled with disinformation. For example, when it comes to positive racial issues, Byrd has had a 79 voting rating by the NAACP, while Lott's was something like 12. Also, Byrd's actions took place over what, forty years ago, while Lott spoke favorable of a segregationist in the year 2002. Over the years Byrd has also carried out many sincere acts of contrition, while Lott consistently used race to further his own record. (Voting against expansion of Voting Rights, MLK holiday, making continual racially biased statements, group affiliations with segregationist organizations and so on).

The Byrd comparison is just a smoke screen by the right to cover up the truth. And whether you like him or not, Clinton hit the nail right on the head when he made the comments that he did about the "southern strategy" of the Republican Party now being out in the open because of Lott's comments.