Smith/Lott Media Roundup

Gordon Smith's defense of retiring Senator Trent Lott is attracting attention from media outlets around the country. The statement, made yesterday on the Senate floor, defended Lott's praise in 2002 of former Senator Strom Thurmond's segregationist presidential campaign.

D.C. tabloid the Hill reported, in an article entitled "Fire pours down on Sen. Smith":

Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), a top target of Democrats next year, came under fire Tuesday after he took to the Senate floor and defended Sen. Trent Lott’s (R-Miss.) 2002 comments that were interpreted by some as a defense of segregation.

Oregon and national Democrats and liberal bloggers pounced on Smith Tuesday after he said that Lott’s comments were “misconstrued.” They pointed out that immediately after the incident in 2002, Smith called Lott’s remarks “offensive.”

However, as the Associated Press notes, Smith's defense of Lott contradicts his comments when the controversy first erupted in 2002:

"However they were intended, Senator Lott's words were offensive and I was deeply dismayed to hear of them," Smith told The Associated Press on Dec. 17, 2002. "His statement goes against everything I and the people of Oregon believe in. "

Smith later called Lott's remarks "very unfortunate and hurtful," adding that Lott did the right thing in stepping down.

Facing criticism, Smith attempted to defend his statement yesterday. From the Oregonian:

In an interview, Smith said there was not a contradiction between his 2002 statement and Tuesday's speech.

"I said then what I said today and what I say now," Smith said. "What Trent Lott said was wrong. What I'm proud of is that he apologized and that he has worked every day since to regain the trust and respect of his colleagues. He has been a model for crafting honorable compromise and achieving bipartisan progress for the American people. One mistake should not define an honorable career of service and sacrifice. I believe in redemption."

Democratic Senate candidates Steve Novick and Jeff Merkley immediately criticized the comments:

Smith also drew fire from Steve Novick, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to run against Smith next year.

"Smith was instrumental to returning him to power in the Senate last year. Now he claims Lott was misconstrued and that 'we knew what Lott meant' when he showered praise on Thurmond's racist run for the presidency," Novick said in a statement soon after Smith's speech. "I think we do know what he meant and I don't see how it was misconstrued."

Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley, who also is seeking the Democratic nomination, criticized Smith as well.

"How can Oregonians trust what Gordon Smith says on any issue of consequence when he can't even form a consistent position on whether Trent Lott's pro-segregationist statements were wrong?" Merkley said in a statement.

Discuss.