Lest Talking Points be next to be fed to the bear for having failed to restate our position, let's begin with the disclaimers.

1. Racism is bad.

2. Segregation was a bad idea and the United States continues to suffer harm because of it's legacy.

3. The United States would not be better off if it's official governmental policy enforced segregation by race.

4. Racial discrimination, whether practiced by individuals or by the government, is bad.

5. When Strom Thurmond ran for President as a Democrat-Segregationist (i.e. a Dixiecrat), he was promoting a very bad idea which he, himself, has subsequently repudiated.

6. When Senator Byrd was a kleagle in the Ku Klux Klan, he was promoting a slew of very bad ideas which he, himself, has subsequently repudiated.

7. When Edward Kennedy hid from authorities and left a staffer with whom he was having an affair to drown rather than face DUI charges, he did a very, very bad thing and forever waived any right to lecture anybody on morals or ethics.

8. When Al Sharpton incited a mob to attack and burn down a business resulting in the death of an innocent person, he did a very, very bad thing.

9. Any suggestion that the United States would be better off if its
official government policy enforced racial segregation is inconsistent to the ideals set out in the Constitution and is personally repugnant to Talking Points and its editors, staff, employees officers and agents.

Now, that having all been said, many people have contacted Talking Points asking us for our opinion on the comments made by Trent Lott at Strom Thurmond's 100 year birthday bash that seemed to suggest a nostalgia for Thurmond's Democrat-Segregationist (i.e. Dixiecrat) run for President.

After reiterating the above disclaimers, our opinion is summed up in two quotes:

A. "Representative Joe Mack Wilson is a racist. Wilson uses the term 'n*gg*r' to refer to black persons...Wilson opposes legislation of benefit to blacks, which he refers to as 'n*gg*r legislation.'" Busbee v. Smith, 549 F. Supp. 494, 500 (D.C. D.C. 1982). Memorandum Opinion, United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

B. "Rep. Roy Barnes (D-Marietta) had known Wilson all his life and considered him a mentor. 'He was by far my closest political friend andprobably my closest personal friend,' Mr. Barnes said. 'I talked to him almost every day, and we had lunch two or three times a week. There are no words that can express how I feel about Joe Mack.'" Friends, lawmakers mourn loss of Wilson, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, May 19, 1993.

You say that this doesn't prove that Roy Barnes ever ascribed to any of Joe Mack Wilson's racist views? Well, then, allow Talking Points to present more of the Roy and Joe Mack show.

C. "[Joe Mack] stated to one Republican member of the reapportionment Committee that 'there are some things worse than n*gg*rs and that's Republicans.'" Busbee v. Smith, 549 F. Supp.494, 500 (D.C. D.C. 1982);

D. "Wilson would not predict the outcome but stated, 'I'm not for drawing a n*gg*r district and I'm not for drawing a Republican district.'" Id., at 512.

E. "Mr. Wilson inspired a generation of politicians, including Rep. Roy Barnes (D-Mableton) and Sen. Steve Thompson (D-Powder Springs), both whom knew him from childhood. 'Joe Mack taught me what little I knew about politics,' Mr. Barnes said. 'My family always supported him, and when I was first elected, he took me right in.'" (Source Joe Mack Wilson: 1919-1993: 'Marietta lost giant'with mayor's death: Local legend's pass leaves city dealing with shock, sadness, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, May 20, 1993, Page G-1)

- Talking Points

P.S. Every year, The Cobb County Democratic Party awards someone a "Joe Mack Wilson Peoples Champion Award," of which Roy Barnes was the 1997 recipient. What's up with that award?