Salon | Joe Conason's Journal --

The Senate majority leader is nostalgic for segregation and no one seems to care -- including the New York Times, NPR and the Democratic Party.

In fact, this doesn't surprise anyone familiar with Lott's views and background, except that he normally obliges us by concealing his bigotry.

The Times hasn't even reported what Lott said, let alone commented on his comments. The attitude that ignores or downplays Lott's remarks is what used to be called "institutional racism," my fellow Americans.

But Lott's conduct is a moral offense as well as a political issue. Which Democrat believes in the party's professed principles of equality? Which Democrat has an iota of the courage demonstrated by Harry Truman and Hubert Humphrey in 1948? Which Democrat will be the first to demand an apology from Trent Lott on the floor of the Senate -- and if he declines, as he will, which Democrat will dare to propose a resolution of censure?

That's the Democrat who should be running for president. The others should hide their faces because they're cowards.

Tapped also made note of the silence from the media, Except ironically later from the National Review.