John Hardly, I would argue that neither of your two assertions, as regards the Lott situation and segregation, is racist in the least. Both assertions recognize the harm done to this nation by slavery and it's continuing legacy in our society, and the need to atone for the racially motivated social problems which continue to plague our society.

But Lott & the Republican Party's current untenable positions on racially charged issues isn't just about African Americans. The sweep by immigration authorities in California this week was also done by the Republican administration, claiming on one hand to be tolerant of Arabs and Muslims, and on the other engaging in the most reprehensible, racially motivated internment campaign since the Japanese internment campaign of WWII.