12/4/14, "Lott Tells Republican Leadership Not to Follow Hard-Liners," NY Times, First Draft, Jackie Calmes
"As a former Republican
leader in the House and Senate, Trent Lott of Mississippi says he knows
that party leaders don’t seek advice. But he had plenty on Thursday for
Speaker John A. Boehner and Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republicans
who will be running Congress-or trying to-come January.
In short: Lead the
growing ranks of hard-line conservatives who have often called the
shots, don’t follow them, so Republicans can get things done with
President Obama.
“The leadership is
going to have to find a way to deal sternly with some of these members,”
Mr. Lott, who was the No. 2 House Republican in the 1980s and later
both the minority and majority leader in the Senate, said at a breakfast
with reporters. He added, “I wouldn’t put up with some of the stuff
they do.”...
With the influx of
newly elected conservatives, “the leadership should move quickly to
co-opt them, bring them in, pull them in close to the leadership,” Mr.
Lott said. “Don’t let them drift over to the far-right flank.”...
Mr. Lott spoke to
reporters alongside his onetime Democratic rival, Tom Daschle, the
former Senate majority leader, at a round table hosted by The Christian
Science Monitor.
Mr. Daschle said that
Mr. McConnell’s challenge leading Republican senators was much greater
than the one facing the Democratic leader, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada.
“There are a lot more
people in his caucus who come with the belief that standing your ground
is the right thing to do, who don’t want to compromise,” Mr. Daschle
said. “I think he’s got a big challenge.”" via Mark Levin show
.
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