John Fund, In Phase I

Mr. Lott's remarks will be a bludgeon with which to beat the Republican Party mercilessly. Morton Kondracke made this clear on Fox News Channel. "This will be endlessly repeated and used to increase the base vote, the black vote in elections from now on," he said. Adds Newsweek's Howard Feinman, appearing on CNBC: "I spent a good bit of last week in Louisiana, where the African-American vote really turned out to re-elect Mary Landrieu. The black politicians are feeling a sense of empowerment now, and they see an opening here with Lott, and they're going to drive it. -- Abuser John "Thumb" Fund

"Damn you, Lott! You've empowered black voters!"