(2002-12-16) — U.S. Senator Trent Lott told an interviewer on Black Entertainment TV (BET) that he supports Affirmative Action programs that favor hiring candidates based on race. The Mississippi Republican’s appearance on BET was part of his 27-city ApologiPalooza Tour.

“I’m for affirmative action and I’ve practiced it,” said Sen. Lott. “I’ve had African Americans on my staff and other minorities, but particularly African Americans, since the mid-1970s.”
Sen. Lott promised to pack his Senate staff with even more African-Americans.
“I really love African-Americans and hire every one I can get regardless of job skills,” he added, then asked the BET interviewer, “Do you know any African-Americans who might need a job?”
Sen. Lott said he also now supports paying reparations to African-American descendents of slaves, giving African-American contractors preferential treatment in bidding on government work, and making Jesse Jackson’s birthday a national holiday “right now, while Reverend Jackson can enjoy it.”

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