Posted on December 20, 2002 at 12:39 p.m.

WHAT:

Senator Trent Lott is stepping down as Senate majority leader, after repeated criticism about remarks seen by many as racist. University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) political scientist Christopher Stream, Ph.D., can provide insight and analysis of some of the reasons Lott resigned.

WHO:

Stream’s primary research interests include state and local government administration, public policy, health policy and public opinion. Stream has taught courses on welfare policy, governmental budgeting, and state health policies. He has published articles in State and Local Government Review, Public Administration Review and the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. He is writing two articles on public opinion and taxes. Stream is an assistant professor of political science in the UAB Department of Government and Public Service.

COMMENTS:

“Trent Lott’s decision to step down as the senate majority leader was the right decision and probably overdue. I personally felt he should have stepped down as majority leader the moment he made the comments. As President Bush clearly articulated, Lott’s comments did not reflect ‘the spirit of our country.’ His comments were offensive. However, what I think is most appealing about the story is that Lott was brought down not by liberals, but by conservatives. He was forced to resign not by Democrats, but by Republicans. For an elected official in his position, Lott should have known better. Lott articulated views that should not be voiced in America today by a political leader. However, what I find most interesting is that the party of personal responsibility has just cleaned its own house.”