Trent Lott: “I feel a necessity at this point--and I will follow it with a question--to also say that I understand the right of the…”

“I feel a necessity at this point--and I will follow it with a question--to also say that I understand the right of the Senator from South Carolina to do this procedure. I am not questioning that at all. I think the result would be one that would not be good for the institution, and I think we would be abusing it on both sides. But also I want to emphasize the right of a Senator to modify his own amendment. I wasn't here when the discussions took place with regard to Senator Vitter's modifying of his own amendment, and I know that has caused some consternation. Mr. President, if I could say to the majority leader, wouldn't it be better for this institution if we would not get in the position of questioning each other's motives? I realize we have to be honest with each other, and I understand what everybody is doing. I understand the amendment on Osama bin Laden. Yes, we want to catch him, and I know there is a lot being done--and I won't get into the intelligence--and I understand what Senator DeMint is doing, but I would hope this would give us an opportunity, in a bipartisan way, for the sake of this institution, to step back, to calm down, and to stop trying to do these things to each other on both sides of the aisle. I am grandstanding, and I apologize, but my purpose is to try to say to the institution, to our people, I hope we will find a way to avoid this. I think it would be a mistake, and I assume the majority leader agrees with that.”