At this time, there is no way to know the long-term impact of Sen. Trent Lott’s decision not to seek re-election as Senate majority leader.

Lott made a careless, dumb, insensitive remark earlier this month during the 100th birthday celebration of South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond, saying the country would be better off today if Thurmond had won his 1948 presidential race. Thurmond had run on a segregationist platform, and Lott’s statements triggered an immediate firestorm of criticism by many senior Democrats. Several days later, a few Republican leaders started to question whether Lott should step down from his leadership job. After that, the issue snowballed until Lott finally announced his plans Friday to relinquish the leader’s post.

Only time will tell what all went into the media blitz on Lott and who may have been the active behind-the-scenes operatives eager to use Lott’s statement to further their own political aspirations, cause havoc within the Republican Party, divert attention from the Republican agenda for the upcoming congressional session and try to label the GOP as racist.

There was a media frenzy over the Lott issue, it dominated the news and it didn’t take long to topple the Mississippi senator.

As this writer noted in a column last week, it probably was best for Lott to step aside because he, and what he said, would become a lightning rod that could have damaged the country as well as the Republican Party.

One very sad aspect of the Lott matter is that many elected officials, as well as some highly visible individuals aligned with racially centered organizations and some in the media, were eager to pose as innocents with no history of bias or intolerance. There are phonies all over the place and many of them used the Lott situation to try to paint themselves as noble, unbiased individuals.

Some will try to keep the Lott issue alive as long as possible even if it is detrimental to the country and keeps Congress from moving ahead in a positive, forward-looking manner on a number of critical issues.

Highly partisan Democrats will use every means to make political hay out of the Lott matter. Whether they can keep the issue alive long enough to try to affect the 2004 elections remains to be seen. However, there is no question they will try.

During the past week or so and Friday, in particular, the Lott story dominated the news. CNN got carried away on the story, and its editors acted as if this was by far the most important story of recent times. This at a time when U.S. forces are being increased in the Iraqi theater as a sign of an impending U.S. military strike against Saddam Hussein.

This story was pushed aside and probably won’t command top attention until a military strike is under way.

As soon as Lott made his announcement, speculation started concerning who would be elected to the Senate leadership post. According to a number of GOP senators, Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist seems to be the favorite and received ringing endorsements from a number of top Republican leaders.

It didn’t take long, however, for critics to start finding fault with the distinguished surgeon who was first elected to the Senate in 1994. These critics, in the media and among some Democrats, were quick to question whether he could serve effectively in this top position in light of the fact his father and brother are affiliated with private hospitals and the family income is derived from private health care. Frist’s critics are ready to pounce on the heart surgeon, using the race card and his voting record to make his election as uncomfortable as possible.

Is it any wonder it is becoming increasingly difficult to get top-flight, accomplished people to seek high elective offices? About the only way a person can avoid criticism is to do nothing. The only way to keep from stepping on toes is to never do anything, never make a move or take a stand. Is this the type of individual we want in public office?

Lott has paid a heavy price for his remarks at Thurmond’s birthday party, but hopefully something good will come of the public’s heightened awareness, sensitivity and concern about segregation.

The Golden Rule still is pretty good advice.