I knew it would happen! I knew it would happen! I knew it would happen!
The WaPo carries this piece. Here's the "money line" of the article:

"The officials said Bush and his aides believe Democrats are hypocritically exploiting the issue out of partisan opportunism, and that the absence of news from the war on terrorism last week contributed to the focus on Lott. The officials said Bush would oppose any effort by Democrats to undermine Lott.

Pardon Me? How does pointing out a bigot and bigotry distract the War on Terror? Which seems to be the thrust of this unnamed White House official's statement. Or is it that with the success of the Ralph Reed strategery (i.e. if you're a not cree-dentialed-rock-solid Jesus-lovin-Chickenhawk-National-Security-Believing All-American Whizz-Bang, then you must be some-kinda-A-Rab-lovin'-freak) in the mid-terms that has emboldend the White House to say such things with no fear of looking stupider than usual? . And maybe up until now it's been effective, but so many people are offended by the (I hope) soon-to-be-former Senator from Mississippi, that perhaps they'll take this White House statement/smokescreen for what it is: White House Bullshit.

I think that if you are a Republican in this day and age, if you can't win on the issues, then win on noise and demagoguery. -sigh-