To the Editor:
In response to Andy Hanauer's column entitled "Lott is not Alone" (The Dartmouth, Jan. 8): Of course you know the Republican Party will never completely repudiate its tactics in the South. Why would they wish to threaten what has been a winning strategy? By lacing their speeches with racial code words they can appeal to the more disgusting elements of my region while giving plausible deniability to those moderate to conservative voters who would shun such behavior. But perhaps this type of misguided, undemocratic behavior will ultimately lead to the marginalization of the Republican Party.
It is tragic that we have not yet learned more from our nation's history. The desire to view one's self as superior to someone else is a powerful human trait. Exploiting that human flaw for cheap political gain is an unconscionable act of moral cowardice.
