The Webb campaign issued the following statement a few minutes ago. I've added a bit of bolding for emphasis of George Allen's previous poor record on the issue of civil rights:
Webb Applauds Unanimous Passage of Voting Rights Act Extension(Arlington, VA) +óGé¼GÇ£ Democratic Senate Candidate Jim Webb applauded today the United States Senate for unanimously passing the extension of the 1965 Voting Rights Act 98-0.
+óGé¼+ôThe Voting Rights Act continues to ensure that we, as Americans, will always strive to become a more tolerant society. This Senate vote +óGé¼GÇ£ absent of dissent +óGé¼GÇ£ proved that we are still committed to that ideal,+óGé¼-¥ said Webb.
Ironically, in his statement on the Senate floor supporting the Voting Rights Act extension, George Allen pointed to the accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr. even though he voted against making a Virginia state holiday in honor of Dr. King. He also claimed to be a long-time proponent of civil rights even though he opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1991.
"If George Allen is truly committed to guaranteeing civil rights, why did he oppose the 1991 Civil Rights Act and the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday?" said Webb spokesperson Kristian Denny Todd. "Given George Allen+óGé¼Gäós past record on Civil Rights legislation, we are happy that he finally recognized the extraordinary triumphs of Martin Luther King Jr., and decided to vote with 97 other Senators to renew the Voting Rights Act."
By the way, J.C. Wilmore relates a revealing story about George Allen and voting rights:
...I was approached by a confidential source connected with the National Urban League who described to me the extent of George Felix Allen's support for voting rights. This source told me that the Urban League approached Senator Allen with a suggestion designed to overcome the objections to differential treatment raised by Southern Republicans.The Urban League proposed that the most obvious way to do away with the special scrutiny applied to certain states was to extend the protections of the Voting Rights Act to all the United States equally. Senator Allen's response was unequivocal: "I do not support expanding the protections of this act."
In other words, George Allen supports expanding the Voting Rights Act...except when he opposes it, that is. Hmmmm.
Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not necessarily represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.
Sing with me now:
FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP!!!!!!