- This scandal has gone from a hint on NLS to a nationwide wildfire. Indian-American press is all over this. - The ultimate irony: this slur came immediately after Allen promised a "campaign on positive, constructive ideas" that would "motivate and inspire people for something." If this is a positive and constructive idea from the mind of George Allen, we're in for some real sewer sludge when his campaign goes negative.
- As Lowell and Ben have noted already, has been reported elsewhere, the Washington Post doubts Allen's lame "haircut defense" and slams him for his behavior: "But really, by mocking Mr. Sidarth, Sen. George F. Allen demeaned only himself."
- The defense is getting desperate, including some pathetic claims that noting the family connection to the language behind the slur implies that Allen's mother taught him this remark. Noting that Allen's mother speaks the language where this word comes from only points out Allen's access to the word and nothing more. He could of picked it up in many ways: from other teens on the block when visiting his mother's home town, from a racist family friend, from some book or magazine. Heck, since he is a racist, he might have researched obscure slurs from his mother's tongue out of his own morbid curiosity as an adult. Nevertheless, the only point of noting his mother's background is to show that Allen has had access to this word for a long time.
- As noted previously, conservative blogs Bearing Drift and Too Conservative have slammed Allen. Most others haven't commented (or at least only commented in the early moments when the facts were still fuzzy). Keep an eye on the other conservative blogs today - it'll be interesting to see if they fall in line as mindless defenders of this despicable behavior or actually show some common sense and decency. This is a defining moment for these blogs - their credibility is on the line and their choices will be noted for posterity.
He was INDIAN...not Iraqi....not Lebanese....
Allen has said that the word “macaca†had “no derogatory meaning for him and that he was sorryâ€. Rubbish! With a Tunisian mother of French descent and with the term “macaca†used in that area as a derogatory word for people of color, I’m not buying Allen’s explanation. Other attempts by his campaign staff to say that he was just trying to say “Mohawk†are equally insulting.
The question now is whether this issue will continue to “have legs†or will it quietly die. Hopefully, Allen’s racist track record will become a real issue in the determination of his suitability for continued public service. We should call on the leaders of every minority group to denounce Allen – the Black Caucuses, the NAACP, the Indian-American Associations, the Arab-American Associations, the Native-American Associations, the Hispanic-American Associations – and, yes, the national leadership of the Democratic Party.
While Jim Webb continues to focus on the important issues facing America and Virginia, and while he continues to campaign in a dignified and positive way, we - his supporters – should ensure that Virginians are well educated on Allen’s character or lack thereof.
This guy has a long history of being a bully (just read his sister's autobiography) and a bigot (confederate flag, hangman's noose in law office, opposition to MLK Day, etc.)
When his real feelings slip out, or at least his pandering to prejudice as Republicans seem wont to do in the South, I am hardly surprised. He well may not be prejudiced against anyone. Perhaps his repulsive behavior is just another example of "arrested development." If that is the case, he needs to be told, "Grow up, George. You are running against a grown man this time."
"According to the Washington Post story, Allen says he doesn't know what the word "Macaca" means. He actually wants us to believe that as he pointed to a person of color and used the French word for monkey, twice, that he doesn't know what it means.
He's lying. And anyone who speaks French knows what a Macaque is. "Macaque" is French for monkey. And George Allen speaks French.
Here is a quote from the president of the University of Virginia, Patricia Cormier at UVA's commencement exercises in Spring 2005 introducing Senator George Allen: "A little known fact about Senator Allen is that his undergraduate education was enhanced substantially by his excellent performance in French class, taught by none other than Dr. Raymond Cormier, visiting professor of French at Longwood, and my husband! I have up here on the podium the gradebook, and he got a very good grade. No wonder the senator can applaud his superior education."
And not only is it the French word for monkey, it is a known racial slur in his mother's home country of Tunisia...I am from Louisiana and unfortunately I have heard it much too often in reference to blacks amongst my French-speaking relatives...
Anyone who speaks French knows what macaque means... both in context of the animal and the slur. And we know now, thanks to Dr. Cornier, George Allen speaks French."
Would Allen have made these comments in Charlottesville? Richmond? Norfolk?
I am sure every one of those Republicans in the audience was in a BLUE T with "ALLEN" all over it.
Why go deeper than that, to hair or to skin color unless you really wanted to make someone uncomfortable.
It was purposeful and it was racist. Period.
Can some other campaigns, like Hurst, Kellam, Feder, etc., issue statements rejecting Allen's comments, proclaiming that they are committed to leading based on the openness and inclusiveness that should define Virginia's values, and calling on their own opponents to reject Allen's offensive racist statements? I'd like to see other campaigns - if it's helpful - use this to point out that Republicans should not put forth these values of hate and ignorance towards immigrants and minorities, calling on GOP candidates to reject Allen's actions and sentiments.
But, I'm no campaign strategist, so I'm curious to see what others think...