Dick Wad(hams) and other Republcians have been trying to spin the Macaca story by claiming that this is no less offensive than the "anti-semitic" cartoon that the Webb Campaign released during the Democratic Primary. I find this comparison to be a little stretch. Why? Well, let's look at this bit by bit, okay? First of all, the cartoon, whether you believe it was anti-semitic or not, was not drawn by Webb. It was created by a staffer. We have never heard Jim Webb himself ever say anything anti-semitic. We have never seen Webb do anything anti-semitic. Therefore, calling him an anti-semite appears to be a bit of a stretch. To say that, you'd have to imagine that Webb saw the cartoon, laughed maniacally, and said, "Yes, this will really piss off the Jews! Ha ha!" Seeing as many of his most vocal supporters are Jewish, I find it hard to believe that Webb reacted so.
George Allen...well, that's a little difference. These words came DIRECTLY FROM HIS MOUTH. Nobody else said this for the Allen Campaign, nobody can take the fall for him. Allen used an ethnic slur on tape. That's the end of the story.
The major difference is right there. Webb was indirectly associated with the cartoon. Allen was directly associated with the slur.
Second difference: the slur itself! Allen used a clear slur by calling a young Indian man "Macaca", and played a stereotype by assuming a non-white man must be an immigrant. Jim Webb's Campaign created a cartoon that portrays Miller fairly accurately. Just look at the picture of Ben's site:
It's a pretty accurate drawing. There's still controversy whether the drawing was, in fact, racist. There's no question about Allen. His mother is French Tunisian, and spoke French fluently. Macaque is a French slur against people of dark-skin in Tunisia. There's just too much of a coincidence there. I'm sorry, but I can't bite the whole "it was an accident" thing.
In conclusion, I just don't see the comparison between the cartoon and the tape. The cartoon was indirectly connected to Jim Webb. He didn't draw it, he didn't even come up with the "anti-Christ" quote, somebody else did! The racist comments from Allen have been recorded coming right out of his mouth.
If anything, the "questionably anti-semitic" cartoon is indirectly connected to Webb. The "easily racist" comments out of George Allen? Directly linked to the Senator.
No excuses, George. You've been caught with your hood down. Try to explain this one without Daddy's shadow to protect you.
We have Tunisian-American Senator George Allen on tape calling a man of color a "black monkey". Twice. In French.And welcoming him to America (where he was born a citizen).
We are going to share Senator Allen's words with every Virginian within reach of a keyboard, newspaper, or television. Because it is meet, right, and so-to-do. Virginians deserve to know the cut of George Allen's jib. Virginia deserves better.
Racist is as racist does. Plain and simple.