From an Indian American community event last night, John Kerry lays into George Allen (bolding added for emphasis):
It was so disappointing to hear one of my colleagues make ,b>comments that have no place in Virginia, no place in our country, and certainly no place in the United States Senate. George Allen singled out a lone Indian-American college student for ridicule in front of a crowd of mostly white voters. After using a word I won+óGé¼Gäót repeat, he added insult to injury when he said: +óGé¼+ôWelcome to America.+óGé¼-¥Well, to Senator Allen I think it+óGé¼Gäós time we said +óGé¼-£welcome to the twenty first century+óGé¼Gäó where slurs and slights aren+óGé¼Gäót a laughing matter. Welcome to a new day where we refuse to accept insults made about Indian-Americans that, if we heard them about African Americans or Jews or Hispanics, would be the end of a political career.
Welcome to our America, where immigration is a source of pride and not a punch line. Welcome to a politics where a young Indian American born in Fairfax Virginia can tell a US Senator: +óGé¼+ôI+óGé¼Gäóm just as American as you are.+óGé¼-¥ And welcome to Virginia where it+óGé¼Gäós clear some Republicans need reminding about the +óGé¼+ôtruths+óGé¼-¥ a real Virginian +óGé¼GÇ¥ Thomas Jefferson - wrote were +óGé¼+ôself evident+óGé¼-¥ two hundred thirty years ago.
And if you ever want a test of whether Republicans are ashamed of George Allen or just embarrassed by him, it comes on November 7th when we have a chance to say +óGé¼-£welcome to the United States Senate - to his Democratic opponent, Jim Webb.'
We need to stop the politics of name-calling and division that push us apart and separate us. These times we live in are too important for that kind of distraction from what counts most. This is a time for leadership, and this is a time for truth. It+óGé¼Gäós no accident that the first words of our first declaration as a free nation were +óGé¼+ôWe hold these truths to be self-evident,+óGé¼-¥ and truth remains America+óGé¼Gäós bottom line.+óGé¼-¥ +óGé¼GÇ£ John Kerry
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.
Then Allen puts his foot in his mouth.
Now Kerry, Clinton, and the party are united again.
THANKS ALLEN!
p.s. not only united, pissed off.. and focused as well.