RK ARCHIVE - What's Byrd Have To Do With It?

George Allen made a serious no-no. We all know that. And many people, myself included, have either insinuated of flat-out declared that George Allen is a racist. Republican Bloggers have, of course, denied this in many different ways (as well they should, he IS the GOP candidate).

Let me say while I do think it is wrong to ignore or defend Allen's remarks, it is definitely ok to try to defend his reputation. I know when Harris Miller called members of the Jim Webb Campaign anti-semetic, I defended them against attacks I thought lacked merit.

It's okay, GOP bloggers, to try to dispel rumors of Allen's racial issues. But please, when you do, make sure you have a decent argument.

The worst argument I have heard has to do with Senator Byrd of West Virginia. Because of Byrd's connection with the KKK as a young man, Republicans have been somehow trying to use this as a way to take attention off of Allen.

This is Virginia. Different state, different candidates. What the hell does Senator Byrd have to do with Jim Webb or George Allen? The only connection Byrd has with Jim Webb is his party. The only connection Byrd has with Allen is they have both used Ethnic Slurs. Byrd, at least, when he used the N-word in 2001, apologized profusely and admitted he was wrong. Allen has yet to admit he was wrong for saying the M-word.

Why is the Republican blogosphere bringing up Byrd? I've read most of the posts online about Macacagate, and it appears that most people are claiming Allen is a racist. The "Byrd Defense" is usually used by Republican Bloggers when people call their party racist.

The Republican Party is NOT racist. Individuals within it may be, as individuals with any party can be. It appears that Robert Byrd, a Democrat, was a racist as well. The question posed by Democratic bloggers isn't whether or not the Republican Party is racist. The question is whether George Allen is. It's a fair question, as his history seems to indicate that it's a possibility.

Trying to change the subject to Senator Byrd is pointless. How about instead of desperately trying to change the topic, you do what George Allen has yet to do, and admit he was wrong.

Comments

Please Don't Get Too Upset (AnonymousIsAWoman - 8/20/2006 8:53:13 PM)

with Republicans, dan. It's called the setting up a straw man argument. It's what you do when you actually don't have a decent defense. You point to something vaguely related to deflect attention from the charge against your guy.

What about Robert Byrd? I don't live in Virginia so I can't vote for him. I can vote against Allen who may not be a racist but certainly made a racist comment, and can't bring himself to actually apologize for it.

It's more problematic to me that Allen is mean and arrogant. He tried to single somebody out as different from the rest of the crowd, ridiculed and embarasssed him and can't admit that he was wrong.

Allen is very like his hero George Bush, who also has trouble with the humility thing. For supposed good Christians, being humble, confessing sins, and being contrite certainly appears to be a hurdle for these two arrogant frat brats.

I didn't know about the 2001 incident (LAS - 8/20/2006 10:03:51 PM)

but I believe that actions speak louder than words. Yes, Byrd has a regrettable history with racism as a young man, but how about now? Is it not conceivable that he had a true change of heart? I think people need to look at his voting record and his actions as a powerful U.S. Senator.

The major reason Allen's "gaffe" is getting so much attention is his regrettable and suspicious behavior as a young man, politician, and Governor. In other words, his RECENT actions. This comment only confirms what a lot of people already suspected. The whole Confederate thing is just so creepy. I mean, Martin Luther King day is ALSO Lee/Jackson day? What is up with that?

Stupid Don't Get Better (Rick O'Dell - 8/20/2006 10:06:53 PM)

To my Republican friends let me put your specious Byrd argument into poker and bridge terms. Terms that you can surely understand: I'll see your Robert Byrd play with a "Trent Lott" and trump it with a "Strom Thurmond."

For George Allen to do what he did to a Democratic tracker armed with a running video camera was on its face stupid, stupid, stupid. This proves beyond a shadow of doubt that Allen is dumber than a "bush."

Faux News (mkfox - 8/20/2006 11:15:21 PM)

uses Byrd's former Klan connections all the time as a weak rebuttal to anything biggoted Republicans are accused of doing. Byrd never committed any crimes with the Klan and has repeatedly apologized for having any rapport with them at all. Besides, it was the Democratic Party which denounced the Klan by name at the presidential convention in 1924.

Allen is all about Allen...not Virginia. (michaelcollins - 8/21/2006 12:41:40 AM)

I'll admit to a certain prejudice against guys named "George Allen" advancing themselves on the basis of guys named "George Allen." Maybe the coach figured that the youngster would need some help and changed his name from the original Felix Mildred Allen to George Felix Allen. You never know, it could be true. There night even be video;)

My experience with George Felix Allen is that he really doesn't have much to say and he says it poorly; and that his office is unfriendly to those representing interests that he finds objectionable. There are those here who know much better than I about his general reputation, but it seems like he's the Senator for those Virginians he agrees with and that the rest of us can take a hike.

I'm thrilled that Webb is getting this boost. He would have done this himself thorugh a face to face with Allen at a debate or some situaiton. i'm sure Allen has nightmares about Webb. After all, Webb did it on his own and he has done it and continues to live out his life work on the basis of his intellgence, nerve, and values.

I'm convinced that Webb will be one of the truly outstanding Senators of our lifetimes.

Great comments. (Lowell - 8/21/2006 6:42:09 AM)

In particular, I loved what you had to say about Jim Webb living a life based on "intellgence, nerve, and values" - as opposed to George Felix Allen's life based on, well, none of the above. And, of course, I loved your prediction that Jim Webb "will be one of the truly outstanding Senators of our lifetimes." That's exactly what I thought when I first met Jim back in December 2005, and it's extremely gratifying that millions of REAL Virginians are seeing it now as well. Great news for Virginia, great news for America. I can't wait for November 7!

Well put. (Zee - 8/21/2006 11:17:16 AM)

And if Allen felt compelled to whip up his white supporters with the idea that a brown-skinned youth needed a "welcome to America" the only conclusion one can draw is that the GOP is, indeed, a party that employs racism and actively appeals to racists. They are a significant contingent of the party.

The fact that John McCain didn't denounce Allen's remarks shows...and instead actively campaigned for him...shows that even a man with a minority daughter himself sucks it up for the party.

Please don't feel this needs to be the last post on this topic. It's a core problem, from prisons in the U.S. to wars waged overseas. The Republicans in power are fostering racism. The fact that they are pointing to Byrd instead of David Duke shows they have no intention of owning up to the problem. McCain's performance proves they have no intention of eradicating the racists, either.