George Allen: Forever Having to Say He+óGé¼Gäós Sorry

Before +óGé¼+ôMacaca,+óGé¼-¥ There Were Others+óGé¼-ª

Senator Allen has a history of manipulation and intimidation, and has had to apologize to people throughout his political career.  He compared a political opponent to Hitler, explaining that +óGé¼+ôyou have to have a sense of humor.+óGé¼-¥  He had to apologize for an ad where he superimposed a picture of his opponent over a +óGé¼+ôVictory to Iraq+óGé¼-¥ banner. And, as we know, Allen+óGé¼Gäós pattern re-emerged this month in Breaks, Virginia when he hurled a derogatory remark at Webb volunteer S.R. Sidarth.

+óGé¼+ôThere+óGé¼Gäós a well known Bible verse+óGé¼GÇ¥Matthew 15:18+óGé¼GÇ¥that says, +óGé¼-£But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart,+óGé¼Gäó and no one speaks from the heart or shoots from the hip quite like Senator Allen,+óGé¼-¥ said Webb spokesperson Steve Jarding.

+óGé¼+ôIt+óGé¼Gäós taken him twelve days to offer an apology,+óGé¼-¥ continued Jarding.  +óGé¼+ôIn the words of Senator Allen, the Senator+óGé¼Gäós apologetic words move at the +óGé¼-£pace of a wounded sea slug+óGé¼Gäó.+óGé¼-¥

The following is a timeline of +óGé¼+ômis-speaks+óGé¼-¥ (and apologies) from George Allen+óGé¼Gäós heart:

* 2000: Allen Apologized After Surrogate Smeared Political Opponent with Personal Attack.  Allen held a press conference to personally apologize for a political rally when a surrogate personally attacked Allen+óGé¼Gäós opponent.  Rally speaker Delegate Jeannemarie A. Devolites of Fairfax alluded to Senator Chuck Robb+óGé¼Gäós past relations with Miss Virginia.  Allen said Devolites+óGé¼Gäó comments were unscripted and unwanted.  [Richmond Times Dispatch, 11/5/00]

  * 1999: Allen Accused a Reporter of Being Manipulated by His +óGé¼+ôSomnambulant+óGé¼-¥ Opponent in Private E-mail.  In an e-mail meant to be private, Allen called Sen. Chuck Robb +óGé¼+ôsomnambulant,+óGé¼-¥ and accused a reporter of being manipulated.  +óGé¼+ôBy e-mail, a reporter proposed to an Allen adviser discussing a news story about Allen+óGé¼Gäós foreign affairs and defense schooling.  That afternoon the advisor and Allen apparently shared views, also by e-mail.  The former governor is a promoter of the high-technology industry and an avid user of the Internet.  He mistakenly fired off his message to the reporter too.  +óGé¼-£+óGé¼-ªWe ought to realize and prepare for this story angle that is obviously intended to be favorable to the somnambulant opponent who must somehow manipulate this reporter,+óGé¼Gäó Allen wrote of his suspicions.  When he learned of the mistake, Allen telephoned the reporter, professed embarrassment and apologized for the tone of the message.+óGé¼-¥  [Richmond Times Dispatch, 11/21/99]

  * 1994: Allen Said He Would +óGé¼+ôKick The Liberals Soft Teeth Down Their Throats,+óGé¼-¥ Later Said He Regretted Comments.  Allen eventually said he regretted using violent and inappropriate insults against people in the Democratic Party to excite an audience of supporters at the 1994 Republican convention in Virginia.  Allen said he wanted Republicans not just to beat the other side, but to +óGé¼+ôfiguratively smash their soft teeth down their whining throats.+óGé¼-¥ [National Review, 11/7/05; Washington Post, 6/16/94; Times-Picayune, 12/10/94]

  * 1993: Flier Compared Allen+óGé¼Gäós Opponent to Hitler, Later Allen Said Hitler Comments Are Just Part of Politics and You Have to +óGé¼+ôHave a Sense of Humor.+óGé¼-¥  An unsanctioned Republican flier showed Allen+óGé¼Gäós opponent standing next to Adolf Hitler in a Nazi salute.  While the campaign tried to distance themselves from the flier, Allen had +óGé¼+ôcomplained about +óGé¼-£jackbooted+óGé¼Gäó federal officials+óGé¼-¥ and +óGé¼+ôdismissed Nazi comparisons as just part of the rough-and-tumble of politics.+óGé¼-¥  Allen said +óGé¼+ôYou have to have a thick skin and a sense of humor and common sense in politics, and the people will see through ludicrous comments.+óGé¼-¥  [Washington Post, 10/13/93; Washington Times, 10/23/93; The Roanoke Times, 10/13/95]

    * 1991: After Winning, Allen Apologized To His Democratic Opponent For An Ad Implying She Supported Victory for Iraq.  Allen said he regretted a campaign ad from his 1991 race for a House seat.  Allen publicly apologized for the ad that +óGé¼+ôquestioned the wisdom -- if not the patriotism +óGé¼GÇ£ of the Democratic candidate, who opposed the war.  In the spot, a photo of [the opponent] was superimposed over an antiwar demonstration that prominently displayed a +óGé¼+ôVictory to Iraq+óGé¼-¥ banner.  [Washington Post, 11/12/91]; Advertising Age, 11/18/91]

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.

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