I have a few observations of my own. 

Because Jim Webb used the n-word in his novel Fields of Fire, there has been an implication raised by some right-wing bloggers that this signifies some closet acceptance of the word.

But guess which novel is one of Laura Bush's favorites?  Huckleberry Finn, with its repeated (apparently overr 200 times) use of the n-word.
http://www.opinionjo...

Why We Read
The books that inspired me to champion literacy.

BY LAURA BUSH
Saturday, September 30, 2006 12:01 a.m. EDT
***

5. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain (1884).

"Huckleberry Finn" is another of those books that I value greatly, that I read a number of times. It is a classic American work--with its themes of freedom and independence and Huck's coming of age as he flees on a raft down the Mississippi to avoid "sivilizing" back home--and one that is important to our country. The pleasure to be had from reading a book like "Huckleberry Finn" is one reason why, I believe, there is a renewed interest in reading in this country.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Huck Finn literary controversy, see these beautifully written articles on why the book is still taught in schools, and why use of the n-word is in fact an important part of the book.

http://www.neh.gov/n...

http://www.pbs.org/w...

I confess I was inspired to write this after reading the following Mencken-style comment on all the problems being encountered by George Allen.  The commentary is in the L.A. Times -- we may conclude that yes, indeed, George Allen is a national laughingstock.

http://www.latimes.c...

JONATHAN CHAIT
George Allen -- Accidental Racist?
Sometimes, California boys just like Confederate symbols, calling people 'macaca' and mispronouncing 'Niger.'
Jonathan Chait

October 1, 2006

I FEEL JUST TERRIBLE for George Allen. Here he is, a Republican senator running for reelection in Virginia, a potential presidential candidate, a genuine man who obviously has not a prejudiced bone in his body. And yet he has suffered from a series of coincidences, one after another, that have given skeptics the unfortunate misimpression that he is a racist.

Last May, my colleague, Ryan Lizza, wrote an article in the New Republic showing how Allen acquired a strong affinity for the Confederacy as a young man growing up in California. Allen had a Confederate flag on his car and wore a Confederate pin — not the usual passions for a West Coast kid who, at the time, had never lived in the South. One of Allen's former high school classmates told Lizza, "Allen is known as a racist in our Southern California society."

But, as Allen explained, nothing could be further from the truth. When he was a young man, Allen explained to Lizza, "I generally bucked authority, and the rebel flag was just a way to express that attitude." This makes perfect sense. What Southern California teen has not donned the stars and bars as a way of expressing youthful rebellion?

The faux controversy probably would have died out except that, earlier this year, Allen publicly singled out a dark-skinned young man at a campaign rally, calling him "macaca" and calling out, "Welcome to America." Somehow this became a matter of controversy. But, I ask you, what's wrong with welcoming immigrants, or immigrant-looking people (you know what I mean) to America? Is this not the essence of hospitality?

As for "macaca," Allen later explained with obvious sincerity that it was simply a made-up word. Alas, this made-up word also happens to be a slur against dark-skinned people, one common among French Tunisians, and it also happens that Allen's mother is French Tunisian, and that Allen speaks French.

What bad luck.***
In another set of unlucky coincidences, there have been a series of reports by people who remember Allen in his college and post-college days referring to African Americans as "niggers." The accusers, numbering five as of press time, recall Allen using the word in a variety of settings.

Allen's campaign manager has tried to explain that all these recollections are false. And yet the liberal media insists on jumping to the most negative conclusion. Have the skeptics ever considered some alternative possibilities? Maybe Allen's youthful compatriots included an unusually large number of pathological liars. Or maybe they're telling the truth, but Allen was merely trying to launch a discussion of the African country Niger and mispronounced it. Exculpatory possibilities abound.

Anyway, even if these charges were true, does it really amount to anything? National Review's John Miller has wisely pointed out that Allen's Democratic opponent in his current Senate race, Jim Webb, once wrote historical novels that, in an attempt to reproduce authentic dialogue, had characters using the n-word. As Miller noted: "It's worth noting that this was a bestselling book. A lot more people have encountered racial epithets from having read Webb's novels than from having heard Allen speak them (and Allen, crucially, has denied speaking them)."

That's absolutely right. Now, some would say that the n-word is an issue because it's a window into a person's racial views; someone who habitually refers to black people that way is probably a racist. In fact, the only issue is how many people are harmed by coming into contact with the word itself. This is exactly why Mark Twain is now viewed as one of the most insidious racists in American history.

Or do I have this all wrong?

Thanks for explaining that use of the n-word is acceptable because not only did Webb use it extensively, but Laura Bush really likes Huck Finn.  This is why we need liberals in charge: to explain this stuff to us.
You're really smart. 

A reader asked me to post this, since her computer has crashed:

...could you please note somewhere on the topic of Allen's currently running radio ad where the woman says something like "I do not believe that Jim Webb has ever disavowed this ..."  meaning his 27 year old article.  Then George Allen makes the statement "I'm George Allen and I approve this ad"  I want the point made that Allen is approving an ad that has a lie.  He sat right next to Jim on Tim Russert's show.  He KNOWS  the woman's statement contains a lie.  SHE  may claim not to know that Jim has disavowed the article's premises but George Allen sure does and he is "approving" the airing of an ad with a demonstrably false statement.  Gotcha!

What Allen has done in the past or his heritage or his recent macaca incident you just do not get it. It is not those facts, it is how George handles himself. Lies to cover lies is more the story, then the lies themself. Running ads with known lies are the issues.

Thank You Dr. Shelton I know of few people who would risk themselves or have the courage to do what you have done.

I put up political signs. Constantly I get the answer from business people that they will not allow political signs because it may hurt their business.

Once it a while I will run into a business that will allow both parties to put up signs. Those signs do not last, because people (Republicans)threaten the owner, they will take their business else where.

Fear is a dominating factor in American politics, some times we find people with courage. Thanks.

I'm looking, I want to know who would vote for a liar. Especially when they have such a qualified alternative in James Webb.

I live in a 75% Republican precinct and there aren't 4 yard signs in the thousands of homes.  Guess  the Allen supporters are just going to slink into the voting booth and push the button in secret?  And then they'll be party to the lie - silent accomplices.  Silent fear, heckuva way to live.

Virgil Goode is almost invisible.

I guess they think that if they say nothing, speak nowhere, and keep a low profile, no one will have anything to complain about. And in Virgil's case, he has no record to run on, so what would he talk about?

and there are Allen bumperstickers.  But there are far fewer than Webb ones, from what I can tell ... People voting for Allen are 'in the closet', now, embarassed to be supporting him.

The sign blitz will likely happen in large numbers and overnight.  It causes a shock effect.

We should take note and do the same....first.

Remember Allen is a fighter and he has tons of money.

to every single newspaper in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This would be far more powerful sitting in print of newspapers.

But, a magnificent and courageous letter.

Now, about Deborah Howell and the "anonymous" sources again ????

One thing that sticks out to me in the Shelton response, is the fact that he says George Allen nicknamed him "wizard" after the Imperial Wizard of the KKK.

Whether the nickname had to do with the Imperial WIzard is, to me, incidental.  It is the fact that Allen assigned Shelton a nickname. 

Assigning nicknames (Macaca) is a form of bullying.  It shows condescension (or superiority, depending upon which way you look at it). 

Nicknames given by Bush to others:

http://www.nndb.com/...

97% alike.

I would just like to thank Dr. Shelton for his courage in speaking out against George Allen and what he observed while at the University of Virginia.  Thank heavens for people like you in the United States who speak out when they see something that is totally wrong.  What is there to gain for you out of all of this?  All the more reason that it takes guts all these years later to get the truth out.
This has been a pattern for George Allen for years and years and years.  It started out with him beating up his younger sister and he continues to be a bully even today.
He might have succeeded in keeping all of this underground had it not been for his singling out a young University
of Virginia student and using a racial slur. He can't deny
that one....it's on record for the entire world to see!!!
We don't want this man for our Senator and we sure as hell don't want him as our President.  virginia and our country deserve a whole lot better.

THANK YOU!!! You are an individual with high values and a role model for our young people.

I live in a 75% Republican precinct and there aren't 4 yard signs in the thousands of homes. 
by: Bubby

They're here -- Lexington. Fewer than usual, so far, but then there are fewer "counter" ones too. Could be because it's a mid-term, or could be both sides are a tad subdued, don't want to antagonise neighbors, whatever. I've seen about equal number of signs for both sides, including one -- each -- of the huge ones. The only diff was that the Allen one was on the side of a highway (more or less in front of a church) and the Webb one was in front of a private house, damn near obscuring the house :) Talk about sacrifice -- it would have to lower the property prices some!

I was away for a couple of days but, when I came back, I finally fixed (taped and stapled the bottom, so it doesn't get filled with wind and get blown away) ours -- ordinary, garden variety -- because our neighbor next door had planted an Allen one (which isn't obscured *enough* by the "for sale" sign). At first, I put it parallel to the house (in front of the boxwood hedge). But, when I drove past it (in both directions), it didn't seem all that visible. So I put it at an angle (more or less 90 degree) and now one can read it driving by without turning one's head. DH's response to my fiddling with the position: "you've always had a good sense of design"