Beyond Macaca: The Photograph That Haunts George Allen

[Destino]

Barnstorming around Virginia in the re-election campaign that Republican Senator George Allen hopes will provide the impetus for his 2008 run for the presidency, he has suddenly been forced on the defensive. Time and again, he has felt compelled to explain that his mocking of S.R. Sidarth, a young Indian-American staff member for his Democratic opponent, as "macaca," or monkey, was an unintentional gaffe. "It was a mistake. I made a mistake," he told a reporter from a local NBC affiliate at a campaign stop on Thursday. Hours later, he told the ABC affiliate, "It was a mistake, I was wrong." On Fox News's Sean Hannity show, he echoed, "It was a mistake."

But was it an isolated "mistake"?

Only a decade ago, as governor of Virginia, Allen personally initiated an association with the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), the successor organization to the segregationist White Citizens Council and among the largest white supremacist groups.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060911/george_allen/2

[Fergasun]

Has the other campaign started printing... "I'm with Macaca" t-shirts?

[Destino]

Has the other campaign started printing... "I'm with Macaca" t-shirts?

Man I could make a killing on those. lol

Seriously though this article alleges old ties with some shady people and groups.

[Hooper]

Yeah, apparently he's made a lot of "mistakes" in the past.

I know one thing -- he's pretty much done as a presidential canidate.

[Destino]

Yeah, apparently he's made a lot of "mistakes" in the past.

I know one thing -- he's pretty much done as a presidential canidate.

I agree. The GOP wants to distance itself as much as possible from anything considered racist, and I say this as a credit to the GOP leadership not a slam. Putting Allen up for Pres would rip that door open and drag in other members of the GOP. They are better served going with someone that has made less "mistakes" who could very well make another on the national stage and damage the entire party.

[Midnight Judges]

Has the other campaign started printing... "I'm with Macaca" t-shirts?

I think we all saw this coming.

[ntotoro]

I know one thing -- he's pretty much done as a presidential canidate.

Was he actually considering... ? That was the first I heard of it.

Allen/Cosell '08

[mboyd784]

I agree. The GOP wants to distance itself as much as possible from anything considered racist, and I say this as a credit to the GOP leadership not a slam. Putting Allen up for Pres would rip that door open and drag in other members of the GOP. They are better served going with someone that has made less "mistakes" who could very well make another on the national stage and damage the entire party.

Except, of course, for racism against those of arab descent. That's highly encouraged!

[Hooper]

Was he actually considering... ? That was the first I heard of it.

Allen/Cosell '08

He was considered a front-runner... until, you know, he opened his mouth.

[Zguy28]

I wonder if anything would have been said about the word "Macaca" if the guy was white?

My personal opinion is he wasn't being racist and would've said it no matter the guys racial backround. Hey, but that's just me.

If somebody dug up my past from 10 years ago, people would think I was a racist too. I called non-whites many despicable names all the time (to their face too) and was definitely prejudiced. Not so now. I don't judge or comment based on race. Thank you Jesus.

[dreamingwolf]

its funny how the left(destino I know you claim your not, but you are definately anti-Republican) will call on a persons past like this, but give Byrd a bye. Also, where is all this condemnation when a black republican(Steele) was having a debate and the dems handed out oreos to everyone attending telling them Steele was an oreo black on the outside white on the inside.

Or when morran said if it wasnt for the Jews we would have never gone to war in Iraq. So much racism spews out of the left that its amazing that you all can with a straight face assert things like this.

[The Evil Genius]

Ah yes, it's the don't look at me, look at Byrd trump card.

[rictus58]

Also, where is all this condemnation when a black republican(Steele) was having a debate and the dems handed out oreos to everyone attending telling them Steele was an oreo black on the outside white on the inside.

I don't think it was people working for Kathleen Townsend who did that. But the story was proven false in some circles.
However, it is a fact that the super liberal paper The Baltimore Sun wrote that:
"the only thing Steele brings to the ticket is the color of his skin."

[Destino]

its funny how the left(destino I know you claim your not, but you are definately anti-Republican) will call on a persons past like this, but give Byrd a bye. Also, where is all this condemnation when a black republican(Steele) was having a debate and the dems handed out oreos to everyone attending telling them Steele was an oreo black on the outside white on the inside.

Or when morran said if it wasnt for the Jews we would have never gone to war in Iraq. So much racism spews out of the left that its amazing that you all can with a straight face assert things like this.

I'm not a "leftist" not even "anti republican" really because I do like some of their moderates. I don't trust the GOP to do anything they say they'll do which is why I come off as being anti-republican. Agree with them or not you never know what they hell they'll actually do. If it makes you feel better I'm not a Byrd fan either and have many times posted about how wrong it is to attack blacks for voting far or running as republicans.

The difference is the democrats you are mentioning that have made racist comments or have racist history don't play dumb about it. They admit it freely and explain. Allen here has ties to the CofCC which is a old school racist group, and whenever asked about it you get something along the lines of "kashhhh kashhhh I'm sorry the connection bad I can't hear you and have to hang up now"

[stwasm]

It's frightening that this man represents that state where I live!