George Allen: open mouth insert foot

Americans often think monkeys are cute, but people who live around the wild ones really, really don't. It is a big insult.

Why would you call someone a name, uncomfortably close to the childish 'caca', that you didn't understand? Without knowing more about Allen, he seems stupidly belligerent.

Any defenders? There must be more to him than this incident would indicate.

 

I like that he has displayed the CSA flag in his home. I have one in my study right now and have for years. I wish he still had his. The South needs her sons and daughters to stand strong and not submit to political correctness:

www.americanprowler.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=10100

 

I agree. PC is rampant and idiotic.

 

An illustration of the principle that you can't have it both ways. Either Allen used the term, knowing what it meant, which was intentionally mean-spirited; or he did now know what it meant, which was risky behavior. Neither one is appropriate for a U. S. Senator (though it wouldn't be the first time such utterances came from members of the chamber!).

I find this sort of feeling-laden name-calling often among political and religious ultra-conservatives. It suggests an insecurity that, instead of reasoned argument, falls back on ad hominem insults to carry its point.

 

I prefer people who are openly racist to those who hide it. At least you can keep your eye on them It's the guys who think what Allen said and don't say it, who are the dangerous ones.

Allen was in a friendly crowd, and went with the flow. It's a shame. I hope he learns from it.

 

Senator Allen, unfortunately, apparently has deeper problems than racism. See

http://www.alternet.org/module/email/?storyID=40419&type=wire

Domestic violence and a bully personality according to his sister.

Someone referenced another article which claimed he was the most successful governor in the last 25 years, which is a stretch, and considering the source that statement was made by his campaign manager is just not credible.

Allen's opponent is Ronald Reagan's Secretary of the Navy, Jim Webb, who only recently became a Democrat. DINO, perhaps, I dont know, but Senator Allen is an embarrassment to this Virginian and I heartily hope he is defeated in November.

Jeff.

 

There is another possibility: maybe "macaca" didn't mean anything offensive. Does anyone know what Allen meant by the term? I've never heard the term, much less used as an insult. Since he spoke it, does anyone know how it is truly spelled?

I do like James Webb, though. I think he was SECNAV during part of the time I was active duty. Did he precede Lehman or come in after him?

 

FTR

Doesn't sound good:

"a dismissive epithet used by Francophone colonials in Africa for native populations" It is a type of monkey.

 

EG,

That doesn't mean that's what he was calling him. He said "or whatever his name is", maybe he thought his name was something that started with "Mc", I don't know. Again, since Allen was speaking, why are we assuming he meant it that way? If he was, I agree, it was WAY out of line.

 

FTR

Allen's mother was a French Colonial, who grew up in Tunisia. I am quite sure he heard the slur growing up, and am quite sure he knew what it meant. The chances of Mr. Allen's not knowing what it meant are, in my view, quite slim.

More troubling than the Macaca comment was the "Welcome to America" and "Welcome to Virginia" comments. Mr. Sidarth was actually born in Fairfax, while Mr. Allen is a carpetbagger born in Whittier California.

And in the for what it is worth category, my family has been in Virginia since 1619.:type:

 

Senator Allen is one of the very, very few Republicans whom I would consider voting for president in 2008. I think he is one of the few conservatives who could stop the GOP's headlong plunge into becoming nothing more than a Democrat-lite party.

It's too bad that he provided an opening for the politically correct crowd to jump on him. Hopefully, he can stave off their attacks, win re-election this fall, and then rescue the GOP from its lurch to the left during the Bush years.

It's too bad that nowadays people are so quick to take offense like a bunch of whiny babies. The PC crowd looks that this to me:

 

We constantly have Christians on this board calling fellow Christians names. This has got to be the biggest nothing story of the year so far.

It's time to move on to important stuff in the news, folks.

 

JW,

I wasn't aware of that family history. Thanks. If that is the basis of Allen's saying what he did then it is inexcusable. I didn't read the story to find out if Sidarth is black, am assuming that he is, hence the racism comments.

 

In the political world, it is far better. You can do everything from insulting a person's mother to insinuating something about his wife and daughters, but if you get racist, your career is over.

 

He is of Indian descent. His skin is dark.