August 15, 2006
Sen George Allen's Statement on Macaca
Here is a statement Sen. George Allen (R-VA) provided to CNN:
“I’m concerned that my comments at Breaks Interstate Park on August 11th have been greatly misunderstood by members of the media.
“In singling out the Webb campaign’s cameraman, I was trying to make the point that Jim Webb had never been to that part of Virginia – and I encouraged him to bring the tape back to Jim and welcome him to the real world of Virginia and America, outside the Beltway, where he has rarely visited. I also made up a nickname for the cameraman, which was in no way intended to be racially derogatory. Any insinuations to the contrary are completely false.
“Yesterday, I apologized to anyone who may have offended by the misinterpretation of my remarks. That was certainly not my intent. On every stop on my Listening Tour – I have talked about one of my missions for this country – to make it a land of opportunity for all. I have worked very hard in the Senate to reach out to all Americans - regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity or gender. And I look forward to continuing to advocate this important mission for America’s future.
“I never want to embarrass or demean anyone and I apologize if my comments offended this young man. Even though he has signed onto my opponent’s campaign, I look forward to seeing him on the trail ahead.
Posted at 05:55 PM
Comments
Allen wrote “nigger” on his school wall
Allen was made to apologize over school PA
Allen had confederate stickers on his car
Allen had confederate flag in his living room displayed prominently
Allen had a display with noose hanging from a tree
Allen opposed Martin Luther King holiday
Allen replaced the only black trustee at Univ of Virginia
Allen calls an Indian American “monkey”.
Allen is a RACIST.
ben | 08.15.06 06:08 PM
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I am amazed at how stupid this f*$k Allen is. As a person of Indian descent, born and raised in America I am appalled at the fact that someone with aspirations of being leader of the United States could be so stupid as to say something of this sort directly at the camera. It does not surprise me that a redneck, confederate-flag hanging, closet KKK high school testosterone neanderthal would do his best to hide these traits. But to out them in front of a camera. What a stupid f*$k. I hope Webb wins, for all minorities.
Scary Dude | 08.15.06 08:03 PM
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for whatever reason, the mainstream media hasn't reported that the term is a common racist slur in france and beligium for north africans, and that allen's mother was from french tunisia. gee, i wonder where he could have picked up that word. the term also is common in white supremacy hate literature. there's no question as to what he said or what it means, and the fact that he is claiming it somehow comes from "mohawk" is ridiculous.
there's no way to spin out of this one virginia. if you reelect allen, you're letting the world no how you feel about bigots.
scott | 08.15.06 08:04 PM
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This comment by Sen.Allen is a clear racial slur. Since he has realised his mistake, we must let him move on.
jack | 08.15.06 08:14 PM
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ben has the facts exactly right. Add in the sadistic behavior he exhibited as a kid in his family, as told by his sister Jennifer in her book Fifth Quarter, and you have one sick puppy who should never be considered as presidential material...but then, the Republicans did run George W. Bush!
Roanoker | 08.15.06 08:42 PM
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I am an Indian American. I am offended and I am afraid people of color will have to get used to this as this great country is listening and getting fooled by every day commentary of hate mongers like Rush Limbaugh and Shawn Hannity. I won't be surprised if Allen's remarks brings him even more votes.
Ramesh | 08.15.06 09:03 PM
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Yes, but Jim Webb is friends with "Hollywood movie moguls". He's not a real Christian American.
Adam Holland | 08.15.06 09:15 PM
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I love the "I apologize IF" non-apology.
Trav | 08.15.06 09:18 PM
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"I also made up a nickname for the cameraman, which was in no way intended to be racially derogatory. Any insinuations to the contrary are completely false."
Can someone please - PLEASE - make it clear that there are clearly lies coming from the Allen campaign here. Wadhams says the nickname was from the staff, which had used it as a reference to this young man's haircut, which they claim looked like a mohawk. And yet here, Allen himself says HE made up the nickname. So what is it, guys? Who made up the nickname? Where does this incredibly offensive word, which has a vile background that can be connected to Allen's upbringing, come from?
Please - PLEASE - can't someone at the Hotline raise this question to him and his campaign? I mean, doesn't the media, and the public (!), at least deserve that level of honesty from the candidate?
Arlington Mike | 08.15.06 10:41 PM
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When is an apology not an apology? When you vigorously deny having done anything wrong.
plunge | 08.15.06 10:57 PM
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And then he bare-faced lied about it.
Laughing in your collective faces.
And the MSM rolled over and played dead.
Sheesh..... what a fcuked up country you have there.
paul | 08.15.06 11:12 PM
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You out of staters don't realize the major role the Confederacy played in the early history of Southern California. Don't you remember the Battle of Green Woods? Senator Allen has a great appreciation for this history but he is not a racist. The Senator just loves white people a little bit more than everyone else.
Grand Ol' Party | 08.15.06 11:36 PM
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Watch the video! Sen. Allen's comments were unbelievable. Reminded me of being a "Jungle Bunny" in third grade.
In any case, I made up some funny t-shirts and other stuff to celebrate the end of Allen's campaign. Thought you might want to check it out.
I'm donating 30% of the profit to Allen's competitor, Democratic candidate Jim Webb.
http://www.cafepress.com/macacashop
mr. macaca | 08.16.06 01:51 AM
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"Welcome To America and the real world..." I guess you have to see the video, and if you live in Virginia I'm sure you will. Allen's an un-American jerk.
kevo | 08.16.06 02:20 AM
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Nice try Allen, but you are clearly lying. Especially given your history of racism, and the fact that your mother is French Tunisian and would have taught you that epithet. You know full well what it means!
Reynard T. Fox | 08.16.06 04:20 AM
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Media reports calling George Allen's remarks "racially insensitive" are a joke. The remarks went far beyond being merely insensitive. He used the word "macaca" twice while derogating the young aid from the Webb campaign. Not once, not a "slip of the tongue," but twice. (He must've gotten a good laugh from the all-white crowd the first time he trotted it out for them.) The word is a commonly used racial slur meaning "monkey." Allen's contention it was a "version" of Mohawk is simply beyond belief. I mean, COME ON! He then added "welcome to America," to his remarks, obviously meant to imply the young man was a recent arrival from outside America and as such deserved to be singled out and berated for being "foreign." (The young man was born and raised in Virginia.) Allen also has a long history of questionable behavior vis a vis race. Is this the kind of "intellect" Virginians want representing them?? He can apologize all he wants, but seriously, are Virginians going to believe his lame mea culpa at this point? I can't imagine any intelligent person would fall for it. Allen should bow out of the race.
Chris Schoon
cjschoon@aol.com
Cedar Rapids, IA
Chris Schoon | 08.16.06 11:54 AM
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Reynard is totally right. Allen's mother is French Tunisian, there is no way he didn't know what that slur meant. It is pretty obscure as slurs go, however.
SM | 08.16.06 02:33 PM
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Come on, guys. If he wanted to make an inflammatory remark, there are many better words to choose.
Using a word does not make you a "racist". Racism is actively working to undermine the status of and opportunity for a racial group. Like denying jobs, or working to get people fired for race...
Find me evidence of that, and I might listen. Otherwize I consider you all "Mindless Democrat Party Hacks" and nothing more.
American | 08.16.06 02:36 PM
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I'm horrified as American of Indian descent and humiliated as a registered Republican. So much for being a mindless, Democratic hacks.
Vijay | 08.16.06 04:48 PM
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The "cameraman" in questions had been following the Senator around for a several days looking for something his hero Webb could use to show the Senator was racist, even attempting to gain entrance into a number private events to which he was not invited. I'm wondering how many of those so profoundly stunned by what Sen. Allen did have not done exactly the same thing at least once in their life - either in public with their friends or in private? If you have NEVER, EVER made a "racist" remark...raise your hand! Glass houses attract stones you know. Hmmm!
Carl | 08.16.06 05:11 PM
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So let me get this straight: you are defending Allen, because he's not the only bigot in America? Precisely how did the young man in question try to illicit the senator's racist response? Was it by simply standing in an all white crowd? If that's what you're saying, then two things are true:
1. Allen is indeed a racist.
2. You appear to live in a glass house.
Vijay | 08.16.06 06:56 PM
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"This comment by Sen.Allen is a clear racial slur. Since he has realised his mistake, we must let him move on."
What in the statement indicates his realization? His apology was half-assed and did more damage then good.
jcindc | 08.16.06 07:11 PM
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Gee, Carl, if you *knew* you were being followed around by your _opponent_ then why would you do something so asinine? Racist or not, if Allen is that damn stupid he shouldn't be in the Senate.
I Dunno | 08.16.06 08:24 PM
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Incidentally, even if the "welcome to America" comment was directed at Webb and not Sidarth, where does Allen get off telling a former Secretary of the Navy and Vietnam war vet that he's never been to "America"?
captainlarab | 08.17.06 10:57 AM
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I'm a little confused as to this assumption that just because his mother was a Sephradic Jew from Tunisia, that he'd be familiar with a French word that sounds, and I emphasis the word sounds, like the name he called this kid. Was there a huge Algerian population in Palos Verdes in the 1960's? Where exactly would he here his mother use this term? And if he did hear it, and understand it, why would he use it against a kid for whom it clearly didn't apply (it would be like calling a Mexican a Niggeg, except isntead of using Nigger you use an obscure Chinese word for Nigger that neither the guy you were insulting nor anyone in the audience you were trying to impress would even understand)? I'm no Allen fan, but you guys are grasping at straws, and turning Allen into a victim in the eyes of Virginia whites is undermining Webb's entire election stratedgy and playing into Allen's ridiculous "Webb doesn't understand voters outside the beltway" theme.
Bogan | 08.17.06 11:52 AM
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Maybe Allen should be aware of the face that the Indains actually own the land, not the whites who seem more like monkies than do blacks or any race of color. The boy needs to go back to school.
barbara benford | 08.20.06 07:09 PM
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Anyone who even tries to defend Jim Allen is walking a slippery slope. I had never heard of the word Macaca prior to this episode. It is clear that bigotry is embedded deep in Allen's psyche and age is bubbling it up. Mistake or not, he does not belong!
Surrealist | 08.23.06 12:48 PM
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Wow, a month or so ago I submitted some material to a Virginia newspaper about Allen, and his youthful antics that just smacked of smoldering racism. Surprise, surprise, the Virginia newspaper did not print it. Then two weeks later, what happens? I guess every tiger shows his stripes sooner or later.
adam | 08.23.06 11:08 PM
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sean hannity is a hate monnger? are you a retard or do you work at being stupid?
tom donaldson | 08.24.06 05:07 PM
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