Washington Post Distorts Alleged Allen Slur

A Washington Post Editorial addressing a recent gaffe by Virginia Senator George Allen, actually mis-characterizes the incident. The line "Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia" had nothing to do with anyone's race, or presumed country of origin. It followed directly on the heels of Allen lambasting opponent Webb for being off with the Hollywood elite. It was that contrast Allen was attempting to draw as you can see here.

The idea that holding up minorities to public scorn in front of an all-white crowd will elicit chortles and guffaws? (It did.) The idea that a candidate for public office can say "Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia!" to an American of Indian descent and really mean nothing offensive by it?

Obviously, Allen meant nothing offensive as regards the man's apparent Indian heritage in the sense the Post implies with his "Welcome to America" comment.

Also, if an individual takes on the task of dogging a political campaign with a video camera for the opposition, being held up to scorn doesn't sound like such a bad thing to me. Perhaps the Webb campaign is taking a page from NBC's Dateline. The show felt the need to send Muslims to NASCAR races in attempts to draw camera worthy responses from the mostly white crowd.

Such programming is as about as worthy as the gotcha politics we're now seeing from the Webb campaign. As Webb likely can't get elected for his experience or positions, perhaps race baiting sensationalist fodder for an all too politically correct America is the only real hope he has.

Comments

[Ozymandias]

You make it sound like the concept of following the other candidate with a video camera to their public events is something new, unusual, or unique to the Webb campaign.

It's not.

[Dan]

I didnt' say it was new. And I know both sides do it. But it's still little more than a distraction from any real issues.

[Commenterlein]

Nonsense.

In the video Allen says "Let's give a welcome to Mukaka (sp.?). Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia".

He is clearly and directly addressing the gentleman of Indian decent and is clearly not addressing Webb.

Little surprise that the Instahack linked to your hackery. Birds of a feather...

[rhodeymark]

It would appear that there is a clip showing Allen using a European slur I've never heard of before. Does the term "macaca" mean what the detractors say it does? I don't know, but if so then it was bad form and deserving of scorn.

[RW]

If there's one thing that Virginians do, it's running around using european slurs at the drop of a dime.

Yet another attempt by the panty-waists to play the victim (waaaah). Next up, some brave manly man will say someone is a 'wanker' (as all he-men do).

[Baseball]

I didnt' say it was new. And I know both sides do it. But it's still little more than a distraction from any real issues.

I think the idea that a Senate candidate might be a racist is an issue unto itself. Did you not watch the video? Or did you watch it looking for reasons to exhonerate Burns?

[Sven]

If there's one thing that Virginians do, it's running around using european slurs at the drop of a dime

They do when they're actually spoiled SoCal frat boys who speak French.

[gyrd]

'macaca' is still unexplained, and the most obvious explanation (given Allen's knowledge of the French language)is damning. It's clear to any unbiased person that he's addressing Webb, through the medium of the camera, with his 'welcome to America, the real world, right here in western VA' talk, in contrast to Webb's hobnobbing in Hollywood. But whether he was saying 'welcome to America' to Webb or the camera man is a petty concern. This is about how Allen ended up calling the guy a monkey. How can he explain away mouthing those foreign syllables? Was it a set-up? Did the cameraman once actually tell Allen that his name was Macaca? Absent an innocent explanation, credible to critics, I know for whom i won't be voting in the '08 presidential primary.

[anomdebus]

Ok, so because he speaks a fair amount of French, that means he should know all the slang?
I like to think I know english pretty well, and I can tell you there is a whole bunch of slang I don't know. For example, I used to think an anagram of "fletch" was a funny sounding word until I found out what it meant.

[theAmericanist]

The slur "macaca" derives from vulgar French for people of color, particularly in North Africa.

Senator Allen's mother is French-Tunisian.

As noted above, the Senator is not a Virginia native, but grew up in Southern California, where his affection for the symbols of the Confederacy cannot have been the same as, arguably, for someone who grew up in Winchester with ancestors who fought in the Army of Northern Virginia. Most folks from Allen's high school note that in the culture he grew up in, Confederate symbols ONLY meant massive resistance to the civil rights movement.

Now in what even his supporters concede is an unguarded moment, he uses a French slur to ridicule a kid.

If there is an innocent explanation for this, of all words, coming from Senator Allen to describe the only person of color at a rally, a person he was holding up for ridicule, no one has suggested one yet.

Well?

[CS]

Allen's mother is French Tunisian. Nobody who's spend much time around francophone North Africans has any doubts about what "macaca" means. Using it inappositely is like telling an Indian-American, "Welcome to the 'hood, n_ggah."

Y'all debate whether Allen's a racist all you like. What's for sure is that he's really, really stupid and careless.

[Captain Joe]

What? He called the guy a monkey. Maybe he was Webb's monkey.

[molasky]

"Did the cameraman once actually tell Allen that his name was Macaca? Absent an innocent explanation, credible to critics, I know for whom i won't be voting in the '08 presidential primary."

That would have been a great explanation. Except that Allen has already issued an excuse that is not consistent with this possibility (that he meant say "Mohawk" and just slipped with a "similar sounding word"). I don't think he would have said that if the far superior "it was a set-up" story was available.

More likely he did slip "with" a "similar sounding word," but clearly a pretty obscure one that would not be in his vocabulary if he did not know what it meant.

If you did not already have the word in your vocabulary, it would be impossible I think to simply invent it on the spot. And it would be odd for him to have it in your vocabulary without knowing its meaning at all.

[Uncle Bunny]

"Ok, so because he speaks a fair amount of French, that means he should know all the slang? "

Thats too funny. It's almost always the case that when you learn a new language you learn the cuss words first!

[Kevin Raley]

If his mother is French-Tunisian, does that make her a "Macaca"? And if so, is Mr. Allen then also a "Macaca"? And further if so, does he get the self referential pass that most members of a historically underprivileged and exploited minority, in this case the "Macaca", typically get, e.g., Chris Rock, Cheech Marin, others too numerous to mention? Finally, any chance that "Macaca" becomes a mainsream term of derision?

Macaca please.

[mattg]

"Obviously, Allen meant nothing offensive". Yes, obviously. How could you people be so stupid. You people with your filthy filthy minds, all George Allen wants to do is help America and you are throwing these crazy accusations around. He did not call the guy a n*gger, everything else is fair game. Case closed.

[jpe]

As noted above, the Senator is not a Virginia native, but grew up in Southern California, where his affection for the symbols of the Confederacy

This isn't the tard with the confederate flag in his office, isn't it? And he's from SoCal? So he's a douche and a poser?

[CS]

No, Allen doesn't get a "self-referential pass." Don't confuse his mother's being from Tunisia but of metropolitan french ancestry with being the kind of person who gets called a "macaque". That's like claiming that having a mother in the Daughters of the Confederacy gives one a self-referential pass on the proverbial n-word.

Speaking of the Confederacy, Allen's a poser, a jerk and a phony for embracing the stars and bars for political gain. Effin' carpetbagger.

[spaghetti happens]

I'm sorry, man, but you are a fucking dumbass.

[Steve Denvir]

This jerk-off described it as a "made-up" word. Sure. He just happened to make up a word that happened to mean "nigger".

I'm so relieved.

[nut]

I am an Indian American. I have been living in USA for over thirty five years.

We Indians call each other Macaca all the time.

Senator Allen is being slandered by the big bad liberals.

[Seitz]

Total dirty trick by the Webb campaign. They knew how a racist like Allen would react when a brown person was put in front of him. Typical liberals.

[cleek]

nut/gregor, Allen isn't Indian-American, is he?

[The Liberal Avenger]

Such blatent intellectual dishonesty on your part, Dan Riehl.

All that huffing and puffing and you neglect to mention the use of the word "Macaca" TWICE by Allen?

Do you really think that people are complaining about the "Welcome to America" part of his statement and not the "Macaca"?

Republicans in 2004: "Why don't niggers ever vote for us?"

[Mr. Macaca]

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

[John]

This isn't the tard with the confederate flag in his office, isn't it? And he's from SoCal? So he's a douche and a poser?

Confederate flag, check. SoCal, check. And didja hear about the noose he used to keep around in his office, too?

[raindrops]

The sheer stupidity of Allen never ceases to amaze me. He was a terrible governor before becoming this shining example of what a senator ought not to be. The trackers that follow the opponents' campaigns in Virginia have historically been teased and joked with, usually in a good natured way. In fact a lot of noise was made a few of years back when one side wouldn't officially start an outdoor BBQ event or something because the other guy's tracker wasn't there and they got worried about him - newspapers editorialized about whether the "watchdogs" were getting too close to their subjects. Political wrangling in Virginia swings between Southern sugar and hatchet in your back. Obviously, Allen is not, and never will be, a true Virginian - but the kid he insulted is. At least this ought to put some nails in the coffin of Allen's presidential aspirations. Everybody dance now!!

[Rick]

Would one of you bigoted geniuses explain WTF difference it makes that he has a "confederate" flag in his office and is from SoCal?

[tom tankreedo]

Allen sounds like a riehl racist and a riehl asshole.

[Nikki]

As Webb likely can't get elected for his experience or positions, perhaps race baiting sensationalist fodder for an all too politically correct America is the only real hope he has.

So it was the Webb campaign's fault for sending a brown-skinned person with a video camera to an Allen event. Why, Allen had no choice BUT to use a racial slur to refer to the brown-skinned person. Anyone in Allen's shoes would've done the exact same thing and you know it!

Those lousy liberal race baiters!

[Samurai Sam]

Well, at least Bush can take heart that he's not the most ignorant elected official in the country; Allen's got him beat by a nose.

Oh please, Republicans! Please make this guy your Presidential candidate! It'll give us months of comedy gold for John Stewart and Stephen Colbert to mine.

[rwilymz]

"Please make this guy your Presidential candidate! It'll give us months of comedy gold for John Stewart and Stephen Colbert to mine"

And just what's wrong with the soft anti-semitism of Hillary Clinton? Isn't there enough comedic potential there?

or the outright racism of perennial primary candidate Al Sharpton? or is the racism of the right to be made sport of while the racism of the left quietly ignored or rationalized?

Such are the perplexing dilemmas of modern political pun-ditry I guess...

[Doug]

"Soft anti-semitism of Hillary Clinton"? What, because she didn't bow down and clean Joe Lieberman's shoes with her tongue? Keep grasping at straws, homes.

What the crap is "soft anti-semitism," anyway? Is that the genre of radio station that would play Prussian Blue or something? "WKKK 103.9 . . . the anti-semitism that everybody at work can agree on."

[rwilymz]

"What the crap is "soft anti-semitism," anyway?"

The kind most in favor today: "We recognize the right of Israel to exist and defend its borders from incursion ... but defense of their borders that, y'know, is **effective** constitutes 'disproportionate response' and, well, really, it's all Israel's fault for existing in the first place..."

[chitta]

I am of asian-American origin and republican. I am offeneded by the demeaning manner of Mr. Allen and his use of the derogatory term 'macaca' towards the young guy of asian-Indian origin. To me, based on that video, Mr. Allen appears to be a racist. I do not know his opponent, but i will contribute to his campaign. I do not want a racist (to me at least) like Mr. Allen, even if he is a republican, and we need more of them in the sentate, to be in the Senate and God forbid, the white house.

[submandave]

"Such blatent intellectual dishonesty on your part, Dan Riehl."

I think Dan didn't address the use of "macaca" because he wanted to clearly differentiate between what may have been a legitimate racial slur and what, to an honest observer, is not necessarilly so. I, too, object to the tendency some have to basically say "person A made racist statement X, therefore statement Y must also be racist." Trying to shoehorn what ostensibly is a race-neutral barb into a racist Republican narative, I think, detracts from legitimate questions about the "macaca" comment and makes the entire issue seem more political than racial.

[meow1415]

It's obvious Allen lost his temper at "Macaca- or whatever his name is." Liberals have a way of being extremely manipulative- they like to push buttons. They denounce Republicans all the time claiming Republicans are gun shooting hicks. Southerners, a dying breed in itself lately, are offended all the time and not much is ever said about this. Discrimination comes in all forms. The media, and Americans, jump all over any topic that relates to people of color. Southerners are a minority that are stereotyped and shot down on a daily basis. Everyday people make fun of the lifestyle and speech of G.W. Southerners are just too polite to make a big deal about the daily stereotyping that is made against them. Remember- all types of people and races can be discrimated against.

[elemental]

Allen's statements don't need to be in the context of his background to show their blatant racism. Any fool can see they clearly are, much to the delight of his supporters.

You attempting to defend of his statements speaks volumes about your character and your willingness to treat people like idiots. Who do you think you're kidding?

[rwilymz]

"they were revived in the 1950s and early 60s ... to perpetuate white supremacy"

Symbolism is co-opted all the time. Many users of the stars-n-bars would have as much use for white supremacy as they would a kick in the nuts.

It's well and good to acknowledge the "historical use" of a specific flag, or a specific use of that specific flag, but it's grossly presumptive to declare that "because of history" [or anything else] it necessarily follows that "all uses equate to..." whatever.

"Many people try VERY hard ... to argue that the Confederacy was about states rights vs a too-strong national government..."

It was. Very clearly. And undeniably.

The only states right on the table, however, was the states right to determine slave-bearing status.

"He adopted Confederate symbols "because he's a rebel", but he did it at a time and in a manner that reeks of supporting segregation ..."

My dogs come in from the pasture frequently reeking of horseshit. Does that make them horseshit? Horses?

Symbols are co-opted continually. It doesn't matter what *you* think someone else's use of a symbol means; it only matters what *he* thinks it means. And you find that out by asking him. The choice is then yours to believe him or not. If you choose to not believe him and he does nothing to manifestly earn your disbelief, then who is the bigot?

Apart from sporting a Confy, what has Allen done to prove himself a white supremacist? Seriously; I have no clue. I'm not from VA and I frankly don't have much interest. But many many people are all in a self-righteous lather over something, and I'd like to know what he has done to enact white supremacy.

BTW, the use of a term doesn't constitute anything apart from the use of a term. I consider myself quite well-read, but I [and I can only assume a great number of people here all outraged over it] wouldn't have had a clue before this incident that "macaca" was a word, let alone a derogatory word, let alone a derogatory word for a person of a specific race.

Cite something manifest in this guy's actions that "white supremacist" necessarily follows from these events.

[elemental]

rwilymz, it didn't really matter what the exact meaning of the word was, it was clear, from his manner of speaking, that he was 1. using a generalized term of derision and 2. assumed he was a foreigner for having dark skin (despite actually being an American). It was not only insulting to that one person, but to all Americans who are not white, i.e. racist.

[John]

"They [liberals] denounce Republicans all the time claiming Republicans are gun shooting hicks."

All the time? How can that be, when the liberal Democrats in my state (MT) shoot guns too?

"Southerners, a dying breed in itself lately, are offended all the time and not much is ever said about this."

Allen isn't a Southerner. That's not the term we use to describe people from Southern California.

"Discrimination comes in all forms."

Not all forms of discrimination are morally wrong. Allen's racism is morally wrong.

"Southerners are a minority that are stereotyped and shot down on a daily basis. Everyday people make fun of the lifestyle and speech of G.W. "

He's not a Southerner either. Bush was born in New Haven, Connecticut.

"Southerners are just too polite to make a big deal about the daily stereotyping that is made against them."

The only real Southerner in this story is the native Virginian who was called a racist epithet by a carpetbagging SoCal brat--Mr. Sidarth.

[Original Rick]

theAmericanist: My question was not to illicit a diatribe on the arguments of the last 145+ years. I'm well aware of the arguments of secession and since I lived through the Civil Rights era, I really don't need to look up any of Georgia's former Governors. My question was what does being from Southern California & owning ANY of the Confederate flags have to do with each other. Conceding that I do not know which of the flags the man has in his office, I take liberty in assuming that when you say "stars and bars", you do not mean the "First National" but are incorrectly referring to the "Battle flag" of the Army of Northern Virginia. As a "racist symbol" the confederate flag most often referred to is actually a naval ensign and not a "national flag" any more than the battle flag is. It's really sort of silly anyhow because if you want a REAL symbol of racism in flag form, I recommend Old Glory or the Union Jack since slavery and genocide were practiced legally under those standards FAR longer than four short years. In fact, no slaves black or white were ever transferred on confederate flagged ships. Be that as it may the question was actually whether this Southern California born neo-Confederate was bowing to his own heritage or simply abusing the heritage of someone else. Considering the westward movement of Americans, especially in the 1880's it is not a stretch to wonder about someone genealogy. Typically, in trading one form of bigotry for another, we chose the easy path. He owns a "Confederate flag" but is not southern born, therefore he MUST be a racist. I've no idea what monkeys have to do with Indians but it seems to have been meant as a slur of some sort. Racist? Maybe. You'd have to assume that only Indians or perhaps all Asians would be called monkeys to make the racist link......which would mean racist thoughts cluttered your own thinking. It was however derogatory, unless it was in a science class of course. So to answer my own question. A Californian who owns any of the Confederate flags and uses words that we do not know the meaning of, is in fact a racist......Why, I have no idea

[Doug]

Oh, goody, rwilymz regurgitates the old "If you disagree with anything the Israeli government has ever said or done then you're an anti-Semite" trope. Hey, I disagree with the Chinese government, I must hate Asians, right?

I find it really interesting that political comments about the actions of a foreign government are, by your definition, emblematic of racism, while actual racial slurs directed at a specific non-WASP individual are not. Kinda shows you where the right wing's head is at these days.

[Original Rick]

" Kinda shows you where the right wing's head is at these days"

Yeah Ross, as smart as you are you should know that anyone who is willing to hear both sides of any "infraction" committed by anyone with an R by thier name is automatically a "right wing nut job" So sayeth the party of "tolerance"

[DDT]

How could a wingnut like Dan defend Allen?
Allen speaks FRENCH, for God's sake!!!

[rwilymz]

"I find it really interesting that political comments about the actions of a foreign government are, by your definition, emblematic of racism"

Anti-semitism is not racism.

It is creedism.

Sorry.

"while actual racial slurs directed at a specific non-WASP individual are not."

When did I say that?

When did I suggest that?

I asked a specific question, "doug" and if you can't be bothered to actually read the question and understand it before shooting off your pretentious fingers, well ... "kinda shows where the self-righteous left wing's head is at these days".

The question, again, "doug": the assertion was made that this guy having a stars-n-bars is not merely racist but "white supremacist" because ... well, because that what stars-n-bars is.

I asked people to describe exactly what white supremacy this guy has caused.

Is that too much trouble for you, "doug"? Or should I be satisfied with your axiomatic declarations?

And by the way, pinhead, disagreeing with something Israel does or has done is not necessarily the same as displaying soft-anti-semitism.

It IS, though, when the person disagreeing with Israel's actions consistently holds Israel to a different standard of conduct than any other nation is held to.

But, again, you seem to not be troubled by failing to knowing specifics before shooting off your ignorant fingers.

[Doug]

Wait, are the fingers I shot off pretentious or ignorant? Or both? Curse you, pretentious, ignorant fingers!

The fact is, "rwilymz" (ooh! scare quotes around a person's name are fun!), "macaca" is a racial slur. Allen can make all the half-assed excuses he wants, that's what it is. But when you first leaped into this little conversation, you didn't even address Allen's slur, you launched right into a "Look over there! Clinton!" distraction with a laughable charge of Hillary Clinton's supposed "anti-semitism."

So from this I deduced that you think criticisms of a foreign government ARE a sign of hate for another group of people, while an actual ethnic slur is not. Is that what you think or isn't it?

[rwilymz]

"when you first leaped into this little conversation, you didn't even address Allen's slur, you launched right into a "Look over there! Clinton!" distraction ..."

I was responding directly to someone who was invoking a "Republicans are racists" broad-brushing.

Or did THAT escape your attention as well?

Or are you suggesting that all Republicans are racists?

Is that what you think or isn't it?

[Doug]

I was responding directly to someone who was invoking a "Republicans are racists" broad-brushing.

Like hell you were! Someone made a crack at Allen's expense, pointing out (accurately, it would seem) that nominating him for prez would be a godsend for the Democrats, and in order to distract from the perception that Allen clearly has some backward-ass attitudes toward those of other races, you whipped out a " . . . but Clinton! . . . " (and not even a very good one, I might add).

So, yes or no, do you recognize Allen's remark as a slur, and was it acceptable? I can practically hear you straining to avoid answering that question.

[Original Rick]

Oh, Rick, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.You've illustrated that brilliantly!!

It's sorta silly to INSIST that the Confederacy was about, er, what Webb says it was about, as if this exonerates Allen. And, of course I never did insist on anything. I merely asked a question....

Just to hammer it home, Webb is a combat vet..SO AM I
who wrote a FRIGGING BOOK about the folks (including his ancestors) who made up the bulk of Confederate forces. I'VE READ IT, WRITING A BOOK MAKES HIM AN AUTHOR....NOT A GENIUS

Thus, arguably, when Webb talks about the Confederacy (as he has, notably in a 1990 speech at Arlington Cemetery -- where all the Confederate graves face away from Lee's house, btw, while Union graves are placed so, at the Second Coming, they can rear out of the ground and spit in that sumbitch's eye, as Sheridan said it), BEEN THERE, SEEN IT AND KNOW THE WHOLE STORY.

Webb is sincere that he honors a heritage which he carefully distinguishes from its historical purpose.AND I MERELY ASKED ALLEN'S STANCE

It is impossible to argue that about Allen. For one thing, he lacks ALL of Webb's genuine character. He's not a vet, not a Southerner,WERE HIS PARENTS. GRAND PARENTS, GREAT GRAND PARENTS?????

had no ancestors who fought in the Civil War. AND YOU KNOW THIS HOW????

The symbols he uses come out of the defense of segregation, not the Lost Cause. He has never even attempted to distinguish between white supremacy and the Lost Cause, about which Webb has written literally tens of thousands of words.BUT HE HAS BEEN ASKED TO????

So, since the heritage argument doesn't apply, we're left with the idea that Allen adopted Confederate symbols on principle because they somehow mean a weaker national government, defense against judicial activism, etc., INSTEAD of a defense of white supremacy and slavery.APARENTLY YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, SO PLEASE HELP US FIND A LINK TO SAID PROOF.

Except that in the actual case (the secessionists themselves), neither of these is true. Every secessionist supported the Fugitive Slave Act, which was a pure expression of national government over-ruling states. I DOUBT THAT "EVERY SECESSIONIST" SUPPORTED THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT. LINCOLN WAS NOT A SECESSIONIST WAS HE???

So the Confederate cause could not have been about 'states rights' as a principle, since the Confederates were against states rights when that meant liberating slaves, and for states rights when it meant preserving slavery. THE ORIGINAL QUESTION WAS NOT MEANT TO DISCUSS SEMANTICS.THIS WHOLE DEBATE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT I ASKED.

So there isn't much to the 'principled' argument for Allen's use of Confederate symbols, and we've already seen as a kid from Southern California, he has no claim on the 'it's my native heritage' argument, either.TOTAL BS NOT WORTH DISCUSSING WITHOUT KNOWING HIS FAMILY TREE.

So -- why DID he adopt these symbols? YOU'RE THE ONE WITH ALL THE ANSWERS AND SINCE THAT WAS MY QUESTION.....ANSWER IT.

Moreover, Rick: it is YOU, not Allen, who didn't know what "macaca" meant. While I find it easy to believe in your ignorance (you've given excellent illustrations here), this doesn't show anything except you will believe anything, and insist that your ignorance is proof.THAT MAY WELL BE THE STUPIDEST, MOST BIGOTED THING I'VE EVER REASD ON ANY BLOG. I NEVER CLAIMED TO BELIEVE ALLAN'S EXCUSE, NEVER EVEN AGREED OR DISAGREED WITH YOUR DIATRIBE ABOUT THE CONFEDERACY OR YOUR APPARENT INSISTANCE THAT ONE AUTHOR HAS ALL THE ANSWERS TO EVERY QUESTION SINCE MANKIND CAME ON THE PLANET. UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF US, UNLIKE YOURSELF,WERE NOT IMBUED AT BIRTH WITH ABSOLUTE KNOWLEDGE OF EVERY SUBJECT. SOME OF US HAVE TO ACTUALLY ASK A QUESTION ONCE IN A WHILE. WE IDIOTS CALL IT LEARNING, A REALLY GOOD WAY TO ACTUALLY FIGHT IGNORANCE. OF COURSE WE RUN ACROSS THE LIKES OF YOU OCCASIONALLY WHO, RATHER THAN ASSIST US MENTAL MIDGETS, PREFER TO ATTACK....MAKES THE LOWEST SELF ESTEEM SWELL TO THINK YOU HOLD ALL THE KNOWLEDGE.

In Allen's case, his mother is precisely from the culture that coined the slur for use against people of color. So it really does strain even the impressive gullibility of many conservatives to imagine that it doesn't reveal something genuinely ugly about Senator Allen that he used this, of all words, to pick on a 20 year old kid doing what 20 year old kids DO in political campaigns.STRANGELY, I SAID THE EXACT SAME THING WITH FEWER WORDS

Then Allen claimed that he wasn't picking on the kid -- look at the video if there is any doubt about that in your mind.

Now he's trying to claim that he basically intended to call the kid a shithead. That this is his latest 'defense' speaks volumes.