Tuesday, August 15, 2006

More Monkey Business from George Allen

So yesterday I wrote a comment in which I said that the media isn't likely to turn against the GOP unless some relatively minor incident should strike their delicate sensibilities just so. I then made up a couple examples, including "George Allen using the 'n' word on the floor of the senate." I decided that that was a little too obnoxious, not to mention pretty far-fetched, so I deleted it.

This morning I opened my email and found a link to yesterday's WashPost from Otto Man:
Virginia Sen. George Allen (R) apologized Monday for what his opponent's campaign said were demeaning and insensitive comments the senator made to a 20-year-old volunteer of Indian descent. At a campaign rally in southwest Virginia on Friday, Allen repeatedly called a volunteer for Democrat James Webb "macaca."
Oy. "Macaca" means "monkey." Allen gave the usual crap excuse: I didn't know it meant that, I didn't mean that, I'm sorry if you're offended (but I'm really not).

I'd like to put together some snappy, Sinbad-esque material on what a poo poo head Allen is, but I haven't had my coffee yet. Thankfully, the Post is on the case, issuing a short editorial in today's paper on the subject.
Let's consider which positive, constructive or inspirational ideas Mr. Allen had in mind when he chose to mock S.R. Sidarth of Dunn Loring, who was recording the event with a video camera on behalf of James Webb, the Democratic nominee for the Senate seat Mr. Allen holds. 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? (So insisted Mr. Allen's aides.) Or perhaps the idea that bullying your opponents and calling them strange names -- Mr. Allen twice referred to Mr. Sidarth as "Macaca" -- is within the bounds of decency on the campaign trail?
No, this won't change the race (this is Virginia, after all.) Still, can I get a "daaaaaammmmnnn"?

24 comments:

Thrillhous said...

Sorry, I can't wait for it.

DDDDAAAAAAMMMMMNNNNNNN!!!!

TravisG said...

You've learned a valuable lesson, Thrillhouse: Never underestimate the ignorance, antipathy and sheer bolditude of Republicans and their supporters. If anything, this will probably help Allen, because he'll be portrayed as the victim of some politically correct witch hunt.

Oh, and DAAAAAAAMMMMMMMN!

Noah said...

I just don't understand why people hate America and want to blow us up.

Isaac Carmichael said...

I love to see this sort of thing coming from the political party that insists that there's no such thing as racism anymore. It's sad that this kind of disgraceful behaviour is A-OK with American voters but a politician who suggests fixing ill-conceived and poorly executed foreign policy is putting his or her politcal career on the line.

Thrillhous said...

Now "bolditude" is the kind of word you can set your watch to! Yep, Allen's people will portray it as a good ol' boy versus Hollywood (even though Allen is from Cali), and a large number of my brethren will lap it up.

There are many legal and legitimate fucking tools on the market these days, although many prefer the phrase "sex toys" so as not to offend those who prefer oral pleasures. In any case, I don't see anything offensive in calling someone a sex toy. Hell, that could even be a compliment!

Thrillhous said...

You said it, Sideshow. Or how about the terrible disrespectfulness of all those folks who criticized the president at Corretta Scott King's funeral? The gall of the commoners!

Mr Furious said...

He's the early leader for Dick of the Week. And somebody else will really have to rally to catch him...

Thrillhous said...

Mr. F, you're such a pessimist! Just let Cheney open his mouth for a minute or so. Or Joementum, for that matter.

Mr Furious said...

Sidarth is lucky Allen didn't ask him for his special Muslim ID.

Noah said...

The poll was taken at the end of July and surveyed 1,007 adult Americans.


Where? Alabama? South Carolina? Texas? Congressman Schwarz's district? It is a Gallup poll, but the real news is: who paid for it and what did they want or ask?

Sad.

Otto Man said...

I love to see this sort of thing coming from the political party that insists that there's no such thing as racism anymore.

Yep. Check out this Weekly Standard cover with Al Sharpton depicted as Ned Lamont's chaffeur. Nope, no racism there either!

Mr Furious said...

Yep. Check out this Weekly Standard cover with Al Sharpton depicted as Ned Lamont's chaffeur. Nope, no racism there either!

You're missing the gatefold featuring Jesse Jackson as the lawn jockey...

Otto Man said...

Time like these, I like to remember Watertiger's classic image of Allen looking dumb in his cowboy getout, with the caption: "Mongo like candy."

Thrillhous said...

Wow, that Weekly Standard cover is really something. As they say at firedoglake, this Lieberman thing has really brought out the crazy in some folks.

That poll is disturbing on so many levels. How the heck are we going to win the hearts and minds of the Arab world if we've already lost the hearts and minds of 30 or 40% of Americans?

B Mac said...

Come on people, is there anything THAT wrong about a little racist quip here and there? Shouldn't society have reached the point where a white Senator can tell a racial minority, "Welcome to America, monkey boy," without people automatically seeing it as 'racist'?

Senator Allen seems to think so. Smooth, George. Real smooth.

But after reading that poll, it's probably a good thing that college student wasn't Muslim; he probably would have been arrested as an 'enemy combatant'. Especially if he wasn't carrying his Muslim ID card.

B Mac said...

Oh, I almost forgot:

DDDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMNNNNN!!!!!

Mr Furious said...

...it's probably a good thing that college student wasn't Muslim; he probably would have been arrested as an 'enemy combatant'. Especially if he wasn't carrying his Muslim ID card.

Yeah, I mean, he was "filming a terrorist target, and probably also had a cell phone."

It's a slam dunk!

Thrillhous said...

Wow, Mr. F, you are one sharp Hawk! I hadn't even thought about him filming a terrorist target. What's next, filming the petting zoo?

Thrillhous said...

By the way, thanks for all the "DDAAMMNNNs" guys. I haven't heard it that many times since the toasts at InanimateCarbonRod's wedding.

Anonymous said...

The only thing they left out of the Lamont cover to Weekly Standard was a chubby, nude intern fellating the future Senator.

They could've showed Joe watching from his window, cluck-clucking the whole thing.

* * *

Conversely, maybe they could've had a organ grinder's monkey named Apu.

InanimateCarbonRod said...

You people are so cynical. Allen was just saying "My caca."

Otto Man said...

Allen is such a tool. He'd have to take night classes to lift himself up to imbecility.

Otto Man said...

I just saw a full segment on this story on CNN. I never thought it would have the legs.

B Mac said...

If it didn't have legs before, it does now. Jon Stewart says so...