2006 Mid-Term Elections

[kmc]

Switching gears briefly, I am more and more taken aback by the Republican base's use of racism for political gain. Here we have George Allen "slipping up" and using a blatantly racist term to a sympathetic group of people IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE SENATE AND POSSIBLY THE WHITE HOUSE.

I mean, gimme a break. This guy is running for office and using racism as a tool to gain votes. Mitt Romney did the same thing. What a bunch of assholes.

[Galactus]

i'm not sure macaca is blantantly racist...i'm not even sure it's real word but i am sure allen did not have good intentions in using it.

[kmc]

Macaca is some kind of monkey reference, as far as I know. It's just kinda weak. I refuse to believe that, with all the political advisors these guys have, that these slip-ups are just that. It's all meant to look unintentional. But it rarely ever is, it seems.

[rockysigman]

It is a type of monkey (usually spelled macaque). I guess it was a term that French colonials in sub-Saharan Africa used for the natives. The guy that Allen was referring to is actually the son of a woman who is from that region, so a lot of people think that he knew exactly what the term meant when he used it. I had never heard it used as a racial epithet until now though, personally. It wouldn't surprise me if he didn't really know what the undertones of the term were, and was just being a regular asshole and not a racist asshole.

[phil]

Rocky moves at the head of the french class ...

[Galactus]

I know his staff had been calling him "mohawk"...even though he doesn't have a mohawk.

[kmc]

I mean, it's just kinda retarded. I mean, Macaque in French, Macaco is Portuguese. When I heard it this morning, I figured hey, give the asshole the benefit of the doubt. Still, it just seems like a ridiculous slip up if it was indeed that. And it's hard to believe for a guy who intends to run for President.

[rockysigman]

According to an article on Salon today, Allen's grandfather was a Francophone who did spend time in sub-Saharan Africa, and that he was raised in a pretty multi-culteral environment with several languages spoken. So it's possible that he did know the term from his grandfather.

[skvorisdeadsorta]

And the say Franco's aren't racists.........Pashaw!

[Galactus]

"Let's give a welcome to Macaca, here," Allen said. "Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."

In a four-paragraph statement issued Tuesday, Allen said, "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."

Allen said it "was certainly not my intent" to offend anyone by the remark.

Well there you have it. He just made up a random nonesense nickname, he was trying to befriend him actually...by singling him out and demeaning him. Indeed the country will reward him be electing him president one day.

[kmc]

There's just no way it wasn't intentional.

Also, yes, he will be President.

[strat-0]

I wouldn't touch that tar baby with a 10-foot pole.

(I hope everyone recognizes the callback. Remember, Mantis, you promised! )

[Galactus]

i promised i wouldn't make that joke...you're not supposed to set 'em up like that.

[chrisfan]

Interesting polling numbers coming out of Connecticut this week. Since the primary, support for the Republican candidate has actually dropped to 4%. Looks like all that worry that Lieberman will serve as a spoiler who will give Republicans a win doesn\'t have a leg to stand on.

[rockysigman]

good