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RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 29, 2006

Guess Who's Mad At George Allen Now?

Confederate Group Slams Va. Senator For Demeaning Rebel Flag

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    Virginia Senator George Allen looked set to be reelected this fall, until a series of high-profile gaffes narrowed the gap for his Democratic challenger. Joie Chen reports from Alexandria.

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    Sen. George Allen  (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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(CBS/AP)  Sen. George Allen's use the word "macaca" for a young man of Indian descent forced him to spend the past six weeks disputing claims that his past is littered with racist language and a fondness for Confederate symbols.

On Thursday, the furor came full circle when the Sons of Confederate Veterans turned on Allen.

The organization criticized the Republican for saying he had been slow to grasp the pain that Old South symbols like the Confederate flag cause black people.

"The denunciation of the flag to score political points is anathema to our organization," Brag Bowling, immediate past state commander of the SCV, told reporters near the state Capitol, once the Confederacy's seat of government.

Allen campaign manager Dick Wadhams said Allen stands by his comments.

What had been a warm-up race for a 2008 presidential bid has become the fight of Allen's political life. He had been a strong favorite over Democrat Jim Webb, a decorated combat veteran who once served as President Reagan's Navy secretary.

"Before the Macaca incident, this race was over. George Allen had a 16-point lead in the polls and had a huge financial advantage over his opponent, who had no money. In one moment, he took a race that was essentially won and turned it competitive overnight," said Robert D. Holsworth, a political science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Since Aug. 11, when Allen singled out Webb campaign volunteer S.R. Sidarth at a mostly white rally and called him "macaca" — a term considered by some to be a racial slur — the senator has been beset by damaging claims from his past. Allen's campaign gave conflicting accounts of how he came up with the word.

College-era acquaintances then claimed he used a common racial slur for blacks. Stories about how the Confederate flag he kept in his home and a hangman's noose in his law office have gained new currency. At a debate, Allen was startled and irritated by a question about whether his grandfather was Jewish, then confirmed it a day later.

Allen now has even Republicans publicly questioning what has gone wrong with a candidate known for disciplined, surefooted campaigns in two convincing statewide triumphs the past 13 years.

"Allen's mistake is he's taken his re-election for granted and he's been getting his nice presidential team together," conservative commentator Bay Buchanan said last week on CNN.


©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Add a Comment See all 26 Comments
by energyecon September 29, 2006 10:53 AM PDT
janem4 you are hilarious!

Unfortunately, you are unintentionally ironic in accusing Democrats of the tired tactics of the Republican 'right,' the same smear and fear playbook employed by the GOP.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot - that and its all Clinton's fault!

Pathetic.
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by spirothecat September 29, 2006 11:07 AM PDT
George Allen is a disgrace. Whether you like his policies or not his personal background should disqualify him from office. It's unbelievable that people are willing to put up with his Character flaws and vote for that biggot. His character flaws are much worst than Clinton's ever were. I'd be ashamed and embarrased to say I voted for George Allen.
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by ms38654ob September 29, 2006 11:37 AM PDT
All I can say to you crying republicans is "Swift Boat" tactics. If you can't take it, don't be dishing it out!
Reply to this comment
by mjv2944 September 29, 2006 11:43 AM PDT
Who cares, he's just another political hack.
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by dthreeiii September 29, 2006 11:46 AM PDT
The problem with Allen is not the alleged statements he made when he was in college. All of us have made remarks born out of youthful ignorance and arrogance.

The troubling thing about Allen is that, while many of us strive to embrace other ethnicities and overcome our personal bias, he appears to have not changed his views at all since then. His 'macaca' comment shows that this otherwise polished politician still harbors racists beliefs that are bubbling just below the surface.

This isn't about political affiliation. It's about a man whose core beliefs directly contradict his obligations to his constituents.
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by wadyaknow September 29, 2006 11:55 AM PDT
I think the only group not offended by Allen are left-handed Tibetans and he is probpably going to find a way to offend them.
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by newsjeff-2009 September 29, 2006 12:10 PM PDT
After reading how senator Allen has acted it is funny how a few weeks ago the entire Republican party released or published an article saying the Klu Klux Klan was a movement started and originated by Democrats. I doubted it from the beginning since I seldom if ever heard any if very few African American or Black voters voice dissaproval for how former President Bill Clinton,John Kennedy,Lyndon Johnson or Jimmy Carter performed their jobs as president. Some of my friends who are black,mexican or indian have put it this way verbally:"President Clinton committed great sins while in the White House,but God can forgive and restore him just as god forgave King David,Peter,Paul,and many other great people in the bible." I agree with the comment above, but for this election year, Bill Clinton is not running for an office this year, Senator Allen is. I feel Allen probably has some good qualities as a senator, but with the problems facing our country know, I would prefer our senate,congress, and other political leaders to focus on "problem solutions" for our country not spend time name calling people to impress voters, cause I am one voter it doesn't impress. Canidates who offer solutions to America's problems are ones that impress me.
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by one_american September 29, 2006 12:21 PM PDT
Looks like Democrats are trying to hold a lynching, without a trial.

For Liberals, the end justifies any means.
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by one_american September 29, 2006 12:25 PM PDT
And for the record, Abraham Lincoln, a Republican was responsible for freeing of black slaves in our country.

The Democratic Party was vehemently opposed to freeing black slaves, and the Klu Klux Klan was made up primarily of these southern Democrats.
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by grannysue1 September 29, 2006 12:28 PM PDT
Allen has the I.Q. of Bush, it's about the size of a nat, when the Repubs spent 60 million plus on investiation after investigation, back over twenty five years they said that was all fair, politics, so when these guys get called on the carpet for let's see what is the phrase the Republicans use when they get their *** in a ringer, "a youthful indescretion". Then it's not fair, WAH, throw all these bums out. Our country is being ran by KING GEORGE and they make the rules and you know that he is the decider, so Allen is Bush's clone, he's going to have to start being more like him, deny, lie, decieve and of course let your Daddy bail you out. Makes me want to throw up.
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by flautus September 29, 2006 1:02 PM PDT
To One(dumb)American. Keep commenting- write anything produced by your pea sized brain. It's the best advertising for the left around.
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by edjohn66 September 29, 2006 1:09 PM PDT
Ah hahahaha!

This story is really funny! Its just so much fun when the Radical Right snipes its own kind for a change.
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by bostonblakie-2009 September 29, 2006 1:09 PM PDT
Guys like Allen have taken privilege for granted all their lives. The old saw about keeping ones mouth shut lest others then know you're a d*** fool, remains true. I am white on white and have no animosity toward "Macacas" or anyone else, until they, as individuals, give offense.
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by September 29, 2006 1:10 PM PDT
gee, all ya have to do is watch this allen ad and you'll know exactly what the whole issue is with the guy. it's not just a little slip-up, it is so much more. we need to ask ourselves where we want to go: forwards or backwards?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DGPbLl4V6g
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by agnim September 29, 2006 2:39 PM PDT
This ignorant and arrogant bigot, Allen, has more skeletons falling out his closet than all of Auschwitz.

Good for him that, now he finds out his Jews roots, he's been forced to run away from his bigoted past, and from the kind of associates who may want to lynch his Jewish behind just as they would Blacks. LOL.

According to biblical myth, Allen's awakening would be like that of the biblical Saul who got awakened to Paul after persecuting his own kind for some time. LOL
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by spirothecat September 29, 2006 3:22 PM PDT
George Felix Allen is a punk and disgrace. It amazes me that he hasn't been check'd out before this. I think the media has been a little lazy or scared that he might pull them by the hair, just like he did to his sister. Folks, if you vote for this man, after the revalations of: Macacca, being ashamed of his Jewish roots and on a regular basis refers to Black people as *******--then you are just as guilty as him. I am sorry if your Cowboy hero is a racist, but you don't have to enable him more by voting for him.
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by gggranroth September 29, 2006 3:47 PM PDT
Although George Allen's verbal gaffes don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world, they reveal the subliminal animosity that lies deep in his heart - that human heart that Jesus said all uncleannesses pour out from. I am willing to forgive him for such gaucherie, as an individual. However, as a citizen, I am appalled he does not guard his speech more carefully since he apparently has little control over his personal thought processes.
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by wny14127 September 29, 2006 3:53 PM PDT
So he said he disavows the Rebel flag, so what?
The South lost the d*** war years ago, and the veterans and all southern groups should get a life, get on with it and get over it. As to his past language usage, again so what! Who of us is perfect in what we thought or said in the past?
Time to move on.....
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by omicronthree September 29, 2006 4:41 PM PDT
Wow, he couldn't have possibly said anything any more stupid than "Islamofascist". That has to be the stupidest term I have ever heard!
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by one_american September 29, 2006 4:42 PM PDT
flautus:

You stupid liberal. Keep posting your propaganda, you worthless pile of garbage.
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by rharrin1 September 29, 2006 6:23 PM PDT
KKK in the senate ?????
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by bunkeycat September 29, 2006 9:30 PM PDT
HE SHOULD RESIGN IMMEDIATELY FROM THE U.S. SENATE SINCE HE OBVIOUSLY LACKS MORAL INTEGRITY. PERIOD.
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by newsjeff-2009 September 30, 2006 11:35 AM PDT
Ok, Lincoln a republican president freed the slaves, which was good but even after slavery was abolished African Americans endured many years of not having the right to vote,ride in the front of the buses,had to use separate restrooms,attend separate schools,attend different churches,eat in separate sections at resturants if they could eat in the cafe to begin with or were allowed in the door,I have watched enough movies and TV series based on true stories and watched blacks not being allowed on certain passenger trains,one where a black boy could not get a hair cut from a white barber,these are only a few incidents. Republicans can dispute it until Britany Spears has great-grandchildren, but the fact is: When John F. Kennedy and other democrats pushed for "the civil rights movement" of the 1960s. Yes senator Byrd and some southern democrats mave have resented the changes, but most southern democrats eventually agreed with John F. Kennedy and supported the 1960s civil rights movements, which also included the women's rights movement of the 1960s as well. Southern republican women(or "security moms") need to keep this in mind.
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by scottjtepper September 30, 2006 10:17 PM PDT
A typical Democrat dirty trick just before the election. First, the Democrats trick Sen. Allen into using a racial slur. Then they trick him into claiming it wasn't. Which caused people to look into his background and determine that where his mother's family came from "macacca" was, indeed, a racial slur. Outrageous. The lengths to which these Democrats will go.

Not content, the Democrats then ask him why he's hiding his Jewish past. Then they trick Sen. Allen into denying a Jewish past. Then they trick him into admitting it.

*** Democrats. So devious. But they aren't done yet.

Then the Democracts have the gall to bring up his history of racism, as if his character were an issue! I mean, he's only running for Senator, not Pope. Does he have to be honest or non-racist? Of course not. He's a Republican. Why, if he were in the House he could have concealed the most recent paedophile *** scandal quite facilely, along with the rest of the Republican leadership. Way to go, Hastert! Protect those paedophiles to keep the Republican majority.

Leadership. Yes. That's what we need. Not some devious Democrats, duping us all into believing that Sen. Allen really mean what he said, when he said it.
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by turkeyfish1 October 1, 2006 3:24 AM PDT
I think its time for Senator Allen to clear all this up and take a lie detector test. Will any in the press have the courage to aks him if he will or will not submit to a lie-dector test?
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by plangloss2 October 1, 2006 3:33 AM PDT
Isn't it great that we have two Jewish cowboys running for public office. Kinky Freidman and
George Allen. Only difference is that Kinky is
running as a Jewish cowboy, and George Allen just as an cowboy. Shame that only Allen has a chance of winning.
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