Guess Who's Mad At George Allen Now?

(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.

[plangloss2]

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.

[turkeyfish1]

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?

[scottjtepper]

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.

[newsjeff-2009]

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.

[bunkeycat]

HE SHOULD RESIGN IMMEDIATELY FROM THE U.S. SENATE SINCE HE OBVIOUSLY LACKS MORAL INTEGRITY. PERIOD.

[one_american]

flautus:

You stupid liberal. Keep posting your propaganda, you worthless pile of garbage.

[omicronthree]

Wow, he couldn't have possibly said anything any more stupid than "Islamofascist". That has to be the stupidest term I have ever heard!

[wny14127]

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.....

[gggranroth]

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.

[spirothecat]

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.