by Taylor Marsh
Why Virginia voters have covered for George Allen all these years mystifies me. But if Virginia voters choose to re-elect this man in 2006 it says something quite alarming about Virginia, none of it good.
Now we learn that George Allen's ad man is behind the racist ads against Harold Ford, Jr. It all fits together now. It also smacks you up side the head like a jolt from a hangman's noose. You know, like the noose George Allen used to hang in his office. You just can't make this stuff up.
But the latest alarming rundown on Allen's racism appears in the Washington Post today. George Allen refused an interview. His campaign is keeping him under wraps for fear of what he might say. They asked for written questions instead. However, they couldn't even answer those. This is not senatorial behavior. It's a juvenile delinquent trying to get away with something yet again. Only Virginia voters can make sure he doesn't.
At an August rally in southwest Virginia, Allen interrupted a routine stump speech and pointed to a man of Indian descent who was videotaping the event for his Democratic opponent, James Webb, and called the aide "macaca," a genus of monkey. Some of Allen's former football teammates at the University of Virginia came forward later to say that he routinely used racist language. Asked at a debate last month about reports of his Jewish roots, he denounced the accounts as "aspersions" before confirming them a day later.
The episodes unraveled an effort by Allen to mend a reputation for racial insensitivity that has pursued him through his steady rise from Palos Verdes to college athlete, lawyer, state legislator, governor and, in 2000, U.S. senator. Allen has, for example, had to explain his fondness for the Confederate flag and the presence of a hangman's noose in his Charlottesville law office.
In his first Senate term, he has taken three civil rights pilgrimages, co-sponsored a resolution apologizing to lynching victims and their descendants, and proposed allocating a half-billion dollars to historically black colleges.
But "macaca" raises a question: Has Allen really evolved, or did his true nature slip into public view?
Allen, who denies using racist language, declined requests for an interview, asking instead for written questions. By yesterday, his campaign had not provided answers.
The Virginia race should be watched closely. It mirrors what's happening in Tennessee, especially as we learn that it's George Allen's ad man that did the Republican Party race baiting against Harold Ford, Jr. No doubt Barack Obama is watching them both as well.
As for Allen, he's gotten away with his racism for years. It's time to tear the scab off of Virginia's past and let the wound heal. Because until we purge the past we cannot move forward together. Electing James Webb is a start.
Allen Responsible For "Kill Whitey" Graffiti Before a Game With Majority-Black School. One morning while Allen was in high school, graffiti reading "Kill Whitey" appeared on an outside school wall on the day of a basketball game with the only majority-black school in the athletic conference. Allen classmate Tim Good says that former students said Allen was responsible. In 2000, Allen said there was an incident at school but declined to discuss the details. "I did something wrong when I was young that I regret," he said.
Allen Supported Segregationist Candidate. According to Roy Parks, Allen said he had supported Edward Lane for Attorney General in 1977. Lane had been a segregationist in the 1950s, an architect of Virginia's "massive resistance" movement in which communities closed schools rather than comply with court orders to integrate. "When I questioned George further, he said that Lane, like him, was an advocate for states' rights and was only a man of his time," said Parks, who was stunned by Allen's admission.
Allen Allegedly Stole Someone's Bike In High School. Allen classmate Tim Good said he had to confront Allen after Good's little brother reported that Allen had stolen his bicycle. "George Allen was a big bully," said Good. Allen denied stealing the bike, but Good said it reappeared at school the next day.
High School Teammate Says Allen Used Racial Slurs. Don Gause, Allen's high school football teammate in California, said "George was not what I would call mainstream," adding that Allen used anti-black epithets and "ran with a group of guys off the football field" who used the same language.
UVA Teammate Said Macaca Footage "Rang a Bell." Upon viewing the Allen "macaca" video, Ed Sabornie, a former UVA football player who knew Allen said, "I saw how he looked, that attitude of condescension and superiority. That rang a bell for me."
Refuse a Republican racist reelection. Come on Virginia, you can do it. Support James Webb.
UPDATED: Don't miss George Allen's Desperation hits TILT!