George Allen calls opponent's cameraman a monkey?

[EBU]

Senator George Allen, Virginia Republican, called S.R. Sidarth, a volunteer on opponent Jim Webb's campaign, "Macaca" during an event Friday. The senator's campaign said that Allen did not know that "Macaca" refer to monkeys. Sidarth was filming Allen, a standard campaign practice that opponents often use for research purposes.

"This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is," said Allen, who at times pointed directly at the camera. "He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great.” After suggesting Webb has not visited many parts of the state as well as criticizing his opponent for meeting with "a bunch of Hollywood movie moguls," the senator turned back to the camera and addressed Sidarth. "Let's give a welcome to Macaca, here," Allen said. "Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." Sidarth was born in Fairfax, Virginia.

Opinions? Is this a racist remark?

 

[whitefork]

More like calling a Scotsman "poopyhead"?

 

[shecky]

Seems like a racist remark.

Seems like he knew what it meant.

If that doesn't gain traction, you can always claim that he speaks French, after all.

Mark Levin at NRO calls dirty tricks on the part of some Webb supporters who had the gall to actually record what Allen says.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Maybe he really thought the guys name was Macaca.

 

[JamesDillon]

Maybe he really thought the guys name was Macaca.

Edging close to laughing-dog territory, there.

 

[Mephisto]

Seems like a racist remark.

Hey, you can't go using facts like the meaning behind an obscure term for a person of African heritage to say someone meant to be racist.

Seems like he knew what it meant.

As for "The Plank," you can't go quoting libral websites here - you wanna know how I know it's a libral website? Right there on the Home Page they got links for art AND books!

If that doesn't gain traction, you can always claim that he speaks French, after all.

Mark Levin at NRO calls dirty tricks on the part of some Webb supporters who had the gall to actually record what Allen says.

Thank God you came to your senses and quoted a REAL news source (you're just doing it to be impartial, aren't you?).

 

[HarryKeogh]

A guy who speaks French uses the word to describe a black guy in front of a crowd and an opponent with a video camera? Sounds not only racist but an insane thing to do.

 

[JamesDillon]

Thank God you came to your senses and quoted a REAL news source (you're just doing it to be impartial, aren't you?).

I loved this line:

Nothing about him suggests any kind of discriminatory instincts.

This was the man who kept a Confederate flag and a noose in his law office! No discriminatory instincts, indeed.

 

[Mephisto]

I loved this line:

This was the man who kept a Confederate flag and a noose in his law office! No discriminatory instincts, indeed.

He was just a'funnin. He ain't any more dangerous than most good ole' boys out fer a good time! It's a joke, you know, like Anne Coulter tells.

 

[Apollyon]

Someone alert Congress so they can legislate that all zoos must now refer to Macaques as "Freedom Monkeys."

 

[hgc]

Time to revive and old friend... http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10498

 

[Azure]

George Allen for President!!!!!

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

George Allen for President!!!!!

Or at least head coach of the Redskins!

 

[Ohmer]

Isn't this exactly the kind of thing that Mr. Sidarth was sent there to catch on film?

On some level this is really funny. He played right in to his opponent's hand.

 

[marksman]

Allen may or may not be a racist. But he's certainly an idiot for precisely the reason set forth in the immediately preceding post.

 

[Walk The Line]

Isn't this exactly the kind of thing that Mr. Sidarth was sent there to catch on film?

On some level this is really funny. He played right in to his opponent's hand.

I would imagine that Mr. Sidarth is very happy about what has transpired (at least the cynic in me thinks so).

He caused his opponent to have a politcal gaffe, caught it on camera, and is using it to hurt not only the incumbent Senator's campaign for re-election, but his presidental aspirations as well. To boot, he gets his name mentioned in a number of media outlets, and probably becomes a household name within his party.

 

[Walk The Line]

But he's certainly an idiot for precisely the reason set forth in the immediately preceding post.

Yes, and I dare say that if all of us had a camera following us around all day long, we'd probably look like idiots too at some point.

 

[JamesDillon]

Yes, and I dare say that if all of us had a camera following us around all day long, we'd probably look like idiots too at some point.

Maybe, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't get caught using a racial slur against a political opponent.

I'm smart enough to keep that off-camera.

 

[NotJesus]

He caused his opponent to have a politcal gaffe, caught it on camera, and is using it to hurt not only the incumbent Senator's campaign for re-election, but his presidental aspirations as well.

That moron wants to be president? How does such a clueless dolt ever expect to challenge for the...

Oh... wait.

Never mind.

 

[Walk The Line]

Maybe, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't get caught using a racial slur against a political opponent.

I'm smart enough to keep that off-camera.

Yes, that would be the wise course of action for a politican. But at my high school history teacher once said, when your mouth opens, your brain shuts off.