John Kerry Smacks Down George Allen for Divisive Comments

[kerrygoddess]

John Kerry Smacks Down George Allen for Divisive Comments
August 20th, 2006 @ 11:51 am

Last night at an Indian-American Community Event that was closed to the press event, John Kerry held George Allen accountable for his divisive, bigoted comments made last week. Kerry said, “We need to stop the politics of name-calling and division that push us apart and separate us.”

Here’s the partial transcript of Kerry’s comments about George Allen, from the closed to press event, as released to The Democratic Daily:

“It was so disappointing to hear one of my colleagues make comments that have no place in Virginia, no place in our country, and certainly no place in the United States Senate. George Allen singled out a lone Indian-American college student for ridicule in front of a crowd of mostly white voters. After using a word I won’t repeat, he added insult to injury when he said: “Welcome to America.”

Well, to Senator Allen I think it’s time we said ‘welcome to the twenty first century’ where slurs and slights aren’t a laughing matter. Welcome to a new day where we refuse to accept insults made about Indian-Americans that, if we heard them about African Americans or Jews or Hispanics, would be the end of a political career.

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=3941

[Deja Q]

1. I agree.

It's hard to offshore when slurring the very people we're offshoring jobs to.

(that's not to condone Allen's slurring... but he wants things both ways, which seems very strange as he also claims he wants America to improve. Given hwo offshoring has only hurt America so deeply...)

[rep the dems]

2. All right, Kerry! Way to see Felix for the asshole that he is.

Frankly I'm a little disappointed that as far as I know no other dems have called him out for this. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[kerrygoddess]

3. I don't recall any except Webb. N/T

[sandnsea]

4. I think you're right

It's appalling and there should have been a huge public uproar over it. Of course, the week before Bush cautioned an African-American soldier's mother not to sell his medal on Ebay. That should have gotten more than a roll of the eyes too.

[kdpeters]

14. Do you have a link for that story?

A news google of "bush medal ebay" turns up nothing.

[rep the dems]

21. He did?!

What a fucking disgrace. :grr:

[karynnj]

5. Perfect comments

noting that Allen called a young college student this while they were in a nearly all white group says it all - what a creepy bully - it was disgusting that Allen counted on the crowd liking it. I hope this causes Allen to lose.

[Mr_Spock]

6. Damn RW bigots will still be voting for him

What is it with RWers & bigotry anyway?

Awful rotten people.

[Recursion]

7. Interesting that Kerry is the pit bull lately

I wonder if that means Dean talked him out of running again?

[politicasista]

8. He won't talk about that, he's focused on 06 n/t

[Recursion]

9. Do you mean...

...that he wouldn't be talking about that to Kerry right now, or that he won't talk about it to us?

[politicasista]

13. Both

Are you talking about running in 08? If so, he (Kerry) said he'll decide after the November elections.

[Kolesar]

12. Please elaborate

Why would Dean be talking anyone out of running or whether to speak up about George Allen?

[LittleClarkie]

20. Interesting. Often people say he's being a bulldog because he

IS running again.

But then, I wouldn't mind if he ran again.

Nevertheless, I try not to see the man's every utterance in that light. It's distorting.

[Kahuna]

10. Kick his ass Kerry!!! I bet he could do it too.

:grr:

[Olney Blue]

11. I'd like to see Kerry slap that silly grin off Allen's face.

But Kerry has too much class to do that. :)

[Divine Discontent]

15. hot damn!

love that guy! he talked to me once! (I love saying that) he's still my president until we elect the next one (Democratic of course)

[rosesaylavee]

16. Kerry was on a roll yesterday!

I was glad to hear he was condemning that stupid stupid statement of Allen's. Why hasn't the Senate or House leadership done the same? Or is it just not reported?

[ProSense]

17. George Allen's is a dangerous bully

according to his own sister:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/08/16/gop-senator-george-allen_n_27382.html

[LibDemAlways]

18. The Dem Senators need to get behind Webb

bigtime and assist him with fundraising. Allen has a huge $$ advantage, but he also has a closet bursting with racial and sleazy business dealing skeletons. He can be picked off in an aggressive, no holds barred campaign, but it's going to take more than words. Anyone who feels strongly that this idiot (see pic below) has no business in the U.S. Senate, please contribute whatever you can to Webb.

[IronLionZion]

19. Hey Frenchie Felix, remember Vietnam?

Kerry, McCain, and Hagel can tell you about it. Good for Kerry to speak out about this. Racial slurs are inexcusable for anyone, especially a US Congressman. Sidarth was actually born in the great state of Virginia unlike French Allen, who was born in SoCal and speaks fluent French. Sidarth is one of Allen's constituents too. Maybe Allen only sees caucasian corporate conservatives as his constituents.

on edit: Virginia's next US Senator Webb can tell you about Vietnam too!