Wishful thinking? Macaca remark tightening VA Senate race

[dajoki]

MSNBC
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14504357/

Senator's racial slur could hand Virginia to the Democrats
Financial Times

By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington

Updated: 23 minutes ago

George Allen, the ambitious Republican junior senator for Virginia, is losing ground to his opponent in a key race that could help determine whether Democrats can seize control of the Senate in November's congressional elections.

The latest Rasmussen poll shows Mr Allen's lead over the Democrat Jim Webb has shrunk from 11 points a month ago to only five points; 47 per cent favoured Mr Allen with 42 per cent now preferring Mr Webb, a former marine and Reagan-era secretary of the navy, who is one of dozens of veterans seeking national office for the first time.

Needing to take six seats from the Republicans in November to capture the Senate, Democrats have been counting on swing races – Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Missouri, Montana and Ohio. Recently, though, they have been eyeing Tennessee and Virginia as possible states for an upset.

Republicans across the country are suffering from association with an administration whose Iraq war is becoming increasingly unpopular. President George W. Bush this week acknowledged that the war was "straining the psyche" of the American people, and Republicans are increasingly questioning the administration over its tactics as references to civil war increase in political discourse.

But Mr Allen managed to generate more problems for himself recently when at a campaign event he singled out S.R. Sidarth, a Webb staffer of Indian descent who was trailing him, using a reference to a genus of monkey that in some countries is used as a racial slur which Mr Siddarth captured on video that the Webb campaign then made available over YouTube, the fast-growing website that allows people to share video clips.

"This fellow over here with the yellow shirt – Macaca or whatever his name is – he's with my opponent," said Mr Allen. "Let's give a welcome to Macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."

[Armstead]

1. "Macaca" was born and raised in Virginia...That was the Real insult

Assuming that because of his looks he is an immigrant was the real view into Allen's racism.

"He's brown skinned, so he caint be one of us Virginians."

[Rowdyboy]

2. To me, the bullying was even worse than the racism....Allen can lie

about being racist but he is CLEARLY a mean bully. Everyone who's ever seen a schoolyard thug should get it.

[the_outsider]

3. A great story on Sidarth today on Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/24/AR2006082401639.html

The ending, in particular, is awesome.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Great story....helped me dislike Allen just that much more......

Smart Kid...almost to the genius level..... that Macaca!

[dajoki]

6. Thanks for the link n/t

[Eurobabe]

5. Allen just proves he's a typical RW knucklehead

Hey, this young man is from my alma mater! WAHOO, go Sidarth...not sure about that "coveted" seminar with Larry Sabato, good luck. He's not one of my favorites.

(Sorry to say Allen, the douchebag went to UVA too.)