Fans, Foes: Readers Praise, Criticize George Allen
Richmond Times-Dispatch Aug 28, 2006
Editor, Times-Dispatch: As a Virginian and a Cuban-American, I had the pleasure of serving as George Allen's personal aide during his campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2000. One learns an enormous amount about an individual while spending months by his side.
The Allen I know is diametrically different from the caricature that the media have created since his inept remark at the Breaks Interstate Park in Southwest Virginia.
In the summer and fall of 2000 I learned about who the real George Allen is. He is simply one of the most decent and honorable men in a political arena dominated by those who often do not live up to that standard.
I saw an Allen who displayed an infectious sunny optimism and a deep love for all Virginians -- regardless of race, creed, or national origin.
I saw an Allen who had no problem worshiping in African-American churches, attending Asian-American cultural events, or attending Hispanic festivals.
I saw an Allen who spent hours on the phone to console a total stranger from Southside Virginia who had been laid off from his trucking job. Allen did it because he heard the man would appreciate a phone call to cheer him up.
In the end, I saw an Allen who genuinely cares about his fellow man. He treated me (the child of an immigrant) no differently from the way he would a 10 generation Virginian.
The disease of bigotry manifests itself in various forms each and every day and cannot be hidden from one's closest colleagues or friends. In not one of the events, speeches, one-on-one conversations, or countless plane and automobile rides did I ever witness the slightest hint of racial intolerance from Allen.
I am proud to have worked with such an exemplary leader. The grace and dignity with which he treats his fellow man is a wonderful example for all who are blessed to know him. Jason Miyares. virginia beach.
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Editor, Times-Dispatch: George Allen has reminded me how blessed we are to be Americans. While his statements in his recent address to a crowd in Southwest Virginia were outrageous -- and it appears they were intended to elicit a response from the crowd that could have caused a dangerous situation for a fellow U.S. citizen -- Allen allowed us to look into his soul.
I believe Allen when he said he didn't know the meaning of the word "macaca." What is worse is I have believed for years that Allen has not known the meaning of many words and concepts he has spoken of. John Kirksey. midlothian.
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Editor, Times-Dispatch: I will vote with enthusiasm for George Allen. He is pro-family, pro-military, and pro-lower-taxes.
As governor and as a senator, he was, and is, consistently conservative.
He has apologized for his remark.
Has Webb apologized for his anti-Semitic cartoon against his primary opponent, Harris Miller? Nina Eike. richmond.
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Editor, Times-Dispatch: Recently George Allen made another big mistake in what has become a career of big mistakes. While he was governor, Virginia had one of the worst environmental records in the country. Allen was consistently rated near the bottom in terms of his care for this beautiful state.
In a time of national crises, where gas prices are soaring out of control, Allen again showed his true colors; he has taken more than $800,000 in campaign cash from oil companies and rewarded them with $44 billion in tax breaks -- this while they are taking in record profits. It's clear that the boy from Southern California, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, doesn't notice what ordinary Virginians are dealing with when it comes to fuel prices.
Allen also embarrassed the state with his unspeakably racist remarks at a campaign stump speech recently. Virginia has spent decades trying to overcome a history of racism and prejudice, only to be dragged backward by one of our representatives. Jon Stewart even joked that maybe his remark would play well, given that it was in Virginia.
Finally, his record of supporting President George Bush's illegal and unconstitutional activities (torture, warrantless wiretapping, data-mining, etc.) are a disgrace to his constituents and to freedomloving people everywhere. He should be ashamed of himself for supporting laws designed to take freedoms away from U.S. citizens and put them in the hands of big government.
For these reasons I am proud to support Jim Webb in his candidacy for U.S. Senate. I hope we can rid ourselves of the embarrassment of Allen. Ben Fabian. richmond.
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Editor, Times-Dispatch: In reference to the recent flap about George Allen's supposed racial slur, my only reaction is to say, "God help us."
The United States is facing the most insidious, widespread, determined, cruel, and bloodthirsty foe that we have ever faced, and Webb -- who aspires to be a national leader -- has to get up on his ear because someone called his aide a bad name. To Webb and his aide, I say: Don't be such a pair of weak-kneed milksops.
There are important issues to be addressed. We need men! William P. Jervey Jr. powhatan.
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