Jim Webb's comment tonight on Allen's Macaca incident

[kaygore]

Tonight was the open house for the Jim Webb headquarters in Virginia Beach, serving Hampton Roads, Virginia. There was a very large crowd and both Jim Webb and Phil Kellam who is running against Thelma Drake (mindless Bushbot) for the Second Congressional District was also there.

In his brief comments to the crowd, Jim Webb noted something that I had not heard before regarding G. Felix Allen's Macaca comment in Breaks, Virginia. Webb said that before Allen singled Sidarth out of the crowd and called him Macaca twice, Allen had been misrepresenting Webb's roots, saying that Webb was from inside the Beltway and that he was part of the liberal Hollywood crowd.

Actually, Webb's family comes from Southwestern Virginia and Sidarth had actually spent the night before at Webb's cousin's house in the area.

Webb comment that hit home with me was that Allen had besmirched the people of Southwestern Virginia by assuming they were racists like he is and would appreciate his deriding Sidarth. In fact, when Sidarth's father spoke with Webb he noted that the family had lived for some time in that area of Virginia and that they had never been subjected to any racial slurs. In fact, he said that they had been welcomed and that people were extremely accepting and kind there.

I guess some people believe that everyone is as narrow-minded and bigoted as they are. But the people of Southwestern Virginia are not among those people.

Allen needs to time machine himself back to the 1860s where he longs to be because he sure does not belong in 2006 America!

[KingFlorez]

1. In your face, Senator Macaca!

Webb's comments were very good

[GainesT1958]

2. Ah, Va. Beach, my hometown!

I'm glad Webb set it straight about "Sen. Macaca". And Phil Kellam must be related to--or one of--an old Va. Beach family, some of whom lived on the same street my folks and I lived on (71st Street).

I keep getting the feeling that Jim Webb is going to win--and that George Allen Jr.s' remark may well have been the political suicide pill that helps put Webb over the top!

Good luck running for prez with a mouth like that, Boy George!:eyes:

B-)

[kaygore]

8. Phil Kellam is Judge Richard Kellam's son and the nephew of Sidney

I grew up in Linkhorn Park (acorss from Birdneck Point, off 31st Street), so depending on your age, we probably share many friends and memories!

[johnnydrama]

3. smear machine

Is this the Republican smear machine in a nutshell. Man. Tell the exact opposite of the truth, and hope people fall for it.

Senator Macaca tells Sidarth, Welcome To Virginia. Tells people that Webb is a Hollywood outsider, when Webb's family is from Virginia, Sidarth is from Virginia, and Felix is a Hollywood outsider.

[kaygore]

9. It's like we are in some twisted nightmare

[Stinky The Clown]

4. A little sidenote about Southwestern VA .......

it voted Dem in the last two gov races, if I'm not mistaken. Sen Felix may have been baiting the wrong hook.

[kaygore]

10. That was Webb's point in a way

Also that the audience was NOT composed of a groups of wild haired racists like Allen!

[Catchawave]

5. Hi kaygore ! I was there tonight too :)

I probably talked to you, I was at the registration table (w/Webb shirt) across from the elevator and missed the Webb and Kellam talks :cry:

What a great turn-out :bounce:

[kaygore]

7. I didn't sign is because the Webb campaign already has my name, etc.

What a great party!! Great turn out!! Great food!!! Great conversation!!!!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

6. Go WEBB! A thoughtful intelligent man.

[Withywindle]

11. Wow! Great points!

I grew up in SW VA (live in Chicago now). Webb is a very common name out there.

For what it's worth, my mom is an immigrant - from Brazil, and yes, she's Latina-looking -- and she experienced very little hostility or overt racism living up in the hills in the 70s and 80s. No, people didn't know much about her country or culture--but they were generally friendly and honestly curious. Novelty was a huge part of it, of course. But I don't think any of the kids she taught about the world (she taught high school Spanish--her third language--for years) or their families would stand for some politician calling her names.