WTF???? http://politicalwire.com/archives/2006/04/27/allens_race_problem.html Perhaps the southern folks can help me here. Is this going to be an issue that hurts Allen in his Senate re-election bid? (I tend to think not.)
In a state that's slowly turning blue, it very well may. It wouldn't make a difference in Tennessee or Alabama, that's for sure.
I grew up in Palos Verdes. When I was at PVHS, very few students knew the significance of the confederate flag, and it's not like there were a bunch of black students there to correct them (there were fewer than 10 in our graduating class of 400+ in 1988). But that was 20 years or so after George Allen was there. It was probably different in the 60s -- at least, the significance of people knowing the flag, not the black students thing, I don't think there were ever very many of those in PV.
I'm no fan of George Allen but I refuse to worry about assholish things he did in high school. God help us all if our careers depended on not having said, done and thought stupid things in high school.
I dunno. I grew up down the hill in Torrance and then Redondo, and I can state unequivocally I cannot recall one single student who would not have understood the significance of the Confederate flag. None. Of course Bishop Montgomery in 1985 was decidedly more racially mixed than PV in the 60’s, but I refuse to believe ANYBODY, much less the product of a highly regarded school district in such an affluent area could NOT equate that symbol with racism. I guess your experiences vary with mine. Perhaps the benefit of a Catholic education?
Again, I dunno. There is a qualitative difference between garden variety "youthful indiscretion" and assertive conduct suggesting malice. This is the latter. For an aspiring politician, displaying the Confederate flag is strict liability.
Maybe I should rephrase it. Most students at PVHS in the 80s would have understood intellectually what the flag meant, but given very little contact with actual blacks, the majority most likely would not have understood the emotional impact the flag has as a symbol for some people. I could see my classmates in the 80s using the flag as a form of rebellion, if you'll pardon the pun. Not racism, but, "look at me, I'm a badass by using this flag which my elders told me was not cool" without realizing that for a lot of people seeing the flag is painful. I think it would have been different in the 60s though -- PV was not as elitist then, and current events involving racism were closer to the forefront.
Allen's behavior would earn him kudos in many parts of the south, including parts of Virginia, by people who still see absolutely nothing wrong with the stars and bars.
The other problem with his story about not knowing a specific racial meaning for the flag is another story he tells in the article -- this one about driving through the South during the freedom rides, seeing burning crosses on the horizon, and realizing it might not be so safe to be driving around with Illinois plates. Those stories simply don't fit together in any believable manner.
Go to www.webbforsenate.com and listen to Jim Webb's stump speech it automatically plays. Pretty damn good for a two-month veteran of campaign politics. Allen doesn't have a leg to stand on against him, and combine it with the success that Kaine and Warner had in the past two Governors elections and there's hope for Webb.
More on the wit and wisdom of Senator George Allen. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...01210.html?nav=rss_email/components?nav=slate
From the horse's mouth. Or rather his ass, considering the fact that the explanation is blatant bullshit. http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/08/sen_george_alle_1.html
Looks like George's sister isn't a big fan: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/08/16/gop-senator-george-allen_n_27382.html
Wow, that's even better than the initial set of quotes. She's done a great job of keeping her book in the news - and selling copies. In fact, this is the bes thing since the sports star who said he was misquoted in his autobiography.
Oh, now this clears everything up! http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/08/a_new_explanati.html
Indeed, pretty much every article says the same. That Allen most likely got that word from his mother and her knowledge of African French. From the Salon.com article where I originally saw this:
Since the Kos analysis is posted, here's the Redstate take: http://www.redstate.com/stories/elections/2006/the_manufactured_controversy Interestingly, a good portion of readers seem to be anti-Allen on this. The only good "Republican point" I see is that Biden seemingly got a free pass on his comment, which was clearly just as--if not more--offensive than Allen's. Ultimately, I think the analysis from Larry Sabato--that it doesn't hurt in '06, but it's the nail in the coffin for '08--is close to accurate. I personally already thought he was done for '08, but this helps seal the deal. I see Allen getting re-elected, then running for his old Governor's seat in 2009. Win or lose, that will be the end of his elected political career.
I'm amazed Allen has made it as far as he has. He's widely reputed to be the dumbest bag of hammers on the hill.