George Allen trying to be the next "comeback kid"

[HomerJS]

I've always stated one of the GOPs problems is they tolerate racists. I've also believe in second chances. Has GA admitted to his comments being racist and apologized? If so he should be given a fair chance. If not, he deserves all the criticism that will undoubtely come.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70N4Z220110124

 

[ichy]

Eh, they made way too big a deal about the Maccaca thing.

What was really disgusting about George Allen is how his campaign tried to smear Jim Webb for some of the things he wrote in Fields of Fire. For a chickenhawk like Allen (made sure to use his college deferment to stay out of Vietnam) to criticize a decorated veteran's description of combat (Webb received the Navy Cross as a Marine platoon leader) shows a particular lack of class or shame.

 

[classy]

I like Michael Smerconish and he was talking about this yesterday. Its just hard to support a group that has some many who claim not to be racist, but every time you turn around they are saying or doing something racist. Now I like probably most of the country didn't know what macaca was, but for him to use liberally he obviously knew what he was saying. Its one thing for folks who came up in a different era, but in this day and age that kind of stuff should never ever happen. But everyone deserves a second chance, but I don't think I, like many could honestly truly support him.

 

[ichy]

What's even funnier is that Allen was saying something dumb like "welcome to the real Virginia" to the Maccaca guy, nevermind the fact that the Indian dude had lived in VA his whole life whereas Allen was a transplant from CA and a completely fake pseudo-Southerner.

 

[Tom]

way too liberal and not stupid enough for today's GOP.

 

[ichy]

What are you talking about? George Allen is a neanderthal. John Warner (VA's other recent Republican senator) was a more moderate, intelligent and an all around better human being.

 

[Siddhartha]

What Mr Allen said and how he later defended his statements.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r90z0PMnKwI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRfP3vj8Gl8&feature=related

 

[Moonbeam]

I like Michael Smerconish and he was talking about this yesterday. Its just hard to support a group that has some many who claim not to be racist, but every time you turn around they are saying or doing something racist. Now I like probably most of the country didn't know what macaca was, but for him to use liberally he obviously knew what he was saying. Its one thing for folks who came up in a different era, but in this day and age that kind of stuff should never ever happen. But everyone deserves a second chance, but I don't think I, like many could honestly truly support him.

You stopped my cold and made me ashamed of what I felt about this with your words bolded above. Must be a Christian thing. I propose, therefore, as a compromise between you instinctive morality and my viciousness that I will give him a second chance, if, as punishment for the sin he committed, he never again seek public office, specifically because, as you say, there are folk aplenty who will never trust him or believe a word that he says simply because it is obvious to them that his seeking redemption is only his hideous ambition.

 

[classy]

You stopped my cold and made me ashamed of what I felt about this with your words bolded above. Must be a Christian thing. I propose, therefore, as a compromise between you instinctive morality and my viciousness that I will give him a second chance, if, as punishment for the sin he committed, he never again seek public office, specifically because, as you say, there are folk aplenty who will never trust him or believe a word that he says simply because it is obvious to them that his seeking redemption is only his hideous ambition.

I believe a man can only redeem himself with actions not words. Senator Byrd despite his past redeemed himself with his actions. So did George Wallace.

 

[KlokWyze]

You stopped my cold and made me ashamed of what I felt about this with your words bolded above. Must be a Christian thing. I propose, therefore, as a compromise between you instinctive morality and my viciousness that I will give him a second chance, if, as punishment for the sin he committed, he never again seek public office, specifically because, as you say, there are folk aplenty who will never trust him or believe a word that he says simply because it is obvious to them that his seeking redemption is only his hideous ambition.

Quite often I see this attitude of forgiveness and second chances to be expected by pathological liars and other self-serving douche bags. Shouldn't politicians be held to a standard of, I don't know, "not racist"?

 

[werepossum]

I never quite understood that whole deal. Supposedly "maccaca" is a racial slur used by French and Belgian white colonists against Belgian Congo black natives, which Allen then used as a racial slur against an Indian American. WTF? Sounds like the media went searching for a matching word that could be used against him.

One thing that speaks against Allen - if you don't know what a word means, why the hell would you use it against a non-white political opponent? No good can ever come of that. Any Republican politician needs to be smart enough to know that the media and the left (but I repeat myself) will use against them anything that can be construed as a racial slur, so he needs to learn to not use any such term. At all. Ever. Especially against anyone not lily-white. I'm not sure what Allen intended to say - his own defense has been all over the field and the word itself seems rather unlikely - but he should have been smart enough, if not nice enough, to use no pejorative term whatsoever.

I have no problem giving the guy a second chance as Classy said, but he needs to have become both nicer and smarter. Generally defeated politicos just get meaner and feel more victimized. But I guess we'll see.

 

[irishScott]

I voted for Webb then, and if it's between Him and Allen again I'll do the same. Allen is a good 'ol boy asshat. I'll take a moderate Dem over that any day.

 

[irishScott]

What are you talking about? George Allen is a neanderthal. John Warner (VA's other recent Republican senator) was a more moderate, intelligent and an all around better human being.

Mark Warner is a moderate Democrat actually.

But yeah I agree. He was a good governor and is still a good senator. I'd vote for him again.

 

[ichy]

Mark Warner is a moderate Democrat actually.

But yeah I agree. He was a good governor and is still a good senator. I'd vote for him again.

I was referring to former Senator John Warner, who retired (and whose seat was won by Mark Warner, no relation) in 2008. John Warner was an old-school, relatively centrist Republican, the exact sort of guy that the Tea Party/Sarah Palin crowd is trying to run out of the GOP.

 

[lothar]

Hopefully Republican Rep. Tom Davis would enter the race.

Tom Davis >>> Jim Webb >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> George Allen.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

I voted for Webb then, and if it's between Him and Allen again I'll do the same. Allen is a good 'ol boy asshat. I'll take a moderate Dem over that any day.

I'm a repub. and voted for Webb back then. Allen is all about Allen, and not for the people of this state. Yo George! put the football down, and walk away.

 

[lothar]

Mark Warner is a moderate Democrat actually.

But yeah I agree. He was a good governor and is still a good senator. I'd vote for him again.

You don't know who John Warner is?

 

[irishScott]

You don't know who John Warner is?

Mark's election was only my 2nd vote ever, I was focused more on the candidates than the outgoings.

 

[lupi]

I'm happy with most of the current senator's votes and legislation; but this time around they'll be catching a lot of negative from being of the pelosi/obama side which may make their re-election difficult.