The Washington Post rips George Allen's campaign tactics in editorial

[Aegeon]

Sex and the Sinking Candidate
In Virginia, fiction as political liability

Wednesday, November 1, 2006; Page A20

SEN. GEORGE ALLEN implored Virginians four weeks ago to focus less on personal attacks and more on "the issues" in his race for reelection. Now he has seized on an unlikely one: sex scenes in novels written by his Democratic opponent, James Webb. Now there's a pressing concern for Americans in 2006.

Mr. Allen, a Republican whose campaign professes profound moral shock that actual sex should occur in fiction, has spent months trying to extract himself from his own "macaca"-inspired tailspin. When all else failed -- including an Allen ad in which a woman accused Mr. Webb of misquoting her, although he never quoted her at all -- Mr. Allen apparently decided that what he needed was a sex scandal crafted to smear his rival and timed for the campaign's fourth quarter. Lacking such material in real life, he turned to Mr. Webb's novels, most of which concern the wartime experiences of soldiers and international intrigue. There he found -- horrors! -- sex. And what better place to spread the word than the Web site of Matt Drudge, the online gossip-monger. That ensured the story would be echoed by radio talk show hosts in high dudgeon.

Mr. Allen has spent months disparaging Mr. Webb as a writer of fiction, as if a novelist's experience is any more divorced from everyday reality than the life of a U.S. senator. His campaign suggests that because some female characters in Mr. Webb's books are portrayed as sleazy or servile Mr. Webb must himself see women in that light. Please. Maybe Mr. Allen also believes that J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, takes too soft a line on wizards.

As it happens, Mr. Webb, a former Navy secretary, assistant secretary of defense and Marine company commander in Vietnam, is an acclaimed novelist whose books are widely read. Mr. Allen wouldn't say whether he'd read any of Mr. Webb's novels himself -- only that "I've been reading initiatives and ideas and I'm trying to motivate people and inspire people."

Mr. Allen certainly is an inspiration -- to anyone who believes that political campaigns may be won by diversions and dirty tactics, even as the candidate calls high-mindedly for a discussion of "the issues." Win or lose, he'll be remembered for his performance during this race, and not fondly.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co...rticle/2006/10/31/AR2006103101129.html

With three recent polls showing Jim Webb ahead of George Allen in the Virginia Senate race, its getting quite apparent that the Allen campaign's attempt to take down Webb by cherrypicking sexually explicit scenes from his book and quoting them without context has backfired badly. The Washington Post is a widely read newspaper with the highest circulation in Virginia, and a cutting editorial like this is going to get attention. Its starting to look like voters, just like the Washington Post, are tired of dirty tricks instead of a discussion of the real issues facing this country.

 

[Wapp]

My friend was forced to listen Sean Hannity on the radio the other day when this story broke. Hannity was going crazy over it when a caller asked him if he realized these were works of FICTION. Hannity replied that these explicit thoughts are nonetheless still in Webbs mind.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Wapp
My friend was forced to listen Sean Hannity on the radio the other day when this story broke. Hannity was going crazy over it when a caller asked him if he realized these were works of FICTION. Hannity replied that these explicit thoughts are nonetheless still in Webbs mind.

hehe, ironclad logic riight there. 😀

 

[LegendKiller]

I am pretty disgusted by this Allen/Webb thing. Webb has tried to keep this whole thing on the "up and up" while Allen has constantly tried to drag it down. While Webb isn't innocent, he hasn't stooped to the same level as Allen has. Living in Nova, I can certainly say that the political climate here is pretty disgusting and is a pure indication that change is needed.

 

[techs]

Talk about a party ashamed to run on its record. The Republicans will do ANYTHING except discuss the issues.

 

[Rainsford]

I think Allen is hosed one way or another. What should have been an EASY victory and a nice setup for a run at the Presidency in 2008 has, through massive incompetence on Allen's part, become a fight to barely stay in the Senate. I still think Allen will win, but he can forget about running for President in 2008.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Rainsford
I think Allen is hosed one way or another. What should have been an EASY victory and a nice setup for a run at the Presidency in 2008 has, through massive incompetence on Allen's part, become a fight to barely stay in the Senate. I still think Allen will win, but he can forget about running for President in 2008.

I think the aftermath of the "macaca" incident alone would probably ruin a Presidential campaign. It certainly sounds as though he was openly racist in his college days, as his accusers are themselves very well respected and don't appear to have an axe to grind.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: Rainsford
I think Allen is hosed one way or another. What should have been an EASY victory and a nice setup for a run at the Presidency in 2008 has, through massive incompetence on Allen's part, become a fight to barely stay in the Senate. I still think Allen will win, but he can forget about running for President in 2008.

I think the aftermath of the "macaca" incident alone would probably ruin a Presidential campaign. It certainly sounds as though he was openly racist in his college days, as his accusers are themselves very well respected and don't appear to have an axe to grind.

It is amazing that an openly racist person could become a Senator in this day and age.
It just goes to show how little we really know about the candidates who run for office.

 

[Wapp]

More bad news for the Allen campaign:

Heckler subdued at George Allen event

http://www.gulflive.com/newsflash/polit...162376942227670.xml&storylist=politics

And response from the heckler:

http://www.nbc29.com/global/story.asp?s=5615240&ClientType=Printable

 

[Aisengard]

Whoa. These GOP supporters are really getting desperate. Tackling a guy because you don't like what he's saying...yup, I can see why they support the GOP.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: Wapp
My friend was forced to listen Sean Hannity on the radio the other day when this story broke. Hannity was going crazy over it when a caller asked him if he realized these were works of FICTION. Hannity replied that these explicit thoughts are nonetheless still in Webbs mind.

Idiocy at it's finest.

 

[Pens1566]

Allen is down by 4-5% in most recent polls. Good.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: Rainsford
I think Allen is hosed one way or another. What should have been an EASY victory and a nice setup for a run at the Presidency in 2008 has, through massive incompetence on Allen's part, become a fight to barely stay in the Senate. I still think Allen will win, but he can forget about running for President in 2008.

I think the aftermath of the "macaca" incident alone would probably ruin a Presidential campaign. It certainly sounds as though he was openly racist in his college days, as his accusers are themselves very well respected and don't appear to have an axe to grind.

What are you talking about? All of the allegations I have heard have been proven to be false or are just people repeating stories third hand. What proof do you have for this charge?

Meanwhile, Webb is the one who drove through LA with a shot gun, would drive up to black people roll the window down and pull the trigger in order to scare them to death. Is this story true? Has anyone else heard it or explanation?

 

[Aegeon]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
What are you talking about? All of the allegations I have heard have been proven to be false or are just people repeating stories third hand. What proof do you have for this charge?

Meanwhile, Webb is the one who drove through LA with a shot gun, would drive up to black people roll the window down and pull the trigger in order to scare them to death. Is this story true? Has anyone else heard it or explanation?

Most of the allegations certainly have not been proven false in any respect. There are a number of people who have asserted seeing such conduct from George Allen. You have some other individuals disagreeing, but generally they are asserting that they have not personally seen such a thing rather than definately saying no such thing occured.

The LA story on Webb has been asserted by ONE individual and I think Webb's point that a white guy driving through Watts during the period waving around a gun would have been a good way to get shot is quite relevant. Basically its one person's claim versus Webb's denial, and I think Webb's point about why the allegation isn't plausible is quite relevant.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

What are you talking about? All of the allegations I have heard have been proven to be false or are just people repeating stories third hand. What proof do you have for this charge?

Meanwhile, Webb is the one who drove through LA with a shot gun, would drive up to black people roll the window down and pull the trigger in order to scare them to death. Is this story true? Has anyone else heard it or explanation?

I don't know what you're talking about, regarding Webb - is this a joke?

I take it you haven't been following the Allen story closely. None other than a radiologist and a respected Poli Sci professor say that Allen was openly racist in college, and not only used the "N" word often but stuffed a deer head into a black family's mailbox (this was around the time The Godfather, with its horse-head scene, was released). I am at a loss to understand why they would make this stuff up.

 

[Genx87]

Washington Post writing an editorial against Allen?

Wake me when something worth discussing happens.

 

[palehorse]

Originally posted by: DonVito
I am at a loss to understand why they would make this stuff up.

gee, i dunno, political leanings perhaps?

 

[palehorse]

Originally posted by: Genx87
Washington Post writing an editorial against Allen?

Wake me when something worth discussing happens.

QFT.

 

[Craig234]

Washington Post writing an editorial against Allen?

Wake me when something worth discussing happens.

GenX axting as an apologist for the right, minimizing and ignoring their wrong? Palehorse doing the same?

And they say the Post is partisan.

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
. . .
Meanwhile, Webb is the one who drove through LA with a shot gun, would drive up to black people roll the window down and pull the trigger in order to scare them to death. Is this story true? Has anyone else heard it or explanation?

I don't trust any unsubstaniated reports of this type unless they involve satanic cults, dead babies and tax increases.

Come on, PJ, show some class.

 

[palehorse]

Originally posted by: Craig234

Washington Post writing an editorial against Allen?

Wake me when something worth discussing happens.

GenX axting as an apologist for the right, minimizing and ignoring their wrong? Palehorse doing the same?

And they say the Post is partisan.

I didn't realize that I was an internationally-distributed news service. too cool!

 

[Craig234]

I didn't realize that I was an internationally-distributed news service. too cool!

I didn't realize you lacked basic reading skills, leading you to confuse being called excessively partisan with being called a news service. Too sad!

 

[Wapp]

Originally posted by: Craig234

I didn't realize that I was an internationally-distributed news service. too cool!

I didn't realize you lacked basic reading skills, leading you to confuse being called excessively partisan with being called a news service. Too sad!

Let's talk less about whether or not Palehorse is a news service and more about the Virginia Senatorial race, please.

 

[palehorse]

Originally posted by: Craig234

I didn't realize that I was an internationally-distributed news service. too cool!

I didn't realize you lacked basic reading skills, leading you to confuse being called excessively partisan with being called a news service. Too sad!

My point was that WE are allowed to be partisan while supposedly respectable news services are not. I also didn't realize that I should have used smaller words to spell that out for you...

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

What are you talking about? All of the allegations I have heard have been proven to be false or are just people repeating stories third hand. What proof do you have for this charge?

Meanwhile, Webb is the one who drove through LA with a shot gun, would drive up to black people roll the window down and pull the trigger in order to scare them to death. Is this story true? Has anyone else heard it or explanation?

I don't know what you're talking about, regarding Webb - is this a joke?

I take it you haven't been following the Allen story closely. None other than a radiologist and a respected Poli Sci professor say that Allen was openly racist in college, and not only used the "N" word often but stuffed a deer head into a black family's mailbox (this was around the time The Godfather, with its horse-head scene, was released). I am at a loss to understand why they would make this stuff up.

Sbato was not there when the "n-word" was used. He is repeating a story he heard second hand. Furthermore, Allen's first wife says she was with him when the whole turtle thing happened and the word was not used. And the two people making the statement are partisians who admit they want Webb to win.

On the Deer head thing: Link

"Billy Lanahan told me they cut the head off a deer and stuffed it in a mailbox. He didn't say whose idea it was, and he didn't say, at least not in my presence, anything about a black family or a black neighborhood," Beam told the AP.

AND

Maj. Donald Lowe of the Louisa Sheriff's Department said Wednesday that a search this week of department records failed to produce any evidence of a complaint concerning a deer's head.
The county's record-keeping in that era was spotty, Lowe added.
Lowe said the sheriff's department also has interviewed several deputies from the early 1970s as well as with black community leaders at the time. None recalled any complaint concerning a deer's head.

So even IF it did happen, and that is disputed, one of the two people making the claim says race had nothing to do with it, plus he was not even there, he is repeating the story second hand. And there is NO record of it, no police reports, no one even remembers hearing about it happening.

Now on Webb:
From WAPO link

In the wake of the furor over the senator's reported comments, Mr. Webb would not deny that he had employed the ugly term. He said he has never used it as a slur but added to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, "I don't think that there's anyone who grew up around the South that hasn't had the word pass through their lips at one time in their life."

Where is the outrage over this statement by Webb? Allen denies using the word while Webb admits to using it, and all we hear about is Allen using the word. Nice balance huh?

And now the story of Webb and the shotgun: Again WAPO Link

Cragg, 67, who lives in Fairfax County, said on Wednesday that Webb described taking drives through the black neighborhood of Watts, where he and members of his ROTC unit used racial epithets and pointed fake guns at blacks to scare them.

"They would hop into their cars, and would go down to Watts with these buddies of his," Cragg said Webb told him. "They would take the rifles down there. They would call then [epithets], point the rifles at them, pull the triggers and then drive off laughing. One night, some guys caught them and beat . . . them. And that was the end of that."

So we now have claims of both of these guys using the N-word and acting badly. Both stories date from 20+ years ago, and both are disputed by the candidates themselves.

But look at the news coverage of the stories. Everyone seems to know about the deer head story, but you admit that you have never heard the Webb story. Does that not show that there has not been equal coverage of these allegations by the media?