Think Progress

Sen. George Allen apologized today

By Faiz Shakir on Aug 15th, 2006 at 7:23 pm

Sen. George Allen apologized today

for referring to a man of Indian descent as “macaque.” “In no way was it meant to demean him, and I’m sorry if he was offended,” Allen said in a telephone interview. “Let’s give a welcome to macaque here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia,” Allen said in remarks last Friday, referring to S.R. Sidarth, who was born and raised in Virginia.

UPDATE: Crooks and Liars has the video of CNN’s interview with Sidarth.




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82 Responses to “Sen. George Allen apologized today”

  1. DieNowForPeace Says:

    What a jackass.

    "If he was" offended? You pissed on more than one person, jerk-off.


  2. bones Says:

    I looked a Virginia native and because he was brown I assumed he was a "feriner" and "one them there Muslams" and so I called him a "monkey". "Hell we used to do that to black people round these parts all the time and it didner'nt upset them none". "Don't make me a no dang rascist".


  3. GSD Says:

    I hear that at George Allen campaign events they only serve crackers.

    -GSD


  4. nym@alias.net Says:

    a special place on faux for this man...


  5. nym@alias.net Says:

    does soup come w/ the crackers?

    i like split pea


  6. Patrick Kennedy Says:

    George Felix Allen's apology isn't very convincing.


  7. Badmoodman Says:

    But was Sidarth standing in the "macaca only" line? I think Allen was just trying to organize the crowd.


  8. PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) Says:

    Real nice apology! Allen puts the responsibility on his victim to express his status of being offended in order to receive the apology. And if he does express it, of course he will be attacked for being overly sensitive, thin-skinned, and unaccepting of Allen's apology. Come on, Allen let's have a responsible, mature apology along the lines of "I am truly sorry that I made such a crude and racist comment about a fellow human being without consideration of him as a person and only to advance my political status."


  9. WC Says:

    Damn. If Breaks, VA is the "real world" of Virginia, Allen is really desperate.

    My family is from that area, specifically the nearby towns of Haysi, Clinchco, and Clintwood. It is undeniably beautiful country there; if any of you are traveling through the area, I strongly suggest a stop at Breaks Interstate Park. Any fans of bluegrass music and Ralph Stanley can drop by his museum in Clintwood.

    Now the reality. The unemployment rate is in the double digits. The coal from the mines is close to being exhausted after a century of mining. There is precious little land available for building businesses, and unless the so-called Coalfield Expressway is built (this is a roughly 50 mile long, 4-lane highway designed to run from the W. Va. border through the area to connect with U.S. 23 near the town of Wise; 23 connects to I-26 in TN), their isn't much hope of any major economic development in the area. Tourism that draws attention to the surrounding natural beauty, including the aforementioned park, and the museum, is currently the only hope. And many of the recent state administrations have given little more than lip service to the area; a majority of the money the state spends goes to the areas outside of SW Va.

    Why George picked that area is beyond me. He never paid it any attention as governor.


  10. DrSinker Says:

    The sad part of all of this is that I suspect it will actually help him in the election (and I'm not talking about the apology).

    GSD - I posted this in another thread, but I couldn't believe that kitty Hitler web page. Some of them even had the comb-over down. It shouldn't be funny, but it's a riot.


  11. Zooey Says:

    #7 - PLC,

    That's exactly what I was going to say, except mine had a butt load of swearing in it. Thanks for saving me from getting deleted again!

    Sen Allen, try again! This time don't use weasel words!


  12. PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) Says:

    11 Zooey
    I've found myself swearing too much in the last few years (like, maybe 6 - hm, there must be a trigger?) so I'm trying to do less of it. Further, I prefer to save those words for direct responses to particular individuals (I'm sure you know a few in this environment who qualify!)

    Lots of threads available but not much traffic it appears.


  13. Zooey Says:

    PLC,

    I just get so angry, so easily these days, that I lose my ability to articulate properly. You always do such a great job expressing yourself.

    I'm not allowed to swear openly in my new job, like I was in my old job, and by the end of the day I let fly on TP, only to be deleted. *sigh*

    It's a nice change to have less traffic, not so much to read through.


  14. For Truth Says:

    So Allen really called him that?

    Well the good news is we all get to see this guy for who he is, he gave it up.


  15. PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) Says:

    Zooey
    Why, thank you. I've spent much of my career working directly with children so swearing has been out. I've never been that fond of it but occasionally sh** or damn just have the right amount of teeth grinding to be cathartic.

    It has seemed to me that there are less trolls, or at least many of the old stand-bys (Moonbat Patrol comes to mind) don't seem to be stopping by as readily. Poor souls are probably wasting away in some lonely neocon blogosphere or else rocking back and forth in their basement repeating "Bush is still good, Bush is still good,..." to themselves.


  16. Zooey Says:

    PLC,

    Have you seen the "troll list" dixie blood has been putting up over the last several days? I haven't seen the list today, but I notice a difference since she (?) started posting it. I've noticed the difference since then.

    I see the trolls have been drawn to the AIDS Conf thread, and Santo is trashing the ThinkFast thread again. If they stay on one or two threads, I consider us lucky.


  17. Juan C Says:

    Allen is a stupid white asshole!
    Oh, but...“In no way was it meant to demean him, and I’m sorry if he was offended,”


  18. PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) Says:

    I like the troll list and maybe it has been effective. If I ever get around to it, I thought of making a "troll argument list", a set of one liners they use to make their arguments, to save time also (example, "Clinton did it or didn't do it")

    anyway, I'm heading off for now. Later


  19. PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) Says:

    Hi and Bye, Juan
    You and Zooey can keep each other company and hold down the fort.


  20. Juan C Says:

    You and Zooey can keep each other company and hold down the fort.
    Comment by PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) — August 15, 2006 @ 9:12 pm

    Me and Zoo? Come on. Thanks for that, but Zoo can do it by itw own.
    She is like Neo of threads. :)


  21. Jay-Z Says:

    The President of Iran had a Holocaust denail exhibition today. Where's the condemnation of it from the Left?


  22. oldtree Says:

    he didn't admit that it is a common expression that his mother might have used for a slur on a black person did he? though that has been brought up on several sites as fact based on his mother's upbringing? not true?
    he apologized only for saying it out loud.
    seems like the dirty little putz is having a hard time with his booze or medication levels.

    his sisters book has been mentioned as well. this is one character that you won't want behind you in the dark, if any of this is true. how would someone like this's personal life not affect the voters about electing him? what is going on in virginia? you folks okay over there? not that we are any better over here.


  23. Zooey Says:

    She is like Neo of threads. :)
    Comment by Juan C

    Ok, I'm not getting that one, Juan. The Matrix, maybe...?


  24. Juan C Says:

    Ok, I’m not getting that one, Juan. The Matrix, maybe…?
    Comment by Zooey — August 15, 2006 @ 9:39 pm

    Exactly, Zoo! You know, swift, powerful and a lot of style. :)


  25. Zooey Says:

    *blush*


  26. Juan C Says:

    *blush*
    Comment by Zooey — August 15, 2006 @ 9:50 pm

    Oh, come on! Be a girl! :)


  27. Zooey Says:

    Oh, come on! Be a girl! :)
    Comment by Juan C

    Dammit, Juan! I'm trying to behave! Don't make me come over there!


  28. trueblue Says:

    Am I interrupting something? ;)


  29. trueblue Says:

    Boy, I love it when the shoe's on the other foot!!!
    Tee Hee!


  30. Zooey Says:

    Am I interrupting something? ;)
    Comment by trueblue

    Absolutely nothing, trueblue! Don't you have an email to write/read?

    How is MiniBlue?


  31. trueblue Says:

    Uh oh!
    Now I'm afraid to go to my mailbox!

    Miniblue is still out of sorts, but no seizures yet.
    I'm a little nervous because we're going to Boston on Thurs. to see the Body Worlds exhibit @ the Museum of Science. I'd hate for her to have a seizure in the middle of it - only because she would be embarassed.


  32. trueblue Says:

    *Whew!*
    Nothing in my Inbox, like an exploding Zooey-gram or something!


  33. Zooey Says:

    I meant an email from Juan! *muttering to self, like some crazy bag lady -- again*

    Anyway -- I'm glad Mini's ok. The Body Worlds exhibit sounds like something fun. Is it bodies...real ones? Because that would be no end of cool.


  34. Juan C Says:

    Hello, true. May I ask what does miniblue have?


  35. Juan C Says:

    Was it rude what I asked?
    I know its not the same but my mother has worked all her life with people with autism and brain paralysis, so I am used to it. Just asking.


  36. trueblue Says:

    Check it out, Zooey, (and Juan, of course!)
    http://www.mos.org/

    Juan,
    MiniB has Epilepsy. There is some debate as to whether it is Temporal or Temporal/ Frontal (because she exhibits movements of Frontal)
    They are fear-based seizures, which means something triggers an extreme fear in her, at which point she starts calling for me, (and a bit loudly because she's scared out of her wits). It's not Grand-mal, but there is some evidence it's on both sides of her brain, (making it far more difficult to try and remedy by surgical means.)


  37. trueblue Says:

    Not a problem asking, Juan, I am just a slow typer!


  38. trueblue Says:

    I meant an email from Juan! *muttering to self, like some crazy bag lady — again*

    Well you were the one promising me a profanity laced email last night!
    Of course I assumed you were going to follow through on your threat!
    ** But I guess you aren't that tough, are you?..**
    (boy am I gonna regret that!)


  39. Zooey Says:

    I know its not the same but my mother has worked all her life with people with autism and brain paralysis, so I am used to it. Just asking.
    Comment by Juan C

    That's cool, Juan. Your mom must be a great lady. Zoo Sr has autism, although he's quite high functioning. In fact, today is his 24th birthday, so I better get offline for a little while and call him.

    True, how could I forget the naughty language I was going to send? I've been trying to reform, but I'm having very little luck!

    Be back in a bit!


  40. Juan C Says:

    Check it out, Zooey, (and Juan, of course!)
    http://www.mos.org/

    Oh, that exhibition was here like a couple of months ago. I didnt go. I am chicken.


  41. trueblue Says:

    Juan,
    Are you talking stoke, traumatic injuries, etc. as well as autism?


  42. trueblue Says:

    stroke, oops


  43. Juan C Says:

    Zoo Sr has autism, although he’s quite high functioning. In fact, today is his 24th birthday, so I better get offline for a little while and call him.
    Comment by Zooey — August 15, 2006 @ 10:36 pm

    Well, congratulations. Happy Birthday. I assume Zoo Sr is your son? Hows the cake? I love chocolate, nothing odd, just chocolate.
    My mom is great, yeah. What can I say? I pretty much imagine you like she is: stubborn, loud and wonderful.


    It’s not Grand-mal, but there is some evidence it’s on both sides of her brain, (making it far more difficult to try and remedy by surgical means.)
    Comment by trueblue — August 15, 2006 @ 10:29 pm

    How old is she?


  44. Juan C Says:

    Are you talking stoke, traumatic injuries, etc. as well as autism?
    Comment by trueblue — August 15, 2006 @ 10:39 pm

    No, she is not a doctor. She studied psychology, but back in Chile she taught (would you please tell me hows the right word to describe people with this kind of problems in general...remember the language barrier and I dont want to say anything that sounds remotely stupid) to kids with brain paralysis. Now, she works with the parents.


  45. trueblue Says:

    Juan,
    She's 16. We had gone through 3 Long-term Monitoring stays in different hospitals, before Mass Gen'l finally found the (approx) location and right medication.
    She's only had 3 or 4 seizures since, which is a lot better than 3 or 4 a day. (no exaggeration)

    Zoo Sr. is Zoey's 1st son. Her 2nd is Zoo Jr.


  46. trueblue Says:

    Juan,
    Is she a therapist?
    Helping people cope with injuries?


  47. Juan C Says:

    Helping people cope with injuries?
    Comment by trueblue — August 15, 2006 @ 10:51 pm

    Heart injuries, she would say. :)
    No, she didnt study that.


  48. Juan C Says:

    She’s only had 3 or 4 seizures since, which is a lot better than 3 or 4 a day. (no exaggeration)
    Comment by trueblue — August 15, 2006 @ 10:50 pm

    Wow, that must be terrible! and Wow, thats an enormous achievement!


  49. trueblue Says:

    Sorry for all the misspellings.
    I'm typing in the dark again. (Zooey made fun of me last time I admitted it!) MiniB is once again sleeping in Mom's bed, so I don't want to disturb her.


  50. Juan C Says:

    would you please tell me hows the right word to describe people with this kind of problems in general…remember the language barrier and I dont want to say anything that sounds remotely stupid?


  51. trueblue Says:

    It's wonderful. Her seizures weren't under control when we went to see the Lord of the Rings, and as we were walking in and she realized the movie was ~ 3 hrs. long, she looked at me and said, "I hope I don't have a seizure during the movie."
    It's something I had never thought about, because I didn't have to think about it. It was an eye-opener.

    Anyway, enough about that.
    How are things with you?


  52. Juan C Says:

    It’s something I had never thought about, because I didn’t have to think about it. It was an eye-opener.
    Comment by trueblue — August 15, 2006 @ 11:00 pm

    Funny. It kind of happened to me in a way. To know you have to be public, its a serious issue. Well...
    Everything is ok. Im tired. I had to go play soccer with some friends but I rather skipped it. Im not in the mood. Probably stressed. I have to teach fluid mechanics lab next friday, so Im nervous. And, right now I was trying to cut a stainless stell foil with a cutter. It took me minutes. :P


  53. trueblue Says:

    would you please tell me hows the right word to describe people with this kind of problems in general…remember the language barrier and I dont want to say anything that sounds remotely stupid?

    Comment by Juan C — August 15, 2006 @ 10:56 pm
    I keep trying to think of what the right word or words would be...
    I'm stumped. (I don't know.) We usually describe it by the malady. Down Syndrome, TBI, CVA, Autistic, CP, etc., there are lots of injuries that can happen to the brain.
    Mentally Handicapped is I guess the best general term to use, although someone like Zooey's son is probably not that hindered. It's a tough term to pin down.


  54. trueblue Says:

    I have to teach fluid mechanics lab next friday, so Im nervous.
    Comment by Juan C —

    Oh, C'mon, Juan, go with the flow!

    (Sorry. Couldn't resist. It was an easy laugh!)


  55. Zooey Says:

    Well, I didn't get ahold of Zoo Sr. I'll try again in a bit.

    I pretty much imagine you like she is: stubborn, loud and wonderful.
    You're making me all sniffly, Juan. You're too good. Loud? What has trueblue told you? :)

    Juan, I was going to tell you Zoo Sr is my 24 year old boyfriend, but that's sick -- even for me. :) He's my first baby, born when I was a young and hot chick.

    Autism is a developmental disability -- I think that's the term you were looking for.


  56. Juan C Says:

    Sorry. Couldn’t resist. It was an easy laugh!)
    Comment by trueblue — August 15, 2006 @ 11:09 pm

    Ha! But you know what? Its a normal joke. So, Im like this :.


  57. Juan C Says:

    Going to get a bowl of corn flakes...


  58. Zooey Says:

    I'm going now. Gotta try to call Zoo Sr again. I've never spent his birthday away from him before! Juan & true, have fun! And try not to miss me too much...


  59. trueblue Says:

    So he's a heathly eater, too, eh Zooey?

    I don't know... me... I'd be saying, "Wait til I get another Vodka mixer!"


  60. trueblue Says:

    Oh, Zooey, are you Ok?
    I know I wouldn't like being away from MiniB on her birthday...


  61. trueblue Says:

    Well, it's been 10 minutes and I haven't heard from you, so good-night!
    I had fun talking to you both.


  62. Juan C Says:

    So he’s a heathly eater, too, eh Zooey?
    Comment by trueblue — August 15, 2006 @ 11:16 pm

    I try but you know, since Aikido, everybody is telling me how thin I am. And I hate that, cause Im thin already!


    I don’t know… me… I’d be saying, “Wait til I get another Vodka mixer!”

    Now you are talking.

    Juan, I was going to tell you Zoo Sr is my 24 year old boyfriend, but that’s sick — even for me. :) He’s my first baby, born when I was a young and hot chick.
    Comment by Zooey — August 15, 2006 @ 11:12 pm

    Yep. Just like my mom :) Goodbye, Zoo.


  63. Juan C Says:

    Well, it’s been 10 minutes and I haven’t heard from you, so good-night!
    I had fun talking to you both.
    Comment by trueblue — August 15, 2006 @ 11:23 pm

    Oh, so you are really strict! :)
    If you have to go, please, by all means. I still have to glue some stuff.


  64. Betty35 Says:

    Zooey and Trueblue:

    Please consider supporting progressive, anti-war John Tasini for the US Senate in New York in the Democratic primary. He's running against the DLC candidate, Hillary Clinton.

    If anything, please support him to put pressure on Hillary to take more progressive positions.

    Thanks, so much.

    http://www.tasinifornewyork.org/


  65. Juan C Says:

    Nice talking to you, too. Goodnight.


  66. Betty35 Says:

    Juan C:

    You too. Please look into the record of John Tasini. He's against the war in Iraq. He's for same sex marriage. He's the total package.

    Thank you.


  67. Jackie Says:

    I'm sure this racist comment will past as it wasn't against a Jewish person. If Senator Allan has made a racist comment against the Jewish people he would be out of office like yesterday. Any other race can be attacked with just a weak apology or an excuse of did I say that and all is forgiven. No headlines no problem. But Mel Gibson made a mistake and all hell breaks loss. No apology no excuse and no forgiveness. We here in America have now learned a lesson that we will never forget. Racial comments are excusable but their is no excuse for name calling when it comes to the Jewish people.



  68. Ed Says:

    #64: Well, no offense, but I wasn't too thrilled with Mel Gibson's "mistake" either. Crude racial/ethnic epithets are disgusting, no matter who the object is.


  69. Jay Randal Says:

    Sen. George Allen's apology was NOT enough > he must resign in shame!


  70. bones Says:

    The word Allen used is an established racial slur for black people in France refering to Africans. Allens mom is French and lived in North Africa. Georgie basically called a person he identified as "dark" a racial slur. Then basically when calling a "black" by a racist term he lied about a "mohawk" to cover it up and got caught. Let's see (1) denegrates black people, (2) identifies all dark skinned people as "black", (3) lies to cover his ass, (4) too stupid to come up with a good lie, (5) videos entire episode of his rascist degegrating actions. Oh yeah this is the perfect republican. Maybe he and Nixon could share a spot in hell together.


  71. dumbstruck Says:

    I guess Allen was "preaching to the choir" but I find it really sad that there was not one single citizen of the great Virginia Commonwealth in the crowd that had the balls or the upbringing to loudly question the use of this comment.

    He should have been booed off the stage.

    We are going to have to start shouting down people who make these outlandish comments in public situations to draw attention to show what evil bastards they really are.


  72. WC Says:

    Saw the interview on CNN this morning. S.R. said that he had recently introduced himself to Sen. Allen and said that he had a reputation for having a good memory.

    If Allen didn't know what "macaca" meant, why the hell was he using it? "Oh, it was the first thing that came to my mind."


  73. WC Says:

    I guess Allen was “preaching to the choir” but I find it really sad that there was not one single citizen of the great Virginia Commonwealth in the crowd that had the balls or the upbringing to loudly question the use of this comment.

    Trust me...Allen may play dumb and say he doesn't know what the word means, but the people from that area of Virginia? I guarantee they've never heard of it.


  74. G.W.SuperChrist Says:

    “I In no way was it meant to demean him, and I’m sorry if he was offended"...

    "Hell I thought those people liked being called monkeys... how was I to know that monkey boy was so sensitive... I sure am sorry if he's so out of touch with the reality of the real world here in Virginia that he is somehow offended by his obvious resemblance to a monkey… Dang… Sooooooooooooooooooorry"


  75. Douglas G Says:

    Some people need a life. Has anyone considered that MAYBE Senator Allen actually didn't mean to make a racial slur? I mean really. I was looking directly at the camera and smiling for the world to see. Even the most inane politician isn't THAT stupid. And George Allen, whether or not you like him or not, can't really be that stupid. I know there are a lot of people who like to bash, call names and more. I mean really, just read the above thread. . . BUT, I believe he really thought one of his people said that was this kid's nickname. BTW, arent' there more important things to discuss?


  76. onthefence Says:

    #76 Perhaps if he didn't have a history of you know, wearing a Conferederate Flag pin in his high scholl yearbook photo, or having a noose hanging from a tree outside his old law office.

    Of course his explanation is that he is a flag collector.

    More likely is that this guy is an out and out racist repub knuckle-dragger.


  77. Badmoodman Says:

    Funny stuff:

    Senator George Allen’s racial remark to a 20 year old Indian man last week, has re-highlighted accusations that the Senator is a bully and a bigot. Senator Allen’s sister, Jennifer Allen, documents many cases of her brother’s bullying in her book Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach's Daughter. Read the excerpts below.

    Explaining why she is scared of heights, Ms. Allen writes that “Ever since my brother George held me over the railing at Niagara Falls, I’ve had a fear of heights.” [Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach's Daughter, page 43]

    Referring to George’s relationship with one of her boyfriends: “My brother George welcomed him by slamming a pool cue against his head.” [Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach's Daughter, page 178]

    Referring to George’s early leadership skills, Jennifer wrote: “We all obeyed George. If we didn't, we knew he would kill us. Once, when Bruce refused to go to bed, George hurled him through a sliding glass door. Another time, when Gregory refused to go to bed, George tackled him and broke his collarbone. Another time, when I refused to go to bed, George dragged me up the stairs by my hair.” [Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach's Daughter, page 22]

    Referring to George’s early career aspirations, Jennifer wrote “George hoped someday to become a dentist. George said he saw dentistry as a perfect profession - getting paid to make people suffer.” [Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach's Daughter, page 22]

    Referring to George’s habit of terrorizing a Green Bay Packer fan in their neighborhood, Jennifer wrote that the fan’s mailbox often “lay smashed in the street, a casualty of my brothers' drive-by to school in the morning. George would swerve his Mach II Mustang while Gregory held a baseball bat out the window to clear the mailbox off its post. . . . Lately, the Packers fan had resorted to stapling a Kleenex box to the mailbox post to receive his mail. George's red Mustang screeched up beside us, the Packers fan's Kleenex mailbox speared on the antenna.” [Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach's Daughter, page 16]


  78. Your Mom Says:

    #78: Even the most inane politician isn’t THAT stupid.

    This is a really lame defense. Politicians do stupid things all the time, and Republicans in particular have an illustrious history of showing how completely out of touch they are with reality. I see no evidence--in the video or anywhere else--to suggest that George Allen is too smart to use a racial slur. This is like saying, "There's no way George W. Bush would invade Iraq. Nobody's THAT stupid."


  79. Your Mom Says:

    Excuse me. I meant Post #76.


  80. Anon1 Says:

    This just isn't something that's forgiveable. He's a racist. Period. The Republican party owns the issue, and owns Allen.


  81. rjc Says:

    I would take Allen over Robert "Grand Wizard Sheets" Byrd, Joe " You cannot go to a 7 Eleven or Dunkin Donuts without speaking with an Indian Accent" Biden, and Hillary "Mahatma Ghandi pumps gas" Clinton. All things being equal if Allen is a racists so are these 3 Communists who want to run this country into the ground. They are bad for this country and should be booted.



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