… and this time not over the word ‘macaca’, but instead - the “n” word. Salon reported three sources earlier today that alleged that Allen used the “n” word back in his college days in the early 70s.
Jon Henke at the George Allen blog denied the allegations, while providing quotes from other friends of Senator Allen who said they could not recall Allen usuing the racial slur.
Respected and often-quoted political analyst and UVA professor Larry Sabato has weighed in tonight and says that - as a classmate of Allen’s - Allen did indeed use the “n” word back in the day. I don’t know any of the other sources and took them with a grain of salt earlier, but I don’t think Sabato would have any reason to make this up. The guy has never come across on camera as a partisan gunslinger - which is why he’s so well-respected on both sides of the aisle. I don’t think this bodes well for the Allen campaign.
Which brings to mind the next question: why is something he supposedly said 20 or 30 years ago relevant now? Has it affected him on a policy-making level? I’ve seen no evidence of it, but I’ll leave it to the diggers on each side of this debate to hash out. Some people would say “well if what someone says 20 or 30 years ago isn’t important, why bring up what John Kerry said in the early 70s about US foreign policy as it related to the UN (”I’m an internationalist …I’d like to see our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United Nations.”)?” And the answer to that would be because what John Kerry said on that issue in the 70s is essentially his position today.
That said, the Allen campaign is going to have some serious explaining to do on this one, and if they do it by trying to discredit Sabato, I think that will only make things worse.
Prior:
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By “n” word, I presume the scandalized gossip-mongering press means “nigger.”
I’m certainly no friend of Allen, but — gracious. We’re supposed to elect/not elect a person based on whether or not they said a magic word IN THE DISCO ERA??!
Kill me now. Reason is dead.
Thanks for your always intriguing blog.
Comment by Wrymouth @ 9/26/2006 - 1:35 am
According to teammates and college friends of Allen, he and Sabato did not associate with each other though they went to the same college. Sabato is apparently relying on hearsay. The Left is really going all-out to destroy George Allen before he can even begin his run for President.
Comment by CavalierX @ 9/26/2006 - 4:23 am
This is why I cannot run for public office…not because I’m a racist now, but I surely was 30 years ago. Egad!!!
Comment by camojack @ 9/26/2006 - 5:12 am
Ah, the hypocrisy of the Left and Dems. What do you want to bet that Robert “KKK” Byrd said (and did) far worse as KKK Klegal…but that’s OK as he’s a Democrat.
When they first said he had used the N word, I asked myself, what, was Allen a rapper?
Comment by Severian @ 9/26/2006 - 7:25 am
The honorable Senator Byrd refered to “white niggers” just a couple of years ago, then properly apologized; not for saying what he said, but in case he offended anyone.
Comment by Tom TB @ 9/26/2006 - 7:55 am
George Allen went to college in the early ’70’s…perhaps someone heard him singing along with the 1972 John Lennon/Yoko Ono hit “Woman is the Nigger of the World”?
Comment by Tom TB @ 9/26/2006 - 8:16 am
This from the party of Byrd?
What nonsense!
Comment by ttyler5 @ 9/26/2006 - 2:11 pm
Sister, Mr. Saboto did and has sounded a little left leaning as of late and we need to track these folks down and find out, but as others have said, KKK SHEETS BYRD has said the work a hell of a lot more tha Allen may have.
Comment by Drewsmom @ 9/26/2006 - 6:21 pm
The post is correct. Attacking Larry Sabato isn’t going to solve George Allen’s problem, and Robert Byrd is irrelevant.
His problem isn’t because he said nigger during the disco era. It’s a combination of recent and long ago events, including the Confederate flag, the hanging noose, “macaca”, the Jewish thing, his association with the Conservative Citizens Council and now the “nigger” allegations.
Also, the demographics of Virginia have changed and the good ole boy routine doesn’t play like it did in the past. He’s got big problems.
Comment by Pug @ 9/26/2006 - 10:12 pm
Nobody has to attack Larry Sabato. They only need attack the accuracy of the drive by legacy media who misreported Larry Sabato’s words.
And for your historical misinformation - you can only disagree with a differt opinion as your opinion isn’t MORE valid - the confederate flag is a historical symbol not a symbol of racism, and the other words of yours are not known by you but ARE just YOU repeating attacks that haven’t been proven 30 some days from an election. You are a tool. Aren’t you?
How about talking about each person’s current policies which are on the record?
Comment by Baklava @ 9/26/2006 - 10:40 pm
To back up my point about the accuracy of the drive by legacy media on Sabato see here
Just call yourself duped Pug.
BTW, What is your stance on race preferences based on race?
Comment by Baklava @ 9/26/2006 - 10:51 pm
Sabato’s backtracking on his statement is, I think, the first step in discrediting himself.
Comment by rightwingprof @ 9/27/2006 - 3:19 pm