I read an interesting twist on the George Allen maccaca incident at http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/009422.php

When I heard about the incident, I figured he just had an unfortunate slip of the tongue. After all, who knew that "macaca" is considered a racial slur by some? Well, maybe that's the point. Maybe Allen was using that supposedly obscure term as code based on the assumption that the audience down there at Breaks Interstate Park (http://www.breakspark.com/) would catch his meaning, but the general public wouldn't.

I also find some of his subsequent attempts to explain himself odd, at best. For example, he said that his statement to the Webb volunteer was meant as an invitation for Webb to come to a part of Virginia that he never visited. Webb never visited southwest Virginia? He wrote a book about the history of the Scots-Irish who settled the region (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0767916883/sr=1-1/qid=1155741027/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-4185338-3093422?ie=UTF8&s=books). I find it hard to believe he never visited there.

Allen is popular in Virginia, so I doubt that Webb has much of a shot at getting elected, but this macaca thing could come back to bite Allen in 2008. I have always found it odd that a boy who grew up in Southern California took such a liking to redneck culture. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with rednecks.

I met George Allen while he was campaigning for Gov. the first time in ...... '92 or '93? at the Foxfield Steeplechase and heard his commencement address at UVA in the same town that Spring. Impressive. Are you taking this obscure reference he used (along with the TPM guy's interpretation of Allen's intent) and extropolating fromo there that he is a redneck? Or are there other things he has done that identify him with rednecks?

If the latter, let's hear it. If the former, talk about spin!

btw, the Katrina insurance rulings came down yesterday, pm me if you want a copy of the opinion and order.

I don't like George Allen. I've seen him on the Leher NewsHour a few times and a few other places and the guy's a Bull$h!tter/spin-master. Odd from a US Senator.

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Yet his state has the highest bond rating one can achieve, oustanding education both public and private, my presence for 6 weeks a year

So why would he use a recognizeable racial slur on purpose if he is so indirect/fos/spinmaster? Not possible he misuesd the term ala GWB on his twice weekly fumbles?

btw: back to dculkin. that term was made fairly recognizable to us sporting types preceeding the world cup because it was banned from the event.

I am mostly going on two things: (1) gossip from people who have known Allen over the years and (2) my constant desire to say bad things about Republicans .

One person whose opinion I trust says that he knew Allen quite well about 30 years ago and that he is a total redneck who used the N word all the time. Another person whose opinion I trust and who knows Allen much better than the first person says that Allen has a good heart and is a great guy.

So, basically, I'm going on gossip. On the other hand, it appears that Allen was a big ol' redneck (not necessarily in the bad sense) back in SoCal, long before he ever moved to Virginia. For some reason his infatuation with redneck culture strikes me as funny.

The TPM piece does seem like a stretch, but I found it interesting. Conspiracy theories can be fun every now and then.

His dad used to coach the Washington Redskins.

I've met him a few times and like him a lot. But I did differ with him in the early 90's when he was governor of VA and Disney was about to build a huge theme park outside DC. The area is deeply rooted in VA Civil War history and the park would have ruined acres of otherwise untouched land.

Two popular bumper stickers at the time: "Route 66, Disney's Parking Lot" and a little one with a sillouette of Mickey's Ears with the letters "FTM" you know, "*** the Mouse".

Disney never built their theme park because they would've been kept in court for years.

Now the entire area is townhouses and single family homes.

Route 66 is now a parking lot for these new homeowners.

I eventually money always wins out.

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Now that you mention it, I do recall hearing something about that. Maybe that whole World Cup thing planted some sort of subliminal message in the back of Allen's brain and it just came out when he saw that Webb volunteer following him around. My guess is that the only significance of this event is that the media will do their best to make a big deal of it in 2008.

Your honesty is why I enjoy disagreeing with you from time to time

I can't say that I "know" him and only recall meeting him twice, albeit with insiders of his campaign. He came along after my dad had left DC. He was careful and dignified in my presence, but that is a limited exposure. I do know alot of folks that used the N word 30 years ago that don't anymore and regret using it then. I also know some politicians that use it to this day. I don't know if allen uses it or not, but I don't consider him a redneck. I can tell you that the much maligned Charles Robb is as gentlemanly as anyone you would ever meet--ackowledging his alleged Clintonesque proclivities regarding women.

Here is where you lost me--what infatuation with redneck culture? Would you use the term redneck to describe a S. African national who described US blacks as kaffirs a redneck or just a racist?

Agreed. Thanks for posting!

I didn't mean any racist conotation (sp?) and I don't equate "redneck" with "racist". Those are two different things. It's just that I've heard that when Allen was a boy growing up in SoCal, while his father was coaching the Rams, he was a big Confederacy buff. It's like when the Beatles came out, everybody got infatuated with British things. It strikes me as funny that a boy sitting in SoCal, looking around the world at different cultures, basically adopted the culture that was later depicted in the Dukes of Hazzard. Of all the cultures out there, why did he pick that one? I don't attach any meaning to it. I like rednecks as much as anyone out there. It's just funny that Allen was a natural Virginian before he ever came here. Good thing his dad didn't get hired by the New England Patriots. Where would he be then?

I'll just leave that alone......

So what does macacca mean? Someone help out this poor Ky boy who grew up in the midst of "rednecks".

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This is starting to get funny. Look at this: http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/08/a_new_explanati.html

It is funny, from the blog, This would seem to be the simplest and also most damning explanation?

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Dude, a quip from an anonymous person on a blog? "Jim B." would have been thrown out of any republican committee meetings I have ever attended (not associated with the party anymore, mind you). that is probably some kid at Rutgers opining from his dormroom. I almost read the blog entry as sarcasm.

SO FREAKIN' WHAT? Can you provide an alternative explanation or do you think the message automatically disintegrates if it's not delivered from the RNC??? I swear, if Michael Moore told you you had two eyes, would you deny it?

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