Sen. Allen again apologizes for remark, regrets use of Confederate flag

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. George Allen offered a broad apology Tuesday for failing to grasp how his use of words and symbols, including the Confederate flag, could be offensive to racial minorities.

The remarks came at a time when Allen, a Republican in a tough re-election fight this year, is facing national criticism and declining popularity after a widely perceived racial slur about a Democratic campaign worker last month.

During a luncheon speech before about 300 black educators attending a national conference for officials from historically black colleges and universities, Allen again apologized for the remark. Then, for the first time, he expressed regret for his longtime infatuation with the Confederate flag.

"The point is, symbols matter, they should matter, and this is something that I wish I learned a lot earlier," Allen said. "Even if your heart is pure, the things you say and do and the symbols you use do matter because of the way others may take them."

"What I appreciate, and wish I had sooner, is that that symbol, which for me was fit for simply rebelling against authority, and for others was fit for pride in heritage, was and is for black Americans an emblem of hate and terror, an emblem of intolerance and discrimination," he said.
...
Allen's 35-minute speech received polite applause and gracious reviews from the educators.

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=110917&ran=162052&tref=po

[waiting for hope]

1. He SHALL lose.....

The man is desperate. Excuse my language, but I've had enough of these assholes - Fuck him.

[harlinchi]

20. No, he WILL lose! So sayeth Colbert. n/t

[waiting for hope]

21. But SHALL is sooo much

stronger a word....:sarcasm: I had to watch that segment again..:rofl:

[Benhurst]

29. ...

"When expressing a strong determination to do something the traditional rule is that will is used with the first person, and shall with the second and third persons, e.g. I will not tolerate this; you shall go to school. In practice, however, shall and will are today used more or less interchangeably in statements (though not in questions). Given that the forms are frequently contracted (we'll, she'll, etc.) there is often no need to make a choice between shall and will, another factor no doubt instrumental in weakening the distinction. In modern English the interchangeable use of shall and will is an acceptable part of standard British and US English." -- New Oxford Dictionary of English

And of course General Douglas MacArthur did his part to add to the confusion by saying, famously, "I shall return!"

[waiting for hope]

35. Thanks,

but we were referencing this...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72Bl3qfnlr4

[Frances]

37. Thanks for the link

I don't have TV & it's great to see these hilarious bits online.

[Benhurst]

56. Thanks. I have a TV but no cable. When the switch to HDTV is

made, I shall toss the TV -- I've enjoyed being freed from cable even though there is some good stuff on it.

[savemefromdumbya]

2. closet white supramist = Allen

the conservatives love him

[saigon68]

43. He is the original Macaca Boy

[9119495]

3. Remember how pissed republicans about the Mexican flag?

If the Mexican flag is treasonous in 'merica, how come the Confederate one isn't?

[CBGLuthier]

4. translation

What he meant was, "I used to be able to be proud to be a racist but now I guess I have to hide it".

[warrens]

5. Too late, fuckwad

You don't even mean it, and everybody knows that. Your core voters are going to stay home, and you're going down.

[jamesinca]

41. You have to ask him this.

Is he sorry because he got caught, or is he sorry for actually doing it?

[zonkers]

42. Couldn't be any plainer.

[VaYallaDawg]

6. Puhleeez! "Even if your heart is pure..."

Everything that doofus says is pure all right - pure BS. I hope the people of VA don't fall for it again this time.

He's very busy a**-kissing on all the old-time African-American politicians in the state right now - including state senator Ben Lambert (Dem., supposedly, from Richmond), who has now come out endorsing him. I hope the ones backing him get dumped right along with him - they deserve it.

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. Let him drink the "sweet nectar" of defeat out of a urinal for all I care.

[The Deacon]

8. You Know, Its The George Allen Type Of Racist That Really Gets My Goat

A dyed-in-the-wool KKKer at least believes in something, no matter how wrongheaded & ignorant that may be. George Allen & his ilk are either:
1. too chickenshit to stand up for what they believe, or,
2. are cynically using others ignorance & racism to their momentary advantage - only to disassociate themselves from it when it becomes inconvenient.

"received polite applause and gracious reviews"? He should have received the bulk of their salads in an airborne assault.

[Mackay]

9. Isn't this guy a known PLAGIARIST as well ?

This reminds me... I saw the video that Crooks and Liars had up of him getting caught plagiarizing a bill from another senator 'word for word'.

When that indian girl, Viswanathan got caught plagiarizing the media was all over her. Maybe rightfully so...

But this guy changed one word and tried to take credit for it. Why the hell does he get a free pass?

Seems like he deserves to be added to the wikipedia 'plagiarism' entry.

[devilgrrl]

10. Yeah, I bet he's really sincere too!

:sarcasm:

[iconoclastic cat]

11. Way to keep your actions alive in the public dialogue, numbnuts.

How do we lose to these idiots?

Oh, right, I forgot about the fraud.

[Rose Siding]

16. That's what I was thinking- especially about the flag comments

I don't know that he's ever admitted to that before. After the "macaca" remarks he was dogged by questions so badly that he's STILL apologizing. Hopefully, this new apology will have the same effect.

[thereismore]

12. He is on his heels, about to tip over and fall into oblivion. nt

[librechik]

13. on your knees, racist scum! Beg!

this man should NEVER be in the public trust. KICK HIM OUT OF OUR HOUSE!! (Sen)

[Virginia Dare]

14. Unfortunately, a black Democrat has endorsed Allen...

This guy needs to put down the kool-aid:


RICHMOND, Sept. 12 -- A senior Democratic state lawmaker endorsed Republican Sen. George Allen's bid for reelection Tuesday, after having earlier criticized Democrat James Webb's position on affirmative action.

State Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert III (Richmond), who is black, praised Allen in a letter on his senate stationery released yesterday by the Allen campaign.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/12/AR2006091201541.html

[Virginian]

22. I think he needs to read this article from The Nation

The Nation
article | posted August 29, 2006 (web only)
Beyond Macaca: The Photograph That Haunts George Allen
Max Blumenthal


Only a decade ago, as governor of Virginia, Allen personally initiated an association with the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), the successor organization to the segregationist White Citizens Council and among the largest white supremacist groups.


http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060911/george_allen

[Cha]

47. Stupid charlton heston

holdin' up the other end of that ghastly photo.

[Cha]

46. Anyone endorsing allen with a "d" after

their name is a freakin' dino on crack.

[marmar]

54. DId he say this after cashing a check from the Allen campaign?

Mr. Lambert is a jackass.

[David Zephyr]

15. Six weeks before an election he's about to lose...and he apologizes ?

What a shameless phony.

[skipos]

17. What about naming your kids after Confederates and KKK founders?

Are you sorry about that yet?

[Virginia Dare]

25. That was just another "youthful rebellion" thing...

:eyes: :puke:

[Journeyman]

18. I'm white, and the Confederate flag is a symbol of hate & terror. . .

intolerance and discrimination, and always has been, and I grew up at the same time and in the same part of the country as Felix did.

More than a mid-life recognition of the importance of symbols, I formed my opinion from a youthful perspective of the unacceptability of hatred. But then, Republicans don't seem to grow up as quickly (or as completely) as do the rest of us. Witness Henry Hyde's "youthful" sexual indiscretions of his 40s and 50s.

[Virginia Dare]

26. Why couldn't he have shaved his head..

into a mohawk or worn black clothes covered in safety pins if he was feeling rebellious?

No, he turns himself into a white racist.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Fluffdaddy]

23. To little To Late........... Allen

[Parche]

24. allen

He can go macaca himself

He sees the polls and he is either down or even....


Mark my words, Virginia and Tennessee are the 2states, if we can win both Senate seats,
then we win back the Senate..........

[damntexdem]

27. I guess he is sincere: he is sorry that he exhibited ...

his racism so openly as to threaten his campaign.

[lebkuchen]

28. Before this election, I never realized what racists we have in the senate

keeping Trent Lott company.

[NoAmericanTaliban]

30. The core of the GOP consists of racists like Allen

- why do you think majority of GOPers are white middle aged men. They don't see themselves as racists & their wives are just as complacent. Just go back from visiting relatives in Rochester, NY - who are very right wing. As we drove through their suburb communittee center - they were saying that it is nice & clean because no blacks live there. If you go to downtown Rochester where the blacks live it is always dirty and full of crime.

That is why fear is such a powerful tool for the GOP leaderhsip - if the socialist dems are in power they will tax your income and make you live with minorites.

Another example of right wing brainwashing was when a news article about H. Clinton was on the news & the first comment out of their mouths was - She is a lesbian don't you think. I responded - Who knows if she is or isn't - at least she's not a drunk.

[Virginia Dare]

32. At least she's not a drunk...

good slap down NAT, I'll have to remember that one!

:applause: :rofl:

[ProgressiveEconomist]

31. How about the NOOSE (for lynching) hanging beside the Confederate

swastika in his office. Does he regret that too?

[babylonsister]

33. Reduced to groveling, eh? nt

[K8-EEE]

34. The Freeps HATE His Apologies!

hahaha, he is hated by everyone at this point. CACA ACCOMPLISHED!

[VaYallaDawg]

36. You are so right! He's playing this strategy to the hilt.

The longer he keeps this s**t in the newspapers, the more he endears himself to his racist right-wing base - which I'm very sorry to say, is such a plurality in my beloved state of Virginia. They know that all of these so-called apologies are "wink-wink-just-you-wait-till-I-get-back-up-on-Capitol-Hill."

Everybody can talk about being inclusive and tolerant and accepting of 21st century values. But then when the issue is in the privacy of the voting booth, the difference is enormous. So that's why we can't put civil rights to the test of a referendum - at least not directly. The way the racists continue their stranglehold is by electing more racists.

As my grandmother would say, he's just plain old disgusting.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

38. There goes his base.

My uncle and aunt will now not be voting for him. Kow-towing to ... that ... that crowd!

[NanceGreggs]

39. Seems common sense should come into play here ...

"... (he)offered a broad apology Tuesday for failing to grasp how his use of words and symbols, including the Confederate flag, could be offensive to racial minorities."

If he's too stupid to GRASP something that obvious, he is obviously WAY TOO STUPID to hold public office.

[underpants]

40. Funny thing it is raining today in Richmond

it seems to be pouring on Allen though

:bounce:

[Cha]

48. Richmond is so

beautiful. No more floods, though!

[NOLADEM]

44. "Sorry about the Flag, but I don't regret the noose."

Weird about his past too. He wasn't raised in the South at all, but seems to emulate the good ole boy closet racist mold, sort of a small town sheriff.

What a fucking asswipe.

[Cha]

45. allen's Arrogant Prick Stchick isn't

working so he's sucking it up. "Wah, Wah! I was a real bad boy..flew my Confederate flag and called a Virginian, "Macaca"..and now I can't get that damn Macaca off my lilly livered back!"

[TheCowsCameHome]

49. George, first you must get that facial diaper rash looked at, then

go jump off a tall cliff.

Adios, asshole.

[Anakin Skywalker]

50. Playing Dumb Won't Work.

Come on! A grown man like him claiming he didn't know some words and symbols are offensive?

[yellowcanine]

51. Too little and way the hell too late, Georgey.

[annabanana]

52. He sure is a "Sorry" sob, ain't he?. . . . . n/t

[marmar]

53. I never knew a hanging noose could be offensive...

Fucking please. He's only sorry it got him into so much dung. Or macaca as he would say.

[antonialee839]

55. Is this racist bastard still trying to squirm out of

his self made mess? What a disgusting piece of trash he is.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

57. Hey, Strom!!

I am the new voice of THE SOUTH. Stay in hell, you decaying old bastard, and take your friend, George Allen, along with you.

Signed; A Floridian and Conch from the Florida Keys

[Irreverend IX]

58. Backpedal all you want...

We know who you are.

[williesgirl]

59. I'm offended, white, and a VIRGINIA RESIDENT. You lose Felix!

Let's all work to defeat this asshole once and for all. He's an affront to the human race. He's only sorry since he's down in the polls.

[LibDemAlways]

60. So now he's claiming stupidity? Youthful rebellion?

Sorry, Felix, that won't wash.

The truth is Allen has never been very rebellious. He was quarterback of the high school football team. Went on to UCLA. Moved with his family to Virginia where he attended college and law school. Eventually got into politics and is today a US Senator. Rebel? Not so much.

Racist, yes. He knew exactly what message he was sending when he wore a Confederate flag pin for his high school yearbook photo. He knew exactly what he was doing when he sprayed "Die whitey" on the high school walls, hoping his classmates would blame black kids from a rival school and provoke tension. He knew what it meant to hang a noose from a tree. He certainly knew who Gen. Nathan Forrest was when he named his son after the early KKK Grand Wizard.

For Allen to stand there and lie his ass off to that group of black educators was disgusting. They should have walked out, but apparently good manners got the better of them and they afforded him "polite applause" - much, much more than he deserved.

The voters of Virginia will have the final say about returning this lying racist to the Senate. It will be to their very great credit if they, with a good, swift kick-in-the-ass, say "hell, no."

[DFW]

61. I spent much of my childhood in Virginia

...so I still feel a lot of roots there. I am sick and tired of
this embarrassment continuing to claim to speak for the people
of Virginia, much less have himself touted as presidential material.

President of the John Birch Society, maybe, but that's about it.

I heard that The Freedom Toast is preparing a great song about Allen.
I'll post a link if and when it is available.

[Disturbed]

62. Apologies are nice but they do not wipe away

the racism in a person's mind.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

63. "I'm losing and I can't get up(in the polls)!"

Calumny.