WP
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/24/AR2006082401420.html?nav=rss_politicsAnother Day, Another Dozen Apologies From Sen. Allen
By Dana Milbank
Friday, August 25, 2006; Page A02
HARRISONBURG, Va., Aug. 24 Sorry, but will Sen. George Allen please stop apologizing?
Since calling an Indian American man a type of monkey earlier this month, the Virginia Republican has apologized in two speeches, on Sean Hannity's radio show, in a phone call to the young man himself, in at least seven media interviews and in several statements from his campaign showing varying levels of contrition.
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Yet Allen tiptoed around the issues of the day as he spoke to the local chamber of commerce. There was no mention of Iraq or the Middle East, not a word about terrorism and national security, and barely a mention of President Bush. And, addressing another all-white crowd, he labored to avoid even the hint of another macaca moment.
"We graduate 70,000 engineers every year; one-third are from another country," Allen said, before adding quickly: "Which is just fine."
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The event was part of Allen's "listening tour," but when a local television reporter, during question time, called out, "Senator Allen, are you worried --," Allen recoiled as the chamber president, Kathy Welsh, intervened. "I'm sorry, we're not taking questions from the media," she announced. "This is for members of the chamber of commerce." This was followed by an awkward silence; because no chamber member had a question, Welsh asked one of her own.
Minutes later, another questioner said he was from WVPT, and Allen, fearing another reporter, cried out, "No, no."