George "Macaca" Allen's Long History of Racism FYI

[LibDemAlways]

As far as I know I'm one of only two DUers who can corroborate that George Allen's racism is nothing new. In fact it goes back over 35 years to his days as a high school student in Palos Verdes Estates, CA.

So, for those of you for whom the George Allen "macaca" incident is an eye-opener into his character, let me provide a little background.

George was born in Whittier, CA in 1952. He grew up mostly in the California suburbs, except for a stint in the Chicago area when his father was head coach of the Chicago Bears. George entered Palos Verdes HS, in a wealthy community not far from LAX, in September of 1966. His father was head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, and the Allen family lived in a beautiful custom home modeled on a French chateau on an aptly named street called Via Panorama with a spectacular city/ocean view.

Because of his father's celebrity, everyone knew who George Allen was at Palos Verdes High. He kept a low profile the first couple of years, but as a senior began to hang out with a kid from Texas named Deke. Also as a senior he began to drive a Ford wagon to school with a Confederate flag license rim and other Confederate flag stickers. He and Deke posed for their senior portraits wearing Confederate flag pins on their lapels.

Palos Verdes is a conservative, republican area and back then the school was 99.9% caucasion. Everyone knew about Allen's apparent love of the Confederacy but just considered it an eccentricity. He became varsity QB senior year and dated one of the cheerleaders.

Palos Verdes HS had an exceptional basketball team that year, and made it into the league playoffs where a game against Morningside High was scheduled. Morningside was in a working class, predominently black area. Kids from Morningside lived a world away from the privileged PV students, and the PV kids tended to look down on those not from "the hill" as it was called locally.

The week of the game racist graffiti was spraypainted on the walls of Palos Verdes HS. It was anti-white (along the lines of "Die Whitey" "Fuck Whitey") intended to look like the work of Morningside students. Because the Morningside team name "Monarchs" was misspelled, and because of Allen's well-known bigotry, he was fingered almost immediately. He was forced to publically apologize over the school PA and was suspended for a time.

Allen went on to UCLA in the Fall of 70, and in 71 moved to Virginia when his dad became Redskins Coach.

Ryan Lizza of The New Republic wrote a well-researched, exhaustive article chronicling Allen's lifelong love of the Confederacy published last April called "Pin Prick." Well worth reading. Lizza interviwed classmates (though not me) who corroborated the graffiti story, as did a former school administrator. Lizza confronted Allen with the yearbook photo and the graffiti incident. He admitted the graffiti, but denied it was racist. He also admitted he was wearing a Confederate flag pin, but couldn't remember why. Said it might have something to do with "youthful rebellion." He said he couldn't remember the Confederate flag stickers on his car, but hedged his bets by saying they might have been there.

As an adult Allen went on to display a noose in his law office, and a Confederate flag on the living room of a cabin he owned. He proclaimed Confederate Heritage Month as Virginia Governor and opposed legislation honoring MLK. All of this is well documented in print.

"Macaca" is a telling slip-up by a guy who, until now, has kept up a veneer of respectibility in his political life. But it's part of a pattern - one going back decades - one that Jim Webb has a unique opportunity to explore and reveal.

Allen is a guy who enjoys slipping his racism under the radar. He named his only son Forrest. Gen. Nathan Forrest was a slave owning Confederate General responsible for atrocities against black union troops, and not coincidentally, an early Grand Wizard of the KKK. I have no doubt this wasn't a happy accident. This is the real George Allen, the one who had no problem insulting a young man of Indian descent in public, the one who scrawled "Die Whitey" on a school wall to incite racial tension, the one who has no business being a US Senator.

"Macaca" is a gift to Jim Webb. Let's see if he can put it to good use in the greater context of Allen's past.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your posting this information.

:thumbsup:

[LibDemAlways]

2. My pleasure.

As bad as "macaca" is, it's far from the whole story.

[liberaldemocrat7]

16. Attention photoshoppers.

In the senate they have a man named Senator Akaka from Hawaii. Someone get his picture and then get get Senator Allen's picture then place them next to each other with the title:


Senator Akaka Senator Macaca

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Allen is a goon and a coward.

The honorable thing do to would have been to apologize publicly about the macaca thing, like he was forced to do to the student body about the racist vandalism. However, he has no honor or dignity, and has chosen to make up lies instead.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

4. This Stuff Plays WELL To Their Base

He'll probably gain a few votes before this is all over.

Heck, I bet he could come out and admit that he said it intentionally, and meant it in a completely deragatory manner. He could even use the N word,, and he would still win the election.

It's getting to the point in this country where if you're in power, and you have friends in the important places, you can pretty much do or say anything, without reprecussions.

Maybe King george will give him a medal.

[fujiyama]

10. Sadly I think you're right

and that too, the one called a name was brown, making him a "terrorist" to many people.

[LibDemAlways]

11. "If you're in power....you can pretty much do or say

anything, without repercussions..."

Agree....if you're a Republican. If you're a Democrat, it's an entirely different story. Look at what happened to Clinton.

[Virginian]

26. He will lose more than he gained.

Please don't paint us all as racists.

[Botany]

5. I hope the graffiti story comes out.

What a punk.

[biscotti]

6. Racist and business fraud to boot . My ,my some history

From the Daily Muck http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001342.php#more
snip
Forget "Macaca"; What Does "Xybernaut" Mean? (Hint: Trouble)
Before his first Senate term began in 2000, George "Let's Welcome Macaca" Allen (R-VA) sat on the board of a curious high-tech startup called Xybernaut. While Allen was on Capitol Hill, the company imploded -- audits revealed the books were a mess, and the company was in the hole for many millions of dollars. Probes and/or suits have been launched by the SEC, the IRS, and Justice Department prosecutors; investors are suing. Its key execs, backers, even its financial underwriter have come under scrutiny, mostly for hijinks (including nonpayment of taxes) they committed while Allen was supposed to have been overseeing the operation -- and while his law firm billed over $300,000 in work for the company. (American Prospect)

My daughter lost 15 grand in this scam.

[LibDemAlways]

7. Thanks for the info. Doesn't surprise

me at all. Allen is as sleazy as they come. He has sealed divorce records, too. I'll bet wife #1 could tell some hair-raising tales, given his propensity for physical and emotional abuse as chronicled by his sister in her book.

At least "macaca" got some publicity. It's only the tip of the iceberg, though.

[arwalden]

8. I'll Nominate This Post...

:thumbsup: Good work.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Eh.

The people still denying Allen's a racist are the same kind of people who think there's nothing wrong with the confederate flag, think race-baiting via spraying "fuck whitey" is a high school prank, and think naming your kid after the KKK founder is quaint.

[KamaAina]

13. Maybe he named the kid after Forrest Gump

and think naming your kid after the KKK founder is quaint.

Hard to tell. Allen's as much of a dunce :dunce: as he is a bigot.

[LibDemAlways]

14. His two daughters, Tyler and Brooke, also

share names with prominent Confederates. Besides, Forrest was born before Forrest Gump was made.

[KamaAina]

18. Well, duh.

Forgot the :sarcasm: thingy. The point is: bigot = :dunce:

[LibDemAlways]

19. I was responding on the run...Missed the sarcasm..You are right.

He's dumb enough to have named his kid for Forrest Gump.

Note that one of the reasons he was caught in the graffiti incident was he misspelled the other team's name. Not the sharpest tool in the shed by a mile!!!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. The character "Forrest Gump" was named after the klansman.

I believe they included some Birth of the Nation footage in the movie.

[savemefromdumbya]

12. Allen is typical of what we have controlling Congress

thugs

[DeepModem Mom]

17. K&R #5!

[grannylib]

20. Just another spoiled little rich boy in office...just what we need...NOT

Damn, I miss Paul Wellstone!
Is there anyone left in Congress who is NOT rich, NOt well-connected, and who IS for the little guy/gal????

[Stinky The Clown]

21. This belongs in the research forum

This is important stuff and needs to stay where it can be found eaily.

[Virginia Dare]

22. Thanks for keeping the truth alive LibDemAlways...

I remember when we exchanged messages about this back last April. Now this incident occurs, which further illustrates the point, and makes it quite obvious that the leopard has not changed his spots.

He thought he was in his comfort zone, and he's such an idiot it didn't occur to him that he was staring right into a camera when he spoke those words. What an ass.

There is no question in my mind that George Allen is a true racist through and through. His refusal to own up to the truth of his statements, and instead making up these ridiculous lies speaks volumes about him. I would say the only lie more ridiculous than this one was when Bush claimed his face got all bruised up from choking on a pretzel and tripping over the dog.

:yourock:

[eleny]

23. There's nothing like a first hand, articulate account

Thanks so much for the details of his history as you know them. K&R

[Ioo]

24. Go Webb!

[rateyes]

25. I just e-mailed Webb's campaign

a link to your post.

[LibDemAlways]

30. Thanks. When the New Republic article

came out in April which chronicled not only Allen's racism, but also the abuse he heaped on his siblings as recounted by his sister in a 2000 book, Webb's comment was that it hit "below the belt." I hope after "macaca" he's willing to take a closer look and not be so quick to give Allen the benefit of the doubt.

[rateyes]

33. I used to live in VA....

my brother still does. My brother was a member of the Democratic Party in Charlottesville.
My S-I-L used to babysit George Allen's children. When the Dem party backed a candidate that my brother didn't personally like, he agreed to run the "Democrats for Allen" campaign. My brother has been preaching RW talking points ever since.

When Allen became Gov. my brother thought he would get "paid back" for his loyalty. Allen didn't even look his way for any kind of political appointment. A friend of mine worked at the Governor's mansion in VA for several governors as a person who oversaw special events at the mansion...did it for Wilder and the Republican before him....

Allen fired her the day he took office and gave the job to a young girl just out of college who needed a job...sending my friend to the unemployment office for a time.

Allen is an asshat who hasn't got a loyal bone in his body. IMO, my brohter got what he deserved for backing that fool...and, yet still sings his damned praises.

Can't stand that idiot Allen.

[underpants]

27. Thanks

:thumbsup:

[theHandpuppet]

28. Reposting some links

Yesterday I posted this on another thread but it bears repeating here.

http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/000192.htm
Past presidential aspirant Ashcroft is joined by future 2008 GOP hopeful, Virginia Senator George Allen. Allen, who in 2005 co-sponsored a resolution apologizing for the Senate's past use of the filibuster against anti-lynching legislation in the 1920's, displayed a Confederate flag and a noose at his home. While governor of Virginia, Allen declared "Confederate Heritage Month" and branded the NAACP an extremist group."

Some contend Allen's son "Forrest" was named for the Confederate General and founder of the KKK, Nathan Bedford Forrest: http://www.prospect.org/weblog/2006/05/post_281.html

Allen's long association with neo-confederate groups: http://www.templeofdemocracy.com/presidentialcandidates2008.htm

Now what is Bob Novak doing at a gathering of neoconfederates? And here's ole Pat Robertson on the cover of Southern Partisan magazine, and a photo of General Ricardo Sanchez, who was in command during the prison abuse in Iraq, with neoconfederate pals. WTF??? http://www.confederate.org/newsletter/2004news/newsletter_09-01-04.html

(From 2002)
Columnist Jeff E. Schapiro in the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch examined the record of freshman Sen. George Allen, R-Va., saying that "Allen's history, as a private citizen and a public official, is replete with utterances and actions that enflamed racial sensitivities." http://www.maynardije.org/columns/dickprince/021223_prince/

George Allen and his racist GOP cohorts: http://archive.democrats.com/preview.cfm?term=Republican%20Racism
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/01/straight_talk_t.html

Keep track of the neo-confederate infiltration of our govt here! http://newtknight.blogspot.com/ and at the website of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

[LibDemAlways]

29. Thanks for this. I never knew about Allen's

"Gods and Generals" cameo - with Forrest, no less. That deserves its own thread. I'm e-mailing all those links to the Webb campaign. Thanks!

[K8-EEE]

31. Oh So Excellent....THANKS K&R ONE MORE TIME!

Under the radar racist good and outed....love you and love DU!

[Scriptor Ignotus]

32. link to "Pin Prick" by Ryan Lizza

http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20060508&s=lizza050806

[countingbluecars]

34. Thanks for the info.

I will pass it on.

[KoKo]

35. Allen's Mother is French, Jewish and Tunisian....link from a post of mine

which I put your comments out there but couldn't remember your DU Handle to do the propert attribution/credit.

here's the link with some interesting comments:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2783412

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

36. So, if his mother is Jewish, he is Jewish, according to Jewish law

(religion of the child is determined by the religion of the mother. I understand the reason behind this being that the maternity can not be denied while paternity can (this, of course, was before paternity tests?!).

[cosmicdot]

37. as Governor ...

He spoke to the 1996 delegates to Virginia Girls' State at Longwood (University) in Farmville, VA ... I happened to see a write-up, and the article told of questions asked by delegates.

One delegate asked him what was he doing "to ensure that the gay community is guaranteed the same rights, such as marriage, as the heterosexual community.

His reply caused me to write a (published) letter to the editor.

Allen replied: "Well, I'm not doing anything because I don't believe in how they should be given some special preference because of their sexual orientation."

My letter posed the Girl Stater's question and quoted Jefferson and Madison as how they might have answered the question, i.e.,

In his inaugural address as President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, said "...that the minority possesses their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression. Let us, then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind".

James Madison may have answered the question with his belief in the "diversity of the faculties of men" and that the "protection of those faculties is the first object of government."

I, then, wrote how Allen answered the question (see above).

I defined a 'do-nothing' as someone without ambition or initiative, and asked if this was the type of leadership we wanted to inspire in our youth:

... in Farmville, the heart of Virginia, Birthplace of a Nation ... Mother of Presidents, we have ... Governor (Allen) telling the future leaders of our Commonwealth and Nation, that he isn't doing anything.

I tied in my ancestors who had arrived in Jamestown c. 1700 and related how they had experienced some of the world's worst-known punishment ... noting they didn't want any special preference ... they only wanted to worship according to their religious orientation.

Ended by posing this:

If you were my ancestor ... who would you hope to be greeting you, and leading you, when you first stepped foot on the land of your dreams, the land that would provide the freedom to worship in your own preference or orientation, ... Governor (Allen) or the Girl Stater who asked him the question?


If our politicians would make use of our Founding Principles and history, etc., in challenging the Republicans, it might help.

Allen likes to describe himself as a 'Jeffersonian' Republican.

To quote JFK in a 1960 campaign speech making fun of Nixon's claim that the Democratic Party did not adhere to the principles of Thomas Jefferson:

"A contemporary described Thomas Jefferson as a gentleman of 32 who could calculate an eclipse, survey an estate, tie an artery, plan an edifice, try a cause, break a horse, dance the minuet and play the violin ...what does he have in common with Richard Nixon?"

[globalvillage]

38. And violence

according to his sister.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/08/16/gop-senator-george-allen_n_27382.html