Help edit my LTTE re: George Allen (VA-Asshole)

[AlecBGreen]

Why are people accusing Jim Webb of "playing the race card" ? How can George Allen cry foul when he himself is the one slinging racial slurs? If I'm not mistaken it was Allen who brought this on himself when he called a man of Indian descent "macaca." When you also consider the fact that he displayed a noose and a confederate flag in his office and hangs out with the Council of Conservative Citizens (who called blacks the destroyers of civilization and Dr. Martin Luther King a "depraved miscreant") one begins to see a pattern. Now we hear stories from his teammates of Allen throwing around the N-word in college. Im beginning to see a pattern here, and its not becuse of Jim Webb's actions. It is because George Allen is beginning to show his true colors and the voters are finally catching on. Six years too late in my opinion, but better late than never. We can rectify our mistake by electing the right man this time - Jim Webb.

Alec Bauserman
Winchester, VA

[keta11]

1. Can you work Allen being against MLK holiday

in there somewhere. And also he started Confederate History month-fight for state rights.

[Onlooker]

3. God, what a pig he is

I knew he was bad, but not horrible. To think, someone like that was/is a possible contender President and is leading in the polls. That's really terrible.

[kenny blankenship]

5. One of the saddest things I've seen lately is Allen ahead in polls

after all that has come out about him, from former classmates and teammates but most of it out Allen's own racist, big mouth.
I really could't believe it. I'd been expecting him to all but drop out of the race based on collapsing polling numbers.

It's been a crushing reminder of the endemic racism of my native region. Although three weeks before a midterm isn't the best time to start a wide open debate on national elections strategies, Allen's mindboggling endurance in the face of a dozen disqualifying blows, is a very good occasion to point others to some considerations of a Southern-Free party strategy.

In the states of the Old Confederacy, whites vote Republican because "the blacks vote Democrat." Racism is a more or less permanent fixture of southern politics. There's no solution in the short and medium term but to plan to win around that, without the south.

[Onlooker]

6. Conservatives there don't care even a little about racism?

If you list all the racist things Allen has said or done, what's the response from a typical moderate or conservative?

[Onlooker]

2. One suggestion

I think you should return to the theme of playing the race card. I also shortened it, which is alway of utmost importance in LTTE:

Why are people accusing Jim Webb of "playing the race card" ? How can George Allen cry foul when he himself is the one slinging racial slurs? It was Allen who brought this on himself when he called a man of Indian descent "macaca" and when he displayed a noose and a confederate flag in his office. Plus, he spends time with a group that called blacks the destroyers of civilization and Dr. Martin Luther King a "depraved miscreant." When someone has that kind of history, it is not playing the race card to question their ethics and values. George Allen does not belong in Congress. We can rectify our mistake by electing the right man this time - Jim Webb.

[Divernan]

4. I suggest you not repeat phrase "beginning to see a pattern"

I've done a lot of editing. Your letter can be more succinct, and that makes it more forceful. Also, better not to use the pronoun "he" when you are discussing two men - make it clear to whom you're referring. And in referring back to an organization use the term "which", not "who". The changes I suggest start after "macaca.", as follows:

"When you also consider the facts that (1) Allen displayed a noose and a confederate flag in his office; (2) Allen hangs out with the Council of Conservative Citizens (which called blacks the destroyers of civilization and Dr. Martin Luther King a "depraved miscreant"); and (3) Allen's teammates from UVA remember him throwing around the N word in college -- an ugly racist pattern emerges. George Allen's actions reveal his true colors, and the voters are finally catching on."

Then conclude with the same last two sentences.