WAAAAAAAAAAllen gaffe may have cost G-O-P the Senate

[radfringe]

WAAAAAAAAAAllen gaffe may have cost G-O-P the Senate
http://www.wluctv6.com/Global/story.asp?S=5655622&nav=81AX

RICHMOND, Va. Did one word cost Republicans a Senate majority?

If so, that word may have been "macaca."

Until Virginia Senator George Allen used that word to refer to a campaign volunteer for rival Jim Webb -- a volunteer of Indian descent -- Allen had been expected to cruise to a second Senate term, as a warmup for a White House run in 2008. Instead, he's now lost that race to Webb, by a narrow margin.

Soon after the incident, it became clear that "macaca" is regarded by some as a racial slur.

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is there room enough under that bus for another GOPer?

[wryter2000]

1. Where's my tiny violin?

:nopity:

Like that one word sunk him. Yeah, sure. The deer's head in the mailbox and all his teammates saying he used the N word. His sister's book about how he's a bully. None of those had any effect.

Plus, the fact that everyone in the freaking country is sick of Republicans means nothing.

[slestak]

5. but "macaca" is the word that really put the magnifying glass on this senate race. n/t

[wisteria]

2. I doubt it. I think it was a combination of everything.

It is actually a little far fetched to blame a loss or a win on a gaff,imo.

[sdfernando]

3. I agree that it was a combination of factors.

However, I do believe that the "macaca" incident was the catalyst to bring a lot of his racial views to light. So in that respect it did cause Allen to lose.

[LostinVA]

11. Definitely the tipping point

And, their response (ie lies lies and more lies) to the incident really kept it in NATIONAL news for well over a week.

[Cameron27]

4. I think the fact that he used "macaca"

defines him quite well.

[Mr_Spock]

6. Mmmmm, the irony is delicious!

There are times when it is most satisfying to see good win out over evil...

[Arugula Latte]

7. I find it amazing

The person who was charged with documenting Allen gaffes was the subject of a huge, huge Allen gaffe and probably did cost the imperial wizard his Senate seat. Allen was used to his white, racist bubble and had not internalized the power of The Internets and The Google and The Youtube.

[mikeytherat]

8. The one word that cost it all for the GOP was NOT "macaca" but "Bush"

Bush. That is the reason the GOP lost. They can try to pin the blame anywhere they want, but the 200 pound elephant in the room is G. W. Bush.

mikey_the_rat

[KharmaTrain]

9. It Was His Denials That Did It...

When the Macaca crap came out, his knee-jerk CYA reaction was to do what he's always done and gotten away with...lie. First he denied the word had any meaning, then said he denied his hertiage...this wouldn't be the first time.

IMHO, his biggest gaffe was his denial of his Jewish background. He not only tried to deny he knew of his family's religious history (and knowledge that his own grandfather had been in a consentration camp...I still can't believe he said that shit) but appeared defensive...as if being associated with Judiasm was bad and shameful. It pointed out the measure of the man...it amplified his racist leanings and he never regained momentum afterwards.

The old saying is victory has 1,000 winners while defeat walks alone. Allen would make a convenient scapegoat as his political career is now over and will serve others to play the blame game.

Somewhere in Virginia, Chuck Robb is having a good snicker.

[Bucky]

10. Well, shit, if voters are gonna be that sensitive, then why should the GOP pander to racists at all?

You liberals are taking all the fun out of cynical race-baiting politics that Republican have enjoyed for so long.
What a bunch of buzzkills.

[Virginia Dare]

12. Maybe the GOP will stop running racist assholes then....n/t

[Zynx]

13. It certainly set things in motion.

Before Allen decides to use a racial slur on someone holding a videocamera: Allen up 14+ points.

After Allen decides to use said racial slur: Tailspin down to even-to-losing margins in polls. Didn't happen right away, but if you graph it out, you can certainly blame "macaca".

Losing an incumbent Senate seat takes some doing.