Another Side of Allen

It's been quite a month for Sen. George Allen, looking to represent Virginia for another six years. While he's tried to discuss a comprehensive Energy Strategy and his National Innovation Act education plan, he has been beset by a barrage of negative attacks driven by his opponents. After the latest smear, several black church leaders rose to his defense. Bishop Gerald Glenn, who opposes Allen on the Iraq war and other issues, said, "I think what's happening is character assassination, blatant and unparalleled." The Rev. Martin Brown added: "We should be focusing on the issues instead of focusing on character assassination."

It is encouraging to see former teammates, community leaders, clergy, and even a respected Senate Democrat vouch for Allen. But lost in the mud is an interesting glimpse into the kind of man Allen really is.

This past month Allen discovered his Jewish heritage -- a secret that his mother kept from him, her family, and the world for her entire married life. But the story of how that secret came to light provides a more revealing view of Allen than the secret itself. His mother told the story to the Washington Post last week.

Etty Allen's father, Felix Lumbroso, was imprisoned by the Nazis during WWII. She says, "What they put my father through. I always was fearful." Her family moved to America, where she met and married George Allen. They decided to keep her former religion a secret -- "He didn't want me to tell his mother. At that time, that was a no-no, to marry outside the church."

They lived their lives, raised a family, and never found a good time to "come clean." Those who have lived with family secrets know the problem isn't the secret, it's explaining why you kept it for so long.

Her husband died in 1990, and she was left with her children. Now 83 years old, she was resigned to take this secret to her grave, afraid of what her children might think of her if she told them -- "When I told Georgie, I said, 'Now you don't love me anymore.' He said, 'Mom, I respect you more than ever.' "

With Allen a public figure, her secret was in danger. People, especially Allen's political enemies, were digging around in her past, trying to find dirt to throw around. This summer rumors were circulated on left-wing web pages about Allen's "Jewish" past, and how they could use it against him. Webb staffers suggested he was ashamed of being Jewish, and his supporters wouldn't like it. In truth, his mother told him she was raised Christian, and he believed her.

But in late August, she told him the truth -- "We sat across the table and he said, 'Mom, there's a rumor that Pop-pop and Mom-mom were Jewish and so were you,'" she recounts. But she made him promise not to tell anybody else, even his own family -- "I said, well, I just didn't want anyone to know. I had said, 'Please don't tell your brothers and sister and your wife.' "

But I said this was about Allen, not about his mother being "outed" by the left in their attempts to discredit her son. See, August was when the "macaca" story was raging. You would think Allen would do anything to change the subject. What better way than a press conference announcing he just found out he had a Jewish heritage, and was proud of it? The questions about him "hiding" it would be answered, and "macaca" would be history.

But Allen didn't do that. A simple political act that would likely seal the election for him, and he refused. Why? Because his mother asked him to keep her private life private. Instead of telling the world, he kept quiet as the rumors and attacks continued.

But at last Monday's debate, a reporter offensively asked "whether your forebearers include Jews." Allen forcefully deflected the question, trying to protect his mother, but his opponents attacked him for being "upset" at being asked.

His mother couldn't take it anymore, and released him from his promise. He acknowledged and embraced his heritage. And proved both that he is not anti-Semitic, and that he values family, trust, and keeping his word more than his own political career. And that is the kind of man I want as my Senator.

This all sounds fine, but it still feels like he is embarassed in being from jewish heritage. I mean, who cares? Jesus was a jew. Allen could have made it a big plus, but instead made it a distraction.

Reporter: We hear you come from jewish heritage.
Allen: Yes, as did Jesus. And I was raised as a Christian. Next question.

Good on Allen! Great article.

"But in late August, she told him the truth -- "We sat across the table and he said, 'Mom, there's a rumor that Pop-pop and Mom-mom were Jewish and so were you,'" she recounts. But she made him promise not to tell anybody else, even his own family -- "I said, well, I just didn't want anyone to know. I had said, 'Please don't tell your brothers and sister and your wife.'"

-----Don't really get the "Please don't tell your brothers and sister and your wife. But I don't know why his mom would still be ashamed to discuss it.

" What better way than a press conference announcing he just found out he had a Jewish heritage, and was proud of it? The questions about him "hiding" it would be answered, and "macaca" would be history. But Allen didn't do that. A simple political act that would likely seal the election for him, and he refused. Why? Because his mother asked him to keep her private life private. Instead of telling the world, he kept quiet as the rumors and attacks continued."

There is no privacy in politics. Besides, is this the author's rationale or Allen's.

Regardless of the cycle of events, he has worse problems on his hands with the rumors of animal heads in mailboxs and supposedly using the n-word regularly, which alot of people probably did growing up in the South as a young kid or young man. Now a days, the N-word is used regularly in black conversation. I wonder if any black politician has ever used it? Where is the outrage.

Allen needs to make a couple of concise statements and move on from this tar baby. oops.

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