Off-hand remark by senator causes flap

AP via CNN ^ | 8/15/2006

[markomalley]

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- A volunteer of Indian descent working for Democrat Jim Webb's U.S. Senate campaign said Monday he felt insulted when Sen. George Allen called him a name that sounded like "Macaca" during a rally in western Virginia.

S.R. Sidarth, 20, spent last week following Allen's "listening tour" and filming the appearances for the Webb campaign, which distributed a video clip of Friday's appearance to reporters.

"This fellow over here with the yellow shirt -- Macaca or whatever his name is -- he's with my opponent," Allen said. "He's following us around everywhere."

Macaca is a term associated with a species of monkeys.

"This is not something we knew," said Allen campaign spokesman Dick Wadhams.

The name also could be spelled Makaka, which is a city in South Africa.

[markomalley]

They will use this and use this and use this for all it's worth...

[Coop]

It's not worth much

[areafiftyone]

CHECK OUT THIS PREVIOUS POST FROM YESTERDAY Sen. Allen's Remarks Spark Ire (Democrats using Race Card Again!)

[Bahbah]

This is laughable.

[SittinYonder]

ROFLOL ... Who would've thought, after reading Born Fighting, that Webb would allow such a sissy to volunteer for his campaign? Imagine, a 20-year-old whose feelings get hurt over a little name calling. Good grief.

[xcamel]

what morons... they are macaque monkeys.

[Iowa Granny]

Perhaps this dude should quit stalking Senator Allen.

These moles the opposition sends out to each and every campaign event shouldn't expect to be welcomed with open arms.

[dead]

He should have called him a macaca suca.

[subterfuge]

So why is the Indian following his campaign around?

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

And, prior to signing on with the Webb campaign, S.R. Sidarth's first job was pumping gas in St. Louis for M. Gandhi.

[RexBeach]

Above the fold in the Wash. Post this morning!

Where is the Joe Biden remark, by comparison? Nowhere...man.

[BigSkyFreeper]

It doesn't have the oomph of calling some reporter a major league a-hole.

[SoFloFreeper]

And, prior to signing on with the Webb campaign, S.R. Sidarth's first job was pumping gas in St. Louis for M. Gandhi.

Hey, good line. Send that one to Hillary. ;-)

[areafiftyone]

I agree. But Allen on the other hand should be careful. Because of his background he's a target for the Dems. He shouldn't give them any fodder. I personally think this whole thing is ridiculous and blown way out of proportion.

[decimon]

No, no, that was "malaka."

[BigSkyFreeper]

So why is the Indian following his campaign around?

It says in the article. He was filming footage to use in Webb campaign ads. Now he's just an offended 20 year old liberal. Liberals have been offensive since as far back as I can remember, and have never been called on it, by the media.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

The use of the term "felt insulted" by a tool of the evil socialists insults me and my people! I demand the volunteer of Indian descent apologise immediately! I demand reparations!

[subterfuge]

Thanks BigSky. I should have read the rest of the story.

[Bigg Red]

I hope to heck Allen's campaign does not back down and apologize for this. The Rats will try to turn anything into a racial issue. It's a good thing Allen didn't refer to any "black clouds".

Sidarth says that the name refers to monkeys in Hispanic culture. What has that got to do with anything? Allen's not Hispanic and he's not Hispanic!

Amybody got a picture of the hairdo?

[JCEccles]

"Macaca" has reference to monkeys?

Maybe they mean "macaque"?

Maybe Webb's campaign staff is just a bunch of loathsome race-baiting leftists aided and abetted by an equally loathsome race-baiting lamestream media.