Posted on 08/15/2006 6:05:43 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
A LEADING US Republican Senator has sparked a furore for his use of a pejorative term to refer to an Asian man of Indian descent, a US newspaper has reported.
The Washington Post reported that Senator George Allen, who is running for re-election to his Senate seat representing the southern state of Virginia, has apologised for what his opponent's campaign said were demeaning and insensitive comments.
In remarks on Friday at campaign rally in Virginia, Senator Allen reportedly referred to the Indian-American man - a volunteer with the Senate campaign of his Democratic opponent - as a "macaca".
Macaca is the Latin name for a type of monkey found in South-East Asia, and in some European cultures is considered a racial slur against African immigrants, the Post said.
Senator Allen appeared to take exception to the presence of the opposition party's young aide at his campaign event, the Post reported.
"This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great," the daily quoted the Senator as saying during a campaign stop, reporting that his supporters broke into laughter at the remark.
"Let's give a welcome to macaca, here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia," he was quoted as saying.
The Post identified the campaign worker as S.R. Sidarth, 20, a volunteer aide with the James Webb for US Senate campaign and native-born Virginian.
The daily reported that the opposition Webb campaign was highly critical of Senator Allen's remarks.
"The kid has a name," Webb communications director Kristian Denny Todd told the daily. "This is trying to demean him, to minimise him as a person."
Senator Allen told The Post that he did not realise that macaca had a pejorative meaning and apologised if his use of the word gave offence.
"I would never want to demean him as an individual. I do apologize if he's offended by that," said the senator, a former governor of Virginia.
"That was no way the point."
Mr Sidarth, who captured Senator Allen's remarked on a videocamera, told The Post he suspects the senator singled him out because he was the only non-Caucasian at the event attended by about 100 white Republican supporters.
"I think he was doing it because he could, and I was the only person of colour there, and it was useful for him in inciting his audience," said Mr Sidarth, who videotaped the event for the Webb campaign.
"I was annoyed he would use my race in a political context," he said.
Senator Allen is finishing up his first six-year Senate term and now hoping to be elected to a second one in November. His name is also on a short list as a possible Republican nominee for the 2008 presidential election.
Senator Allen's remark has become the talk of the political blogosphere, as well as the mainstream press, with pundits excoriating a lack of judgment in his choice of words, or worse.
In an editorial, The Post chided Allen not just for his use of the word macaca but for seeming to subscribe to "the idea that holding up minorities to public scorn in front of an all-white crowd will elicit chortles and guffaws".
The daily also questioned "the idea that a candidate for public office can say 'Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia!' to an American of Indian descent and really mean nothing offensive by it."
So seriously here; one can't say: "What a monkey!" When I use that word it is in reference to buffoon like behavior. I guess some people have thin skins.
I detest Geoge Allen but this seems overblown.
There was no insult in this ~ just a statement of fact ~ whether George meant it or not.
Could Allen just have been ignorant of the definition? My girlfriend is a shirttail relative of his, she's met him, and she is not impressed with his intelligence. Yes, she votes Republican...
Sen. Allen speaks Latin?
I have seen George Allen's name on short lists of possible Republican nominees for President.
What is there to "detest" about Mr. Allen? Do tell.
Better we find out now than in the midst of a 2008 Presidential run.
I think he was clearly referring to the late dance craze, the Macarena, and it came out wrong.
BTW why do you detest Allen? I know little about him but he's starting to get presidential play (maybe not after this) - what's the deal?
What is the South-East Asian name for a type of monkey found in South-East Asia?
He didn't even say that. Read the article (and I'd encourage you to find the video on YouTube). This is stupid on a grand scale.
George Bush -- problem: too dumb
George Allen -- problem: knows Latin.
We just can't win!!
BTW, I managed to find this guy's resume and student website (he's entering his senior year) on the web. Guess who he supported for pres. in 2004? Lieberman. Why? Strong on security.
It's seems like a small problem but the big picture says it's a bigger problem. I can't stand his sneer. Very much like Bubba's. Cocked eyebrow and that creepy droopy lip.
I'll never vote for him. And I don't think he'll ever be a contender.
Don't laugh but #17. It's a really creepy image thing.
Just a dumb nerdy kid. He likes sports and writes about the UVA sports for his school paper.
What? They didn't mention he was a fellow journalist? Huh. You'd think they would. (Not really.)
I am just loving how the Dems are reaching on this. (Oh and the whole "European slur" angle wasn't the first attack they made. They claimed he was referring to -- get this -- a Chinese Rhesus monkey.)
You decide to vote for people based on whether or not they have a droopy lip?
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