[twigs]

"I don't think that there's anyone who grew up around the South that hasn't had the word pass through their lips at one time or another in their life," Webb told reporters. Webb referred to his novel, "Fields of Fire," which aides said includes passages using the n-word as part of character dialogue. But he added: "I have never issued a racial or ethnic slur."

So, this is what this is about. It's Webb who is accurately accused of using a racial epithet (fair or not). So, to distract attention from THAT, dem forces go on the offensive for him to accuse Allen of it instead, which is completely unverified, as opposed to Webb's which is in print. And Webb is totally wrong. I grew up in Virginia in this era and went to UVA in the early 70's. I'm far from perfect, but I never, ever had that word "pass through my lips." We knew better.

[CobaltBlue]

Even though my parents were born in Mississippi, and raised their family in Louisiana, we just never used that word.

That word was used by "poor white trash," and rural whites from earlier generations. The rest of us said "negro", pronounced "Nee-grow", until the late 1960's, when we switched to "African American," and now "black."

George Allen is my age, and I can't imagine people behaving less politely at UVA than LSU.

[Howlin]

Good catch, twigs.