Not exactly.
No one told Allen the guy's name was "Macaca." That was the first story Wadhams tried to spin (and the first of many mistakes in the response).
Allen said the word, but was trying to crack a joke. He did not mean it as a racial slur. I know this for two reasons 1) I've known George Allen for over 20 years and know he's no racist, 2) In spite of the fact that he and his campaign made significant blunders last year, he's not stupid enough to stare into a camera and utter what he knew to be a racial slur.
All that being said, what did happen is that once the sleazoid campaign consultant got the video, he and his minions set about creating an Internet definition of "macaca." You can see that the definition did not appear on Wikipedia until August 16, after the event. Prior to that it was found only in some obscure medical dictionaries. Even The Washington Post, who ran over 300 articles on the word, admitted that no one really knew what it meant.
This was, from the beginning, and well prior to the macaca incident, an orchestrated smear campaign, and Hillary's prints are all over it.
IMHO, the Allen camp made their mistakes because they weren't prepared and were caught off guard. It's a story longer than I care to tell here, but some of his campaign regulars from over the years weren't there last year. Wadhams, as good as he is, knew neither Virginia nor Allen.
All that being said, Allen's coming back. And he'll be back stronger than ever. But it won't be for VP next year.
Thanks for the ping. George Allen is no racist, I agree. He was never an advocate for stronger borders either. I realize that isn’t important to some, but it’s very important to most of us. Unfortunately the people Fred is surrounding himself with fall into the “don’t really care about the borders’ catagory.
http://profiles.numbersusa.com/improfile.php3?DistSend=VA&VIPID=899
Allen:
Cosponsored legislation to increase H-2B workers who are present in the U.S. at any one time in 2006
Cosponsored bill to increase high-tech foreign-worker importation in 2006
Voted in favor of amendment to create additional guestworker visa categories in 2006
Voted on Senate floor to kill amendment to strike guestworker provisions from immigration bill 2006
Voted in favor of amendment to increase foreign-worker importation in 2005
Cosponsoring legislation to increase H-2B workers who are present in the U.S. at any one time in 2005-2006
Voted against amendment to fund additional immigration investigators in 2006
Voted against amendment to provide funding for additional Border Patrol and ICE agents in 2005
[snip]George Allen views illegal immigration as an election year issue, but not a priority otherwise. Allen’s record speaks for itself, and it all started in Allen’s first term as a Senator when he was supposed to introduce controversial conservative Linda Chavez for her confirmation hearing to be Secretary of Labor.
But, Allen’s friend Chavez withdrew her nomination after details of Chavez’s involvement with an illegal immigrant surfaced. Chavez housed and gave money to the immigrant in 1992 and 1993, and Allen rushed to Chavez’ defense saying “She was helping someone in need.” “Chavez, who lives in Purcellville in Loudoun County, donated at least $500 to Allen’s 2000 Senate campaign and she also held a fund-raising event for him.” Allen’s excuse for Chavez aiding an illegal immigrant is a far turn from Allen’s recent speeches that “We should not reward illegal behavior because doing so only encourages more illegal actions.” [Richmond Times Dispatch, 1/9/01; NHInsider, 1/25/06]
George Allen also called illegal immigration a “low priority” and has voted against tougher immigration laws. [Washington Post, 1/16/96]
• Since 2001 the number of illegal immigrants has increased from 8 million to 12 million. [National Center For Policy Analysis, 10/25/01; Pew Hispanic Center 3/7/06]
• Allen Voted Against Funding Additional Fencing Construction Along the Mexican Border and Against Greater Funding for Security Technologies. In 2006, Senator Allen voted against legislation that would have provided money for better, additional fencing construction along the Mexican border and security technology. It also would have set up a mandatory electronic employment verification process that would be phased in for all businesses within five years. Allen was in the minority of senators on this vote. [S 2454, Vote 90, on cloture, 4/7/06, Failed 36-62, D:2-41, R:34-20, I:0-1]
• Allen Voted Against $1.9 Billion For Border Patrol Vehicles, Aircraft and Border Security Stations. In 2006, Allen voted against adding $1.9 billion in funding for border patrol vehicles, aircraft, fencing and new stations as well as for Homeland Security Department personnel and Coast Guard border patrol efforts. [S. Amdt. 3604, Vote 95, 4/26/06, Rejected 44-54, D 41-1; R 2-53; I 1-0]
• Allen Voted Against Biometric Technologies for Border Security, and $350 Million in Funding for Overall Immigration Security Measures. In 2004, Allen voted against an increase in funding for immigration security measures by $350 million, including $200 million for biometric technologies. [HR 4567, Vote 182, 9/14/04, Failed 44-49, D: 40-5, R: 3-44, I: 1-0]
• Allen Sponsored “Permanent Guest Worker” Legislation. George Allen has repeatedly co-sponsored and voted for flawed guest worker legislation, such as increases in H1B and H2B guest worker visas.
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=16092