Yes, I thought that that remark, and Allen's angry reaction, were a graceless way of responding. His response should have been an appearance of polite interest in the question of genealogy. All Virginians are interested in genealogy and he would have offended no one if he said, "Really? How very fascinating. You appear to know more about it than I do, so I can't really give you an accurate answer. And at the moment, I don't have time to do genealogy research. But evidently you do, so why don't you look into it? I give you carte blanche to rsearch my family roots. It's not clear, of course, what possible bearing my ancestry can have on my present character--that seems the kind of idea we gave up here 200 years ago--but I'm sure that no matter what you come up with it will only underline my ability to serve the diverse people of Virginia." Heh heh heh. Turn the tables on the hypocrite questioner and show he's unflappable and more enlightened than she is.
But Allen can't/won't do that kind of thing. No, he won't be the next president. He loses his temper and he's a bull in a china shop.
Brilliant response. You should be a speechwriter.
I'm not sure if Allen is presidential timber, but I have to say I'm liking bulls in china shops these days -- as long as they're smart bulls.
There's too damn much pussy-footing going on in D.C.
And McCain doesn't?? Or Guiliani?? or Kerry?? Kennedy??
They're all human.
Ya know! it is really easy for someone on the outside looking in to say he should have said this or said that, when in reality no one replies perfectly.
You should check out his response to this -- it will explain to you clearly why he was indignant, and why he responded the way he did.
The reporter had just called his mother a racist, before the reporter asked THIS question.
Your servile acceptance of Post propaganda is disgusting.
He only found out that he had jewish ancestry a week or so ago... His mother had actually been secretive about it and her families horrible life during ww2.