From www.libertycall.us
A political analyst turns partisan hack. Why is this coming up now?
A noted political scientist joined one of Sen. George Allen's former college football teammates in claiming the senator used a racial slur to refer to blacks in the early 1970s, a claim Allen dismisses as ''ludicrously false.''
Larry J. Sabato, one of Virginia's most-quoted political science professors and a classmate of Allen's in the early 1970s, said in a televised interview Monday that Allen used the epithet. – AP
What gives with Sabato? He is a well-respected political analyst, known for his unbiased and honest scrutiny of issues, campaigns, and candidates. Has he sold out? Has he succumbed to his own bias in favor of one candidate over the other? Why has he chosen this moment to recall an unfavorable incident regarding Senator George Allen – five weeks before the election?
It isn’t like Allen is an unknown newcomer to the political process. According to Allen’s biography, Allen ran for Congress in 1991 in a special election, then for governor in 1993, then for the Senate in 2000. Why didn’t Sabato bring up his accusation during one of those campaigns? Why is Sabato just now vaguely remembering an incident that happened thirty years ago? Is Sabato overtly or covertly trying to undermine Allen in order to help opponent James Webb? Did Webb’s campaign put Sabato up to this?
I don’t know what Sabato’s motivation is in trying to smear Allen with an alleged racial slur that might have occurred back when Sabato and Allen were in college. But this whole incident has the stench of gutter-level politics, the kind of attacks that evidence a severe lack of intelligent issues on which to promote your favorite candidate. I don’t know if Webb’s campaign put Sabato up to this, or even if Webb is aware of any deliberate attempt to smear Allen. But if Webb has any scruples, he will distance himself quickly and loudly from Sabato’s intemperate remarks.
And Sabato can say goodbye to his reputation as an honest, unbiased, respected political analyst. -- L
Sabato now admits that he never witnessed, or heard about, any such thing -- until an email he received a couple of weeks ago (which he forwarded to the media). His rationalization is that the "context" seems credible, therefore it MUST be true. What a maroon.
Is Sabato overtly or covertly trying to undermine Allen in order to help opponent James Webb?
Larry Sabato has long made it clear whom he supports, regardless of his "nonpartisan" moniker:
"Jim Webb is George Allen's worst nightmare: a war hero and a Reagan appointee who holds moderate positions," says Sabato. "Allen tries to project a Reagan aura, but Webb already has it." --(University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato, Time.com article 7 May 2006)
Sabato was also a former activist with the Virginia Democratic Party in the 1970s. Not exactly unbiased, do you think?