Wow, that must mean that I'm somehow clairvoyant, because I knew EXACTLY what the word was (and how it was meant) the minute I saw the tape.
If I get a hit on tonight's lottery numbers, I'll give you a heads up.
Allen said something stupid. It wasn't some made-up word that popped into his head. He knew it to be a racially pejorative term, and used it that way. His denial rang decidedly hollow.
First, let's just be clear that y'all can't throw any explanations out on this that I haven't heard. But I've known George Allen for more than 25 years. I know where the word came from. I know where his mother was raised. I've even met most of his family. And I know the real story of what happened.
I promised myself after 2006 that I wouldn't fight that battle again here. But let me just say this.
Whether or not the word was in his background he did not intend it as a "racially pejorative" term. If nothing else, someone with a successful career of more than 20 years in politics and law is not going to be stupid enough to utter the equivalent of the n-word into a video camera.
It was, as Allen has said, a stupid mistake. And it was badly handled by the campaign.
That's the story. That's the truth.
I suggest you not buy too many lottery tickets.