Tuesday, August 15, 2006
No Credibility at Richmond Times-Dispatch
In reading the Richmond Times-Dispatch spin on the latest recorded proof that Sen. George Allen is a racial bigot, the story goes on to frame the issue as one of misunderstood context and background.
You see, the "Allen staff had begun calling Sidarth "mohawk" because of his haircut. 'Macaca' was a variation of that," nothing more than that.
Now, never mind that as Raising Kaine points out, macaca means monkey and it is used as a racial slur in Europe. Hell, even Fox when reporting noted of the fact.
Moreover, the contextual paragraph in the Times-Dispatch story sure reads an awful lot like the words used in the front-page Washington Post story.
First the Times-Dispatch: "Kristian Denny Todd, a spokeswoman for Webb, said Sidarth thinks Allen was singling him out because his was the only nonwhite face in the audience."
The Washington Post: "Allen's campaign manager dismissed the issue with an expletive and insisted the senator has 'nothing to apologize for,' [and] did little to mollify Webb's campaign or Sidarth, who said he suspects Allen singled him out because his was the only nonwhite face among about 100 Republican supporters."
And finally, here's how Howling Latina noted that Mr. Sidarth was the only guy of color in the audience: "During a rally with Republican fat cats, Sen. George Allen went after the only guy who wasn’t white."
Plagiarism? Sloppy reporting? You decide... ...
You see, the "Allen staff had begun calling Sidarth "mohawk" because of his haircut. 'Macaca' was a variation of that," nothing more than that.
Now, never mind that as Raising Kaine points out, macaca means monkey and it is used as a racial slur in Europe. Hell, even Fox when reporting noted of the fact.
Moreover, the contextual paragraph in the Times-Dispatch story sure reads an awful lot like the words used in the front-page Washington Post story.
First the Times-Dispatch: "Kristian Denny Todd, a spokeswoman for Webb, said Sidarth thinks Allen was singling him out because his was the only nonwhite face in the audience."
The Washington Post: "Allen's campaign manager dismissed the issue with an expletive and insisted the senator has 'nothing to apologize for,' [and] did little to mollify Webb's campaign or Sidarth, who said he suspects Allen singled him out because his was the only nonwhite face among about 100 Republican supporters."
And finally, here's how Howling Latina noted that Mr. Sidarth was the only guy of color in the audience: "During a rally with Republican fat cats, Sen. George Allen went after the only guy who wasn’t white."
Plagiarism? Sloppy reporting? You decide... ...
// posted by Howling Latina @ 2:46 PM 
Comments:
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The Mohawk comment is the silliest yet. What Mohawk? As can be plainly seen from Siddarth's picture on Raising Kaine, there ain't no Mohawk hairdo.
I think the Occam's Razor piece, also in RK, is probably correct. The simplest explanation is that it was a derogatory remark that Allen made to an all white crowd that was meant to make the young Webb volunteer uncomfortable.
And it was racist. Sadly, it's possible that Allen learned the racist epithet at his French Tunisian mother's knee. Perhaps it was used around the house.
No proof, just speculation of course. But does it seem, logically, that far fetched?
Anyway, what about a bumper sticker: "George Felix Allen speaks French."
Or better yet, as my husband proposed: "Another Macaca for Webb."
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I think the Occam's Razor piece, also in RK, is probably correct. The simplest explanation is that it was a derogatory remark that Allen made to an all white crowd that was meant to make the young Webb volunteer uncomfortable.
And it was racist. Sadly, it's possible that Allen learned the racist epithet at his French Tunisian mother's knee. Perhaps it was used around the house.
No proof, just speculation of course. But does it seem, logically, that far fetched?
Anyway, what about a bumper sticker: "George Felix Allen speaks French."
Or better yet, as my husband proposed: "Another Macaca for Webb."
<< Home
