"I don't know what it means, but I know I don't like it." - Big Big Forums

Jolie Rouge · 08-15-2006, 04:48 PM

"I don't know what it means, but I know I don't like it."
By Karol Sheinin · August 15, 2006 03:12 PM

Senator George Allen got into some trouble this week after referring to a campaign aide of his opponent as "macaca". As the aide is of Indian descent, there was much speculation about what Allen meant: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,208426,00.html

Quote:

A video clip of the rally shows Allen calling Sidarth a name that sounded like "Macaca" — a term associated with a species of monkeys or a city in South Africa. Later in the clip he welcomed Sidarth to America and "the real world of Virginia."

Allen's campaign says the name was intended to be a variation of "Mohawk." That's the nickname campaign staffers gave Sidarth because of his hair, which is cropped closely on the sides. And the campaign says Allen called attention to Sidarth simply to welcome him to a place in Virginia that Webb has never been to and probably will never visit.

The explanation is obviously meaningless to those who practice professional outrage: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...081400589.html

Quote:

Steve Mukherjee, a spokesman for the Washington chapter of the Association of Indians in America, said Allen's comments were "hurtful," and he chided the senator for not being more sensitive. "The world is so volatile and so delicate," Mukherjee said. "You have to be careful what you say and how you say it. The U.S. is no longer black and white."

Here's the kicker, though (via Rich Lowry): http://corner.nationalreview.com/pos...E2YTQzMzAyOTg=

Quote:

Asked what macaca means, Mukherjee said: "What it means, I don't know. But it's going to cause him some grief."

When in doubt about a word's meaning, children, don't look it up in the dictionary or google it, instead become indignant and let your ignorance overpower all rational thought. Only then can you reach the upper echelon of the professional outrage circuit. www.cnn.com/US/9902/04/dc.word.flap

Good luck.

Jolie Rouge · 08-16-2006, 06:25 PM

Senator denies remark was racist
Allen: Name for opponent's volunteer not meant to be derogatory
By Mark Preston and Andrea Koppel -- CNN Washington Bureau
Wednesday, August 16, 2006

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. George Allen denies a remark he made to describe an opponent's campaign worker was racially charged, saying in a statement that the media misunderstood his comments.

The Virginia Republican called S.R. Sidarth, a volunteer on Democrat Jim Webb's campaign, "Macaca" on two occasions during an event Friday in Breaks, a town in Virginia's southwest corner near the Kentucky border.

Macaca is a genus of monkeys, including the rhesus monkey. The senator's campaign said that Allen did not know that "Macaca" refer to monkeys. (Watch Allen refer to Sidarth as "Macaca" -- 2:32)

In an e-mail to political supporters Monday, the Webb campaign questioned whether Allen had used a racial slur to describe Sidarth, an American of Indian descent.

Sidarth was filming Allen, a standard campaign practice that opponents often use for research purposes, as the senator campaigned throughout the state for a second term. He captured Allen's comments on camera, and the Webb campaign provided a link to the video in its e-mail.

"This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is," said Allen, who at times pointed directly at the camera. "He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great."

After suggesting Webb has not visited many parts of the state as well as criticizing his opponent for meeting with "a bunch of Hollywood movie moguls," the senator turned back to the camera and addressed Sidarth.

"Let's give a welcome to Macaca, here," Allen said. "Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."

In a four-paragraph statement issued Tuesday, Allen said, "In singling out the Webb campaign's cameraman, I was trying to make the point that Jim Webb had never been to that part of Virginia -- and I encouraged him to bring the tape back to Jim and welcome him to the real world of Virginia and America, outside the Beltway, where he has rarely visited.

"I also made up a nickname for the cameraman, which was in no way intended to be racially derogatory. Any insinuations to the contrary are completely false."

Allen said it "was certainly not my intent" to offend anyone by the remark.

"On every stop on my listening tour, I have talked about one of my missions for this country -- to make it a land of opportunity for all," Allen said. "I have worked very hard in the Senate to reach out to all Americans -- regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity or gender. And I look forward to continuing to advocate this important mission for America's future."

As for Sidarth, Allen said, "I never want to embarrass or demean anyone, and I apologize if my comments offended this young man. Even though he has signed onto my opponent's campaign, I look forward to seeing him on the trail ahead."

In an interview with CNN before Allen released his statement, Sidarth said he had introduced himself to the senator days before he made the remark.

"He was doing that because he could, because he could get away with it," Sidarth said. "I think he was just trying to, trying to point out the fact that I was a person of color, in a crowd that was not otherwise."

Sidarth later said he did not view Allen's statement as an adequate apology. "First of all, if he is going to single me out in a crowd of 100 people, he ought to apologize to me personally," Sidarth said.

Webb campaign manager Jessica Vanden Berg added, "From my perspective, if a U.S. senator wanted to directly apologize to somebody, he would do so. Sidarth has not been apologized to."

Vanden Berg said Webb's "family and roots are in southwestern Virginia," and he has lived in Falls Church "for a number of years."

During the Senate campaign, she said, he has traveled extensively throughout the state. "So to say that Jim doesn't know Virginia is a lie," she said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/...eer/index.html

Jolie Rouge · 08-16-2006, 06:28 PM

Senator denies remark was racist
Allen: Name for opponent's volunteer not meant to be derogatory
By Mark Preston and Andrea Koppel -- CNN Washington Bureau
Wednesday, August 16, 2006

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. George Allen denies a remark he made to describe an opponent's campaign worker was racially charged, saying in a statement that the media misunderstood his comments.

The Virginia Republican called S.R. Sidarth, a volunteer on Democrat Jim Webb's campaign, "Macaca" on two occasions during an event Friday in Breaks, a town in Virginia's southwest corner near the Kentucky border.

Macaca is a genus of monkeys, including the rhesus monkey. The senator's campaign said that Allen did not know that "Macaca" refer to monkeys. (Watch Allen refer to Sidarth as "Macaca" -- 2:32)

In an e-mail to political supporters Monday, the Webb campaign questioned whether Allen had used a racial slur to describe Sidarth, an American of Indian descent.

Sidarth was filming Allen, a standard campaign practice that opponents often use for research purposes, as the senator campaigned throughout the state for a second term. He captured Allen's comments on camera, and the Webb campaign provided a link to the video in its e-mail.

"This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is," said Allen, who at times pointed directly at the camera. "He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great."

After suggesting Webb has not visited many parts of the state as well as criticizing his opponent for meeting with "a bunch of Hollywood movie moguls," the senator turned back to the camera and addressed Sidarth.

"Let's give a welcome to Macaca, here," Allen said. "Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."

In a four-paragraph statement issued Tuesday, Allen said, "In singling out the Webb campaign's cameraman, I was trying to make the point that Jim Webb had never been to that part of Virginia -- and I encouraged him to bring the tape back to Jim and welcome him to the real world of Virginia and America, outside the Beltway, where he has rarely visited.

"I also made up a nickname for the cameraman, which was in no way intended to be racially derogatory. Any insinuations to the contrary are completely false."

Allen said it "was certainly not my intent" to offend anyone by the remark.

"On every stop on my listening tour, I have talked about one of my missions for this country -- to make it a land of opportunity for all," Allen said. "I have worked very hard in the Senate to reach out to all Americans -- regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity or gender. And I look forward to continuing to advocate this important mission for America's future."

As for Sidarth, Allen said, "I never want to embarrass or demean anyone, and I apologize if my comments offended this young man. Even though he has signed onto my opponent's campaign, I look forward to seeing him on the trail ahead."

In an interview with CNN before Allen released his statement, Sidarth said he had introduced himself to the senator days before he made the remark.

"He was doing that because he could, because he could get away with it," Sidarth said. "I think he was just trying to, trying to point out the fact that I was a person of color, in a crowd that was not otherwise."

Sidarth later said he did not view Allen's statement as an adequate apology. "First of all, if he is going to single me out in a crowd of 100 people, he ought to apologize to me personally," Sidarth said.

Webb campaign manager Jessica Vanden Berg added, "From my perspective, if a U.S. senator wanted to directly apologize to somebody, he would do so. Sidarth has not been apologized to."

Vanden Berg said Webb's "family and roots are in southwestern Virginia," and he has lived in Falls Church "for a number of years."

During the Senate campaign, she said, he has traveled extensively throughout the state. "So to say that Jim doesn't know Virginia is a lie," she said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/...eer/index.html

Basicly it seems he didn't remember the guy's name and made one up or something.... Guess no one else has ever had a brain cramp.

girlwithsoul · 08-16-2006, 07:01 PM

I don't think this man had a brain fart on that man's name....and if he did why didn't he say something more appropriate like "The young man in the yellow shirt over there"....seriously. Allen will feel the backlash again George W. harder than any other Republican running right now. And unfortunately for Allen, he can't blame his remarks on being drunk like Mr. Gibson.

Also, why did you include a link in your original post from 1999???

stresseater · 08-16-2006, 09:48 PM

Maybe it was used to give another example of people not trying to find out what the words used mean. Another good example would have been the black lady who was offended because a flight attendant used enie meenie miney moe. It's just another example of political correctness running amok.

tngirl · 08-16-2006, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stresseater

Maybe it was used to give another example of people not trying to find out what the words used mean. Another good example would have been the black lady who was offended because a flight attendant used enie meenie miney moe. It's just another example of political correctness running amok.

Geez! When we were kids we always did the eenie meenie miney moe thing. But, we used catch a chicken by the toe. To this day I still say it with no derogatory intent. I guess from now on I need to use the complete sentence so I will be PC.

freeby4me · 08-17-2006, 09:02 AM

My grandma used to say "Hey Ho" all the time like for "Hello" until someone took offense one day at work (Lady thought she was calling her a bad name LOL) SO she couldnt do that anymore.......Just goes to show you one word can have different meanings.......

Jolie Rouge · 08-17-2006, 12:20 PM

Compare the "outrage" over this bit of stupidity to another incident that happened last year - which received very little attention from the MSM.

Steele Asks For Apology From Howard Dean
Lt. Gov. Takes Issue With New DNC Chair's 'Racist' Joke
February 16, 2005

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Lt. Gov. Michael Steele is calling for an apology from Howard Dean, the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Steele took issue with Dean for telling what Steele described as a "racist" joke to the Democratic black caucus.

During a meeting Friday with the black caucus in New York, Dean praised black Democrats for their work for the party, then questioned Republicans' ability to rally support from minorities.

"You think the Republican National Committee could get this many people of color in a single room? " Dean asked to laughter. "Only if they had the hotel staff in here."

Steele, Maryland's first black lieutenant governor, called the remarks "racially insensitive and intolerable."

He said Democrats wonder why they are losing ground among African-Americans and other minorities, and they need look no further than Dean's remark.

girlwithsoul · 08-17-2006, 02:09 PM

Well I personally think any politician making derogatory remarks about ANYONE should never be elected....EVER.....Democrats and Republicans alike.

I mean, how do you expect your constituents to trust that you're looking out for EVERYONE'S best interest if you're making inflammatory remarks about people?

And in regards to Allen.....you tell me that he's not being racist when he said this "Later in the clip he welcomed Sidarth to America and "the real world of Virginia." " The gentlemen with Allen's opponent's campaign not only is an American citizen but FROM Virginia. Sorry but that seems awfully racist to me.

Jolie Rouge · 10-24-2006, 05:47 PM

When are ethnic insults by politicians okay?

When the politicians are Democrats, of course.

Pol sorry for 'Injun time' remark
But Oneida tribe says no apology needed
October 24, 2006

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Democratic U.S. House candidate Steve Kagen apologized Tuesday for commenting that he was late for a meeting on an Indian reservation because ''we're on Injun time.''

''I did not mean any harm by my words and I humbly apologize if I offended anyone. That was not my intent,'' he said in a statement hours after the National Republican Congressional Committee released a tape recording of the comment.

Kagen attended a meeting Friday on the nearby Oneida Reservation and at his next stop in Green Bay he made the following remarks: ''Appreciate getting here almost on time. Our excuse in Oneida was, well, we're on Injun time. They don't tell time by the clock. Our excuse here is that I am a doctor and that we're never on time.''

Kagen, a 56-year-old Appleton doctor, is involved in what political observers call a very close race against Republican John Gard, a 43-year-old veteran state lawmaker, for the two-year seat in District 8 in northeast Wisconsin.

'Time to do your thing'

District 8 has one of only 29 open House seats in the country, making it a prime target for Democrats who need to pick up 15 seats on Nov. 7 to gain control of the 435-member House.

Kagen's spokeswoman Stephanie Lundberg said he heard the term ''Injun time'' used by Native Americans. ''I don't know if he was trying to be funny. It was in the context of a self-deprecating comment,'' she said.

Bobbi Webster, a spokeswoman for the Oneida Nation, said Monday that Kagen's comment was not being taken as disrespectful by tribal members. No apology was sought, she said. ''Tribal members say that themselves. It is not uncommon to hear somebody come in late and say, 'Oh-Oh. I am running on Indian time.' The time you get there is the time to do your thing,'' Webster said.

The term ''Injun'' also is not necessarily disrespectful, she said. AP

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politic...ime24a.article

killbarney · 10-31-2006, 09:34 PM

Kagen apologized, without all the other "blame this one, blame that one" for his own remarks. Sometimes people say stupid things-it take a REAL man/woman to actually apologize and not heap the blame onto anyone else, or claim ignorance of something.