Allen's Apology
Fox News
Virginia Republican Senator George Allen is apologizing for repeatedly referring to a 20-year-old Indian-American campaign volunteer as "macaca" — the name for a breed of primate that sometimes doubles in Europe as a racial slur against North Africans.
The Washington Post reports Allen singled out S.R. Sidarth, who is a volunteer for Allen's opponent James Webb, at a campaign event last week saying: "Let's give a welcome to Macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." In fact, Sidarth was born in the state.
The Webb campaign called the remarks demeaning and insensitive. But Allen says he didn't know what the word meant saying it sounds similar to "Mohawk" — the name Allen's campaign staff had given to Sidarth because of his mullet-style haircut.
Virginia Republican Senator George Allen is apologizing for repeatedly referring to a 20-year-old Indian-American campaign volunteer as "macaca" — the name for a breed of primate that sometimes doubles in Europe as a racial slur against North Africans.
The Washington Post reports Allen singled out S.R. Sidarth, who is a volunteer for Allen's opponent James Webb, at a campaign event last week saying: "Let's give a welcome to Macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." In fact, Sidarth was born in the state.
The Webb campaign called the remarks demeaning and insensitive. But Allen says he didn't know what the word meant saying it sounds similar to "Mohawk" — the name Allen's campaign staff had given to Sidarth because of his mullet-style haircut.
posted by Andy W. Rogers | 9:58 PM
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