Racism? From a senator?

sharkmansix · Post by **sharkmansix** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:43 pm

On Friday, August 11th, 2006, Allen twice called S.R. Sidarth, a Webb campaign volunteer, a word that sounds like "macaca" or "macaque". Sidarth is of Indian ancestry, but was born and raised in Fairfax County, Virginia. Sidarth was filming an Allen campaign stop in Breaks, Virginia, near the Kentucky border as a "tracker" for the opposing Webb campaign.

During a speech, Allen paused, then began referring to Sidarth:

"This fellow here over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great. We're going to places all over Virginia, and he's having it on film and its great to have you here and you show it to your opponent because he's never been there and probably will never come. [...] Lets give a welcome to Macaca, here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."

According to Sidarth, he was the only person of color present among the crowd of 100 or so Republican supporters, which applauded Allen's remarks.

Check out the viedo here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G7gq7GQ71c

sevesd93 · Post by **sevesd93** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:41 pm

I am not sure if that was racist, or just a really stupid ass comment to make.

QWETTY · Post by **QWETTY** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:49 pm

he prolly didnt know he was 'american' indian... he prolly though india indian.

hes an idiot though for sure.

sharkmansix · Post by **sharkmansix** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:51 pm

My money's on racial motivations. Here's why:

Macaca (also spelled Macaque) is a dismissive epithet used by Francophone colonials in Africa for native populations of North and Subsaharan Africans, similar to the British "wog", or US "gook" or "haji". Macaca is also a code word used in the White Power Movement to refer to people of African descent.

From wiki.

QWETTY · Post by **QWETTY** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:53 pm

u rly love wiki...

im guessing that it is racism... or the guy was soo ignorant, he used a word he didnt understand.

diethyl · Post by **diethyl** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:51 pm

Here's what CNN had to say about it.

Sounds like it was pretty deliberate.

deek · Post by **deek** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:58 pm

Its an interesting case study if you really think about it. I mean, if someone unknowingly uses a racial slur, can it really be said that the person is racist (in the sense of knowingly putting someone down due to race)?

Personally, I don't see why there is a difference between calling out the difference based on a discriminating feature. I constantly refer to cars by Ford, Chevy and Dodge or computers by Dell, IBM and Gateway...so when I describe someone as black, white or middle-eastern, its not downing a person, IMO, it simply clarifying who I am talking about...

But back to the point, using a word you have no idea...I just can't see that being tied to racism...

Al Quandt · Post by **Al Quandt** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 9:38 pm

i think he is just dumb and didnt realize what he was saying.

I mean whether he is racist or not, only a fool seeking/maintaining political power would knowingly make a comment like that in this day and age in America and expect it to be ignored.

that said either way he is just an idiot. along with most politicians on either side.

I am thoroughly tired of politicians as well as the media. Though I don't believe many of his ideals i think the Crossfire with Jon Stewart was great i think Stewart made the most true points on politics and media that I have heard in a long time.