Webb campaign criticizes Allen remarks aimed at volunteer [VA Senatorial Campaign]

RICHMOND, Va. -- A volunteer of Indian descent working for Democrat Jim Webb's U.S. Senate campaign said Monday he felt insulted when Sen. George Allen called him a name that sounded like "Macaca" during a rally in western Virginia.

S.R. Sidarth, 20, spent last week following Allen's "listening tour" and filming the appearances for the Webb campaign, which distributed a video clip of Friday's appearance to reporters.

"This fellow over here with the yellow shirt--Macaca or whatever his name is--he's with my opponent," Allen said. "He's following us around everywhere."

Wadhams said, however, that the name was a variation of "Mohawk," the nickname he said Allen campaign staffers gave Sidarth because he had a Mohawk haircut.

Whether the University of Virginia senior's haircut--closely cropped around the temples and above the ears, but otherwise full _ qualifies as a Mohawk is open to interpretation. Sidarth said he does not consider it a Mohawk.

"It's grasping--it's reaching," Webb spokeswoman Kristian Denny Todd said of Wadhams' explanation. "This was a term meant to demean Sidarth and his presence there at the event."

Asked what he thought Allen meant by using the word Macaca, Sidarth said: "I took it to mean that was the first thing that came to his mind when he saw a person of color. It does have connotations in Hispanic cultures of being associated with a monkey."

"the "smoking gun" that Senator Allen's mother grew up in an area where this very racial slur was used."

Just not true.

The "insulting" term used for Moroccans in Tunisia is "macoque", two syllables. Macaca may be a Portuguese insult.

Don't believe anything the liberals tell you. Even if it isn't important at all LOL!

Webb's campaign sent an email on this issue:

8/14/06

Dear Friend,

Watch George Allen's Femeaning Comments for Yourself

Politics is a contact sport. We all know that. But on Friday, George Allen made some comments in a campaign speech that were, in a word, repugnant.

S.R. Sidarth, a volunteer with our campaign of Indian descent, has been following George Allen with a camera. During an event in Breaks, Allen singled our volunteer out:

"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."

Please click here to watch the video.

We would like Senator Allen to tell us exactly what he means by his comments. Sidarth was born in Fairfax. What does he mean, “Welcome to America?” And by Macaca, is George Allen calling Sidarth a species of monkey in the Eastern Hemisphere?

Sidarth has a name. George Allen’s efforts to demean him, to minimize him as a person should not be tolerated.

We invite you to watch the video for yourself.

Sincerely,

Jessica Vanden Berg
Campaign Manager
Webb for Senate

Sidarth has a name. George Allen’s efforts to demean him, to minimize him as a person should not be tolerated.

But what is his MIDDLE name? If it is something goofy, do you think we can make fun of it instead?

I wonder if Webb believes he can convince people that "a species of monkey in the Eastern Hemisphere" is a new anti-Indian slur. Seems like a very L O N G reach to me.

Calling someone a monkey who behaves like a monkey - a silly animal is not racist. Even if Allen KNEW that India had a special brand of monkeys and decided to put a special twist on it by calling the guy, essentially, a monkey found in India - is not really a racist comment because it does not denigrate his race.

Essentially calling an NZ guy a 'kiwi' - big friggin whoop.

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