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The Senator's Gentile Rebuke (Sen. Allen Angry at Reporter's Question about Jewish Ancestry)
Washington Post ^ | 9/19/06 | Dana Milbank

Posted on 09/19/2006 4:16:14 AM PDT by nj26

First came Sen. George Allen's Macaca Moment. Then we learned of challenger Jim Webb's thoughts on the "horny" women of the Naval Academy.

Now, just when you thought Virginia's U.S. Senate race couldn't get any weirder, the Jews of Tunis are making a cameo.

At a debate in Tysons Corner yesterday between Republican Allen and Democrat Webb, WUSA-TV's Peggy Fox asked Allen, the tobacco-chewing, cowboy-boot-wearing son of a pro football coach, if his Tunisian-born mother has Jewish blood.

"It has been reported," said Fox, that "your grandfather Felix, whom you were given your middle name for, was Jewish. Could you please tell us whether your forebears include Jews and, if so, at which point Jewish identity might have ended?"

Allen recoiled as if he had been struck. His supporters in the audience booed and hissed. "To be getting into what religion my mother is, I don't think is relevant," Allen said, furiously. "Why is that relevant -- my religion, Jim's religion or the religious beliefs of anyone out there?"

"Honesty, that's all," questioner Fox answered, looking a bit frightened.

"Oh, that's just all? That's just all," the senator mocked, pressing his attack. He directed Fox to "ask questions about issues that really matter to people here in Virginia" and refrain from "making aspersions."

"Let's move on," proposed the moderator, George Stephanopoulos of ABC News.

Yes, let's -- but not before we figure out what that was all about. Turns out the Forward, a Jewish newspaper, reported that the senator's mother, Etty, "comes from the august Sephardic Jewish Lumbroso family."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: georgeallen; senate2006
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To: nj26

The reason for the "Macaca" hypocrisy was so that the left can go around saying that Allen is racist. This is their standard operating procedure. They listen to and record every word spoken and written by a conservative, and then try to find something for which they can destroy him/her. If they don't find something, they make something up. Their willing accomplices in the media immediately seize the opportunity and paint his/her words as racist.
Later, when it serves their marxist purposes, they remind the readers of the "racist" comments which weren't racist at all, but trumpted up by the left.


41 posted on 09/19/2006 4:50:17 AM PDT by Leftism is Mentally Deranged (To the left, there is no right or wrong, except what promotes the goal of a marxist paradise.)
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To: The G Man

"That last part is troubling. Why would the fact whether someone is Jewish or not be an "aspersion"???"

Given the current wave of unabashed antisemitism globally and within the Left in this country, it is very "troubling" that a reporter would ask such an utterly irrelevant question in a debate forum. Clearly, she was attempting to create an impact with a segment of the veiwing audience. I saw the exchange on tape, and I am frightened about its implications for the political scene in this country. You need to take a closer look at the world around you, and realize that what you want to believe about people is much less true than you think.


42 posted on 09/19/2006 4:51:10 AM PDT by Humble Servant (Keep it simple - do what's right.)
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To: jmaroneps37

Only two have become President from the U.S. Senate---Warren Harding and JFK. Both under unusual circumstances.


43 posted on 09/19/2006 4:54:06 AM PDT by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: nj26
"At a debate in Tysons Corner yesterday between Republican Allen and Democrat Webb, WUSA-TV's Peggy Fox asked Allen, the tobacco-chewing, cowboy-boot-wearing son of a pro football coach, if his Tunisian-born mother has Jewish blood."

Kinky Friedman could not be reached for comment...

44 posted on 09/19/2006 4:54:11 AM PDT by Hatteras
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To: Jaxter
(Like Kerry did when he claimed to be Irish for years.)

Maybe he heard his daddy wrong and thought he said he was a Cohan instead of a Kohn.

45 posted on 09/19/2006 4:55:56 AM PDT by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE

Funny! Having Jewish ancestors didn't hurt Barry Goldwater among conservative voters.


46 posted on 09/19/2006 4:56:00 AM PDT by reg45
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To: Fairview
No, he won't be the next president. He loses his temper and he's a bull in a china shop.

I'm not sure if Allen is presidential timber, but I have to say I'm liking bulls in china shops these days -- as long as they're smart bulls.

There's too damn much pussy-footing going on in D.C.

47 posted on 09/19/2006 4:56:32 AM PDT by Mad Dawg (Reality is not optional.)
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To: 4rcane
Hillary Clinton:

"I love this quote. It's from Mahatma Ghandi. He ran a gas station down in, uh, St. Louis for a couple of years. Mr. Ghandi, you gonna still go to the gas station? A lot of wisdom comes out of that gas station..."

Hear the shrill voice of the Chappaqua Whore right here:

Racist Comments from Chappaqua Whore

48 posted on 09/19/2006 4:58:34 AM PDT by Stallone (Dealing with Democrats IS the War on Terror.)
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To: PJ-Comix

"George Allen will be the next President of the United States."

Three words says he won't: Confederate History Month.


49 posted on 09/19/2006 4:59:34 AM PDT by Captain Jack Aubrey
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To: nj26
Brilliant response. You should be a speechwriter.

Aw, shucks. Actually a speehwriter has time to write that ckind of thing, but a politician in the heat of an interview or debate has to be able to come up with it on the spur of the moment. Part of that ability to think fast comes from the ability to keep one's temper, because anger clouds logic. I just wrote the kind of thing Mr. Fairview would say under similar circumstances.

The problem with the way Allen responds to things is that the reporters have figured out they can goad him in certain ways and get a reaction and a sound bite out of him. He's supposed to be using them, not the other way around. Blowing up is tempting, especially when one is tired and stressed, but it's not useful in a politician who aspires to even higher office.

50 posted on 09/19/2006 4:59:52 AM PDT by Fairview
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To: savedbygrace

Another sycophant.

Bring it on, punk.


51 posted on 09/19/2006 4:59:58 AM PDT by Stallone (Dealing with Democrats IS the War on Terror.)
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To: nj26

What's up with Webb and the "horny" comment? I haven't heard anything about that at all.


52 posted on 09/19/2006 5:00:49 AM PDT by RayStacy
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To: Captain Jack Aubrey

Another Liberal sychophant.

Bring it on, Maccaca.


53 posted on 09/19/2006 5:01:11 AM PDT by Stallone (Dealing with Democrats IS the War on Terror.)
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To: Humble Servant
Yes, it's troubling that the reporter would ask the question to begin with. They were no doubt trying to play on any anti-semitic feelings that anyone in the audience may have had. But *if* this story is relayed accurately, Allen considered it an aspersion, which is also troubling (accent on "if").

Given the way he lost his cool with that Webb aide, and now this, I have to agree that he may not be Presidential material.

54 posted on 09/19/2006 5:01:11 AM PDT by The G Man (The NY Times did "great harm to the United States" - President George W. Bush 6/26/06)
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To: RayStacy

"What's this about Webb's "horny" comment? Haven't the slightest clue what that's all about."

It was a reference to an article published by Webb in the sixties, I believe, about the increasing role of women in the military. It was highly derogatory toward any role for them, and referred to military academies as a dream come true for horny women, or some such comment. Though it is an old referrence, and he could easily have distanced himself from it, I didn't think he repudiated it with much vigor at all.


55 posted on 09/19/2006 5:01:31 AM PDT by Humble Servant (Keep it simple - do what's right.)
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To: nj26

I did not see this debate, and I know nothing about his heritage. Way I see it, considering the reporter later whined about getting booed and hissed seems she was caught by her own bait.


56 posted on 09/19/2006 5:01:33 AM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: mdwakeup
"So asking if you have Jewish ancestors is "casting aspersions"? What's that about?"

Asking ANY questions about ancestors should be off base, whether they are Jewish, Chinese, black, or little green men from outer space. Allen was right on to tell the reporter to focus on something that matters--like the issues.

57 posted on 09/19/2006 5:02:17 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel-NRA)
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To: The G Man
Here's your presidential material, sycopant:

"I love this quote. It's from Mahatma Ghandi. He ran a gas station down in, uh, St. Louis for a couple of years. Mr. Ghandi, you gonna still go to the gas station? A lot of wisdom comes out of that gas station..."

Hear the shrill voice of the Chappaqua Whore right here:

Racist Comments from Chappaqua Whore

58 posted on 09/19/2006 5:02:50 AM PDT by Stallone (Dealing with Democrats IS the War on Terror.)
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To: nj26

I don't know why Allen should be upset about the question. Yes it is an stupid irrelevant question, but you get a lot of those on the campaign trail. If a reporter were to come to me with a question about the religion of one of my ancestors, if I knew about it, I would tell a story about my Great Aunt Bertie, or whomever. If I didn't know about it, I would thank the reporter for the information and move on. I don't know why one should react in a hostile way.


59 posted on 09/19/2006 5:03:51 AM PDT by gridlock (The 'Pubbies will pick up at least TWO seats in the Senate and FOUR seats in the House in 2006)
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To: Humble Servant

My take on this is that the Dems in VA are already panicing. The fact that their only debate points relative to Allen is Macaca and Jewish ancestry means their internal polls show Webb losing to Allen. Dems always play the race when cornered. Its what they do. That the Washington Post makes itself a vehicle for racist attacks is not new either. The Post is a true believer in the "white man's" burden theory of politics. But their spin is only conservative white males should be punished. The editorial board is tragically twisted and conflicted concerning equality of citizens.


60 posted on 09/19/2006 5:04:58 AM PDT by tigtog
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