After repeatedly coming under fire for allegations of racism, Senator
Macaca managed to take pandering to new heights (lows?) last week.

Believe it or not, George Allen held an "ethnic rally" where he posed
for pictures with people of varying degrees of skin shade.

After repeatedly coming under fire for allegations of racism, Senator
Macaca managed to take pandering to new heights (lows?) last week.

Believe it or not, George Allen held an "ethnic rally" where he posed
for pictures with people of varying degrees of skin shade.

See?

Pay no heed to that photo with the Klan-related Council of
Conservative Citizens.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060911/george_allen

Never mind those stories about the Confederate flag.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835640999

And forget about that "Welcome to America" moment.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081401114.html

George Allen is not a racist, and he's got the pictures to prove it!
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/009734.php

Of course, when Allen's advisors proposed an "ethnic rally" it's quite
possible that he originally envisioned people of color racing round a
dirt track trying to set the fastest time, but that's neither here nor
there.

Meanwhile, Allen's campaign has blown a gasket over the fact that his
opponent, Democrat James Webb, has recently released an ad featuring
Ronald Reagan praising Webb's military service.

According to the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/08/AR2006090801720.html


The ad shows Reagan saying:

"James's gallantry as a Marine officer in Vietnam won him the Navy
Cross and other decorations."

An announcer's voice continues as Reagan's image morphs into pictures
of Webb as a Marine.


Allen has been trying to portray himself as the heir to Reagan's
legacy, so an ad showing the Gipper praising his opponent has really
ticked him off.

Allen therefore did what any red-blooded Republican would do - he
started blubbing and tried to hide under Nancy Reagan's skirt.

Allen's campaign managed to get a letter from one of Nancy Reagan's
staff which read, "Using the president's name, image or likeness
implies endorsement which is neither fair nor respectful of any
candidate, certainly not after President Reagan's death. At the
direction of Mrs. Reagan, please refrain."

Funnily enough, Allen himself has been using Reagan's likeness in
campaign materials.

But never mind the fact that Webb served as Secretary of the Navy as
well as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs under
Reagan, and Reagan did actually say those words.

It's a damn shame that Webb would stoop so low as to show, er, real
footage.

In fact, the Allen campaign was so disgusted that they decided to let
Webb know what Ronald Reagan really thinks, even though he's dead.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
http://www.richmondtimesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190518097


"We are disappointed that James Webb is dishonoring the memory of
President Reagan by using an old video clip to imply that Ronald
Reagan would be supporting him," they said.

They said Reagan would be supporting Allen, "Who is the true heir to
President Reagan."


Webb's response? http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=5386669

"If George Allen's people want to go in the Reagan archives and find
something nice that Ronald Reagan said about George Allen, then they
ought to put it on the air."

Mind you, regardless of the Reagan flap, Allen might have a harder
time recovering from this new ad produced by Vote Vets and starring
Pete Granato of the U.S. Army Reserves, an Iraq War veteran:

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2006/sep/13/va_sen_blistering_new_ad_hammers_allen_over_body_armor_vote

Watch it.

It's the best political ad of the season so far.


By EarlG
Democratic Underground
http://www.democraticunderground.com/

Harry