The Allen News Spiral
Mark Levin blog
From Salon to AP to the New York Times. Let's see how many Republicans are quick to distance themselves from George Allen based on this kind of reporting. The Left is counting on it. These things can easily spin out-of-control on the Republican side as Republicans are often fearful of being on the wrong side of a perceived breaking scandal. I've seen it over and over again. And watch as they claim the moral high ground when doing so.
In this case, the allegation against Allen is placed before the public eye by a liberal online "news" website. It is then picked up by the Associated Press. Then it spreads to outlets like the New York Times — "two former acquaintances of Senator George Allen said ... in the 1970's and 1980's ...." And no matter how many other acquaintances say otherwise, a few weeks before an election none of that matters. Allen's long public record, which includes reaching out to minority communities as a southern governor and senator, is soon forgotten. What matters are the allegations of two former acquaintances. They are to be believed above all others, and above all evidence of this public man's actions, no matter what.
Much will be said about the Allen campaign, including Allen's use of the word "macaca" which he used to describe a Webb volunteer who is of Indian heritage, and who stalked his campaign with video camera in hand. We were informed in what seemed like a 14-part series in the Washington Post that "macaca" is considered a slur in French in certain parts of Africa. Allen apologized repeatedly for the reference. It was an odd episode seized on by the hugely anti-Allen Post.
It will be said that a pattern of behavior has been established. It will be said that Allen's reaction to a wholly inappropriate question about his grandfather's Jewish heritage seems to suggest that he's embarrassed about his Jewish blood-line. And no matter how Allen responds to this and the other trash that is no doubt coming his way, it will be said that Allen has run a poor campaign and has behaved poorly, defensively, or whatever.
Within a period of literally weeks, a man whom the people of Virginia have known and supported as an outstanding governor and senator will have been reinvented before their eyes as some kind of a bumbling, racist, anti-Semite. Stay tuned for the predictable editorials based on the pathetic reporting.
levin.nationalreview.com |
