Former Sen. George Allen of Virginia, scarred by his own remark, conceding defeat to Jim Webb last fall. Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images
by David Lerman
WASHINGTON — Former Sen. George Allen, who made ``macaca” a household word and upset his once-promising political career, already shows signs of preparing for a possible comeback.
His new Web site, www.georgeallen.com, touts his travels around Virginia, mostly in Republican-friendly territory. A press account posted on his site of a Republican fundraiser in Harrisonburg quotes supporters urging him to run for governor in 2009.
And last week, Allen took to the airwaves after winning what amounted to four hours of free publicity.
The ex-governor, who lost his Senate seat to Virginia Democrat Jim Webb last fall, served as guest host one morning on WRVA radio’s ``Richmond Morning News” show.
``You gotta get up early in the morning to do these shows,” said the neophyte talk-show host, who anchored the morning drive-time show from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Allen lobbed softball questions at a number of Republican officials and other friends, but the star guest was Fred Thompson, the former Tennessee senator, Hollywood actor and all-but-announced GOP presidential candidate.
Clearly enamored by Thompson’s budding campaign, Allen heaped praise on his ex-colleague.
``I’ve always looked at you as a genuine person, very sincere and very thoughtful,” said Allen, who introduced Thompson in part as ``a man who understands NASCAR and country music.”
The two men engaged in the are-you-running banter that Thompson has perfected for weeks now as he positions himself for a likely White House bid.
``What do you hear as you’re testing the waters?” Allen asked.
``The waters are pretty warm, George,” Thompson replied.
``Do you like the temperature?” Allen pressed.
``I like the temperature a lot,” Thompson acknowledged.
Later, he added, as if putting any doubts to rest, ``I’m kind of warming to the battle.”
Whether Allen is likewise warming to a future campaign remains unclear. The damage done by his racially charged ``macaca” remark last fall to a man of Indian descent—and his clumsy handling of the resulting furor—was profound. It could take years to rebuild his image as the affable, easygoing, tobacco-chewing cowboy who was a relatively popular figure in Richmond.
Allen has sidestepped questions about his future, saying he is focused on helping Republicans retain control of the General Assembly this fall. But few who know him would discount the possibility of another bid for statewide office if the timing were right.
His radio appearance, to which aides alerted reporters, offered a chance for Allen to remind listeners of his conservative views and reminisce with old friends.
Among his guests was Mark Moseley, the former star kicker of the Washington Redskins who played for Allen’s famous father, the late Coach George Allen.
``Your dad was like a god to us football players,” Moseley told Allen.
``You kicked plenty of winning field goals for my father,” Allen said in turn.
Later, Allen applauded the work of South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, a conservative Republican who helped kill President Bush’s immigration reform plan that would have given illegal immigrants already in the country a path toward citizenship.
``You’re in touch with people in the real world and stand for the right principles,” Allen told DeMint.
The marathon talkfest also served as a sort of public homecoming for Allen, whose once-ubiquitous presence on the public airwaves seemed to vanish overnight after his election loss.
``It’s good to hear your voice again,” said Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Richmond, the chief deputy whip for House Republicans, who called in to Allen’s show.
And Allen was happy to return the favor, saying of Cantor: ``I believe someday he’s going to be speaker of the House.”
As Allen wrapped up his interview with Thompson, he pressed again for a timetable on an campaign announcement.
``I know folks here in Richmond and Virginia are supportive of you,” Allen said. ``When will you make a decision?”
``It will not be long, George,” Thompson answered. ``There won’t be many more days before I’ll be making a statement on it.”
Allen then seemed to urge him on, saying, ``We all look forward to these next few days and we wish you well.”
Then, in a line that might apply as much to himself as to Thompson, Allen added, ``See you on the trail ahead.”
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Comments
Well, if it isn't ol maccaca man himself. Bright eyed and bushy tailed, fresh out of rehab and itchin' to serve the American people again. He seems to be seen in the right places with the right places - good ol boy DeMint, the numb, non-descript, senator from Souff Carolina, and America's daddy and almost wanna be Oscar caliber actor, Freddy (I'm a gonna run) Thompson. Seems like blandness all over again.
Posted by: GW | August 26, 2007 9:01 AM
David, the media turned "macaca" into a household word, not George Allen. He just threw any old name out there, you folks went to your dictionaries or encyclopedia's and made it into a national hysterical media frenzy.
Posted by: John D | August 26, 2007 9:06 AM
George Allen making a comeback?
That's the most Maccacaied thing I ever heard.
Posted by: Doug Zook | August 26, 2007 9:13 AM
John D.,
Any old name?
Any old name that also just happened to be a racial pejorative?
Ha, ha, ha, ha....
Posted by: Doug Zook | August 26, 2007 9:14 AM
I love the way these idiots never die. They just find sinecures in media or thinktankdom and continue to draw a paycheck.
Macaca was the least of Allen's missteps. Doesn't anyone remember what all his college buddies reported about him? He's a thorough bigot.
Posted by: athena | August 26, 2007 9:50 AM
Senator Allen was clearly the front runner for the White House on the GOP side, the WAPO did a fantastic job for their democratic allies by making that statement play EVERYDAY in VA. That's what happens to even a seasoned POL when they take their eye off one election and focus on another. You allow your enemies to take you out
Posted by: RAI | August 26, 2007 10:49 AM
George Allen, Fred Thompson=LOSERS!!!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | August 26, 2007 10:51 AM
Funny. His opponnent Jim Webb was calling arabs "towel heads" and the media never said boo...double standard?
Posted by: Jake | August 26, 2007 11:51 AM
Doug, no one knew what "macacca" meant. The journalists had to look into their dictionaries for that. Macacca being a rare monkey, I would hardly call is a racial pejorative. Did you know what a macaca was before Allen used it? No one did. Not till the liberally biased media made an issue out of it.
Personally, I think Hillary's slam of Asian Indians and Pakistanis was far worse.
Posted by: John D | August 26, 2007 1:43 PM
Senotor "Macaca" is supporting pro-abortion lobbyist Fred Thompson for President?......say goodnight, Freddie.
Grandpa Fred looks like he's about one wild bedroom trist with his trophy wife away from being on life-support.
Posted by: John E | August 26, 2007 2:00 PM
John D.,
Allen knew. That's why he said it.
Posted by: Doug Zook | August 26, 2007 3:02 PM
It is great to see America wake up once again.
Back in the sixties the Main Stream Media had us all believing that we believed everyone believed what they said we believed. Then the Beatles first came out we became a divided nation on the trivial matter of whether we liked them or not. Then we all started comparing notes on other things. We found many new allies and new friends. Even those that believed things we didn’t were not so scary anymore. We all gained a new respect for each other and for ourselves.
Don’t forget those town hall meetings. Before we can restore law and order in our streets we are going to have to restore law and order in our government. Watch those that stand up to the criminals in the government in those meetings. They may make good replacement candidates.
Posted by: Carson | August 26, 2007 3:48 PM
Direct your attention to George Allen's necktie.
It is the Confederate Flag Tie, but minus the stars !
It is a SIGNAL to the people who are into the Confederate Flag !
Posted by: Jay Diamond | August 26, 2007 6:43 PM
John D-- the press found out about and publicized the truth. That's the part that you hate-- the truth. Allen knew exactly what he was saying, but banked on no one else knowing. So now you have to kill the press-- the messenger of the truth? Of course. The truth is to Republicans what sunlight is to vampires. Allen is a racist, end of story, goodbye George.
Posted by: Not So Rich | August 26, 2007 7:43 PM
Not So Rich,
NO ONE knew what "macaca" meant until Democratic strategists (by the way, who were recently linked to a pedophilia site) edited the macaca entry on Wikipedia, four days after the event. Even The Washington Post, who wrote some 300 articles about "macaca" finally admitted no one knew the read definition. It was a made up word, on the spot. That's it.
Posted by: Ward Smythe | August 27, 2007 7:16 AM
Nice try Ward, but absolutely false. It's a north African derogatory term used only against dark skinned people implying they're monkeys. Allen's mom is of north African descent.
Thanks for playing.
Posted by: weinerdog43 | August 27, 2007 8:06 AM
George Allen is good guy who has endured a liberal thumpin. The driveby media and the politically correct liberals hated him and used the maccaca word to ruin his chances.
Handsome and articulate I hope he comes back to win another day. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | August 27, 2007 8:58 AM
For all you stupid Republican vinegar sacks that think the "Liberal MSM" made up the definition of MACACA last year (note the 2002 copyright):
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=macaca
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source
Main Entry: Ma·ca·ca
Pronunciation: ma-'käk-a
Function: noun
: a genus of Old World monkeys including the rhesus monkey (M. mulatta) and other macaques
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Posted by: Peter Scythe | August 27, 2007 11:01 AM
Yes, we all know about the North African use of the word. But, until this happened there was no common use of the word in American English.
If you know George Allen, or is mother (and I suspect I may be the only one posting here who actually does) you know how laughable that explanation is.
And Peter, no one said that the Liberal MSM made up the definition. But it's a documented fact that Democratic strategists entered the "definition" on Wikipedia four days after the event.
Posted by: Ward Smythe | August 27, 2007 11:51 AM
[quote]
Funny. His opponnent Jim Webb was calling arabs "towel heads" and the media never said boo...double standard?
Posted by: Jake | August 26, 2007 11:51 AM
[/quote]
Do you have any PROOF of your allegation?
Posted by: BC | August 27, 2007 12:04 PM
[quote]
NO ONE knew what "macaca" meant until Democratic strategists (by the way, who were recently linked to a pedophilia site) edited the macaca entry on Wikipedia
Posted by: Ward Smythe | August 27, 2007 7:16 AM
[/quote]
Will you post PROOF to back up your allegation? I, for one, don't believe what you're claiming.
Posted by: BC | August 27, 2007 12:06 PM
Ward, You distinctly called MACACA a fabrication ("It was a made up word, on the spot. That's it." -Posted by: Ward Smythe | August 27, 2007 7:16 AM), and then chided the Democrats for exploiting a North African definition that has been used in an English Medical Dictionary since AT LEAST 2002. Who cares if the Dems edited the word's Wikipedia entry to reflect this, it is not worse than the intentional application of the slur to another individual at a public event. George Allen deliberately called a swarthy dissenter at his rally a monkey. Stop defending this loser.
And there is supposedly other incidents that suggest Mr. Allen is a racist; one includes the severed head of an animal, or at least that's what his own school chums alledge. What of that?
Posted by: Peter Scythe | August 27, 2007 1:44 PM
Both Allen and Thompson are phoney "Good Ole Boys," who adopt a Cornkicker persona for their audiences. People are getting wise that they're all hat and no cattle. Allen just got caught out sooner, is all.
Posted by: Montag | August 27, 2007 4:54 PM
Peter, yes, he made the word up on the spot. Had he heard it before? Who knows. I can guarantee you that he doesn't spend his time reading medical dictionaries. The man I've known for over 20 years would never use a racist slur. And for cryin' out loud, the man was a Delegate, a Congressman, a Governor and a Senator do you really think he'd be stupid enough to KNOWINGLY use a racial slur staring into a video camera?!?!?!?
Funny too that Siddarth wasn't offended until he got the video back to Webb headquarters. I know people who were at the event. He didn't flinch and enjoyed the free dinner and fellowship after the speech.
As for the deer head story, it was totally bogus. Local law enforcement and no one who lived or worked in the area at the time of the supposed "incident" had any record or knowledge of the event. Just one school mate who just happened to be a DNC contributor.
I'm not defending a loser. I'm defending a decent, honest public servant who was smeared by the leftist blogs and the media.
Even the strategist who posted the video, (by the way who was recently linked to a site promoting criminal activity) admitted that he didn't think George Allen was a racist for using the word "macaca."
It was a smear campaign from the outset.
Posted by: Ward Smythe | August 27, 2007 7:46 PM
George!! Get out of that state that turned on you. We need you to establish residency in South Carolina to runn against Lindsey Graham. Please Hurry!!
Posted by: Brandon | August 30, 2007 10:04 AM