AlterNet: Hakuna Macaca

Who's that man chomping on the watermelon? Why, it's Republican Senator George Felix Allen of Virginia.

You may have heard the story this week about how, while speaking at a campaign rally, Allen spotted an American citizen of Indian descent who was there shooting video for Allen's 2006 opponent, Jim Webb, and got a big hoot from his right-wing crowd when he referred to S.R. Sidarth as “Macaca.”

“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. Let's give a welcome to Macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."

Sidarth is an American, born in Virginia which, ironically, Allen himself was not.

Macaca is a term associated with a species of monkeys and, in some areas of the world, it's considered an ethnic slur aimed at persons of North African origin.

Now, I'm sure not too many of us are surprised by a racist slip coming from a Republican and our friends at AlterNet have a nice music video that highlights George Felix Allen's private thoughts that I'm sure he now wishes he had not made public.

Please go to AlterNet to see the video -- it'll warm your heart going into the weekend.

You can reach Bob Geiger at geiger.bob@gmail.com