Yesterday, in a campaign rally in Virginia, Republican Senator George Allen singled out the only man of color in his audience – a man of Indian origin, S.R. Sidarth – and called him a monkey. Several times. He knew who the man was, and knew that he worked for his Democratic opponent in the Senate race, James Webb (a Vietnam war hero and former Navy secretary under Ronald Reagan). And he still thought nothing of using a word at him that not only means monkey, but is regarded as a racial slur.

I think Congressman John Conyers Jr. threw the best counter-punch on his blog (every time I read a post of his, my respect for the man goes up):

In a speech to supporters, Virginia Senator, and likely Republican presidential candidate, George Allen took to calling a man of color a monkey. It wasn’t a slip of the tongue. He did it several times.

Soccer fans in Spain shocked the world last year when they made ape noises and threw bananas at players of African descent playing on opposing teams. Now we have a United States Senator who feels so confident in brandishing this type of racist insult that he says it numerous times. To a man filming him. Whom he knows works for his opponent.

On this video here, S.R. Sidarth, of Indian origin, is called “macaca” several times by Senator Allen. A macaca is a monkey. It’s also an ethnic slur.

The campaign strategy of the Republican party is coming into focus. Republicans have indicated their intention through a few news stories that, in a desperate election year such as this one, they will resort to race-baiting politics.

That a national leader from the ruling party in this great nation would conduct himself in the manner of a European soccer hooligan thug is downright despicable. That Republicans feel this is the only way to win is a clear reason why they need to step aside and let real leadership take over.

Amazing that this guy can be a serious presidential candidate. Allen apologized to Sidarth later yesterday, but:

…the apology…came hours after Allen’s campaign manager dismissed the issue with an expletive and insisted the senator has “nothing to apologize for”.

Truly amazing that this guy can be a serious presidential candidate.

Sidarth’s take on the incident:

Sidarth… said he suspects Allen singled him out because his was the only nonwhite face among about 100 Republican supporters.

“I think he was doing it because he could, and I was the only person of color there, and it was useful for him in inciting his audience,” said Sidarth, who videotaped the event for the Webb campaign. “I was annoyed he would use my race in a political context.”

Allen’s take on the incident is truly curious. Although he apologized to Sidarth, he first said the word macaca “had no derogatory meaning for him”. When pressed to explain what the word macaca means, Allen then said: “I don’t know what it means.” A word he used repeatedly. To draw laughs. And to prime his otherwise all-white audience for remarks about the war on terror.

Let’s elect the guy President. Under his leadership America could easily surpass the proudest, grandest achievements of George W. Bush.