Carlson labeled George Allen's "Macaca" target "[t]hat whiny little kid"
On the September 18 edition of MSNBC's Tucker, host Tucker Carlson called S.R. Sidarth, a volunteer with the campaign of Virginia Democratic Senate challenger Jim Webb, "[t]hat whiny little kid." On August 11, Sen. George F. Allen (R-VA), Webb's opponent, was caught on tape addressing Sidarth as "Macaca" and saying to him: "Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." Macaca is a genus of monkey and is also reportedly a slur used in Europe and North Africa against people of African descent; Sidarth is of Indian descent, but he was reportedly born and raised in Virginia.
As Media Matters for America noted, Allen has engaged in behavior in the past that has resulted in accusations that he has what The New Republic has called a "race problem." Yet Carlson said that if Allen "loses because he called this kid 'Macaca,' that's got to be the worst possible reason to lose a race." Carlson asked people who were "gonna vote against George Allen" because of the "Macaca" incident to "[p]lease, have some dignity," and repeatedly stated of the issue: "Who cares?" On the August 24 edition of Tucker, Carlson also stated, "He's not calling [Sidarth] a widely recognized racist term. ... I've never even heard that word before." He then asked, "[W]ho cares?"
From the September 18 edition of MSNBC's Tucker:
CARLSON: Next, the political career of Virginia Senator George Allen might hinge on a poor choice of words.
ALLEN [video clip]: Let's give a welcome to Macaca, here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia.
ALLEN [video clip]: There was no racial or ethnic intent to slur anyone. If I had any idea that -- that -- that word, and to some people in some parts of the world -- world was an insult, I would never do it, because it's contrary to what I believe.
CARLSON: Senator Allen there still apologizing for a demeaning reference to a young college student of Indian descent. One month later, Allen is embroiled in a heated fight for his seat on Capitol Hill, and many political observers believe that remark has enabled Democratic opponent Jim Webb to quickly turn what was once an uphill battle into what is today a pretty level playing field.
Both parties are watching this race closely because the Democrats consider Virginia a prime target now as they aim to regain a majority in Congress and take back the Senate. George Allen may lose in the end. If he loses because he called this kid "Macaca," that's got to be the worst possible reason to lose a race.
Look, if you are against the war in Iraq, if you are not conservative, if you're liberal, and you disagree with George Allen's views on this, that, or the other thing, vote against him, but don't vote against him because he called some kid "Macaca." Who cares? Who cares? That whiny little kid.
This is a story that has essentially been fanned by The Washington Post, which is atwitter, outraged that George Allen would use that word. But if you're gonna vote against George Allen, again, do it for the right reasons. Please, have some dignity. Macaca? Please. Who cares?
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Tucker Carlson calling someone a whiny little kid is hilarious. This is a guy who looks like he's still in his twenties, he used to wear a dorky bowtie until just a few months ago, his voice sounds like he still has to go through puberty, and he has a haircut that a 5-year-old would probably have, and if you watch his show for about 2 minutes, you can see that he is far more whiny than S.R. Sidarth can ever hope to be.
THANK YOU. njguy93@yahoo.com
'Iraq has sought uranium from Niger (?) to embolden their own nuclear weapon operations'...or, verbatum 'F#ck You!!!!' by our charming vice president, etc...
Gee I thought voting against someone because you thought they were a closet racist was quite valid. Allen has not attempted to hide it well anyway, it seems he gives the wink, wink or code word when necessary if the audience is the right sort. I am just impressed how much courage it took to call a powerless citizen a whiny little kid. Bravo Tucker your gallantry is inspiring.
Defending a remark by a racist. Go back to your dance moron Tucker.
watch bush at a press conference.... That's whiny. That's a litle kid. You want more whiny little kids, wait for the conservofacists start whining about how posting doesn't belong here, that wee tucker is allowed his opinion, that this is a boring thread, that mmfa is really stretching here and it must be a slow day, etc.
Obviously, according to Tucker (who's never ever whiny), we should be delighted to have a thinly disguised racist in the Senate to continue the proud tradition (since 1994) of sneering obnoxious rich-guy arrogance. That has certainly served the country so well.
George Allen says what he sees.
In his eyes, in his mind and in his heart, he sees Sidarth as a foreigner, an immigrant, a blight and, using a formula from America’s past, only fractionally a man.
When Tucker Carlson asks: "Who cares?" he says what he sees.
He does not see Allen's smirking wink, he does not see the derision in Allen's words and he does not see the bigotry and hypocrisy in Allen's past.
"Character matters because there is such a thing as absolute truth." Jeb Bush
"Well, it makes a difference... it makes a difference, because character matters." Republican Representative Mike Pence, Indiana.
"Much to the surprise and dismay of secular liberals, character does matter to the American people." Gary Livacari, GW Hatchet online, conservative blogger
"Can anyone still maintain that character doesn't matter?" WorldNetDaily commentary
"Character Matters." Jonah Goldberg
"... to send the right signal to our kids and help parents raise healthy children. Character matters." GW Bush
"Character matters more than anything else. Character is the basis for leadership." GW Bush
-- are we to assume that Allen's "Macaca" statement, and the following dissembling to excuse and/or mitigate his gaffe, do not indicate his CHARACTER?
Odd, Rightwingers used to think CHARACTER was the most important thing in the world. uh ... when it applies to Democrats, of course ...
Allen said, to a natural-born American citizen who grew up in Virginia, "Welcome to America."
Judging by skin color. That's all you need to know about George Felix Allen.
Allen "made up" the word "macaca" which by complete coincidence is a racial slur in other parts of the world. His mom growing up in one of those regions is a complete coincidence as well. WOW.
Here's a question I would like someone to ask George Allen:
-If you completely "made up" the word as it relates to Sidarth, what is the definition of the word when you said it in the speech? From the words surrounding the term, it sure sounded like some sort of an insult.
I also find a particular part of Allen's quote very interesting.
"This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, macaca, or whatever his name is."
The way he said "or whatever his name is" clearly indicates to me that the name "macaca" for Sidarth already existed before this speech.
Here's another question I would like someone to ask Allen:
If that moment is the first time anyone has ever called Sidarth "macaca," AND Allen didn't know his name, AND Allen knew that this kid was "following us around everywhere," how did you refer to this kid before that moment if nobody neither called him by his name nor macaca?
Since when is monkey NOT a racial slur in the USA?
Macaca or Macaque is the actual name for a type of monkey. Go to this site and see for yourself -- [link to www2.gsu.edu] In North Africa it's a slur used again people of Central and Southern Africa who have dark skin -- think of it as saying "n*gg*r" in Tunisia -- see this site -- [link to dailykos.com]
I think a bigger question is -- if George Allen didn't mean anything by the use of the word, and simply "made it up" as he now claims, why did he choose THAT word? Why not "fibbler," or "traggle" or something that's REALLY made up? And why did he give conflicting explanations as to his intent before finally settling on the "I just made it up" version?
Clearly Allen is a racist -- in fact his racism is only thinly veiled. He's supposed to be a presidential contender but instead he looks like a first time candidate who doesn't know how to campaign. I guess it just took a while for the truth to catch up to him.
Karla Rove to Tuckie: Lose the damn dance contest and come back to the Repub Propagandic Defense League! He's been Apologist #1 again!
I recommend that the guy challenge Tucker to a fight. We'll see who the real whiny kid is.
I like how the screen shot says "I really don't get it".
No Tucker, you really don't.
When Carlson states: that remark has enabled Democratic opponent Jim Webb to quickly turn what was once an uphill battle into what is today a pretty level playing field.
I think he's wrong. I watched the debate between Webb and Allen on CSPAN last night and I can see why Webb is doing well. His answers were refreshing and contained substance rather than the same cliche slogans and 'ideas' that republicans have been repeating for months, years, and decades.
Webb doesn't look as comfortable when he speaks, but he looked great on Meet the Press the other day. He kicked butt.
right wingers lambasted Allen for his recent "ethnic rally"?
Aren't they always telling us liberals that recognizing diversity "tears us apart."
I wonder what the response would have been if Hillary or Pelosi or Ted Kennedy organized an ethnic rally.
when Al Gore visited the Bhudist temple ?
how the right-wing flame throwers always stay away from threads like this?? Nice to have a troll-free thread once in a while.
...for JLyon.
J is not a troll.
There has just been some strange stuff going on with that particular name and now a redundancy with the posts, as if they're pandering (for another strike). But I believe you, Lynn.
Not sure why I have been attacked on here as a "troll". Ive always given my opinions and will continue. I know we agree 90% of the time.
I pointed out several examples, when he showed his true colors (it's really a guy who runs a research firm in the DC area), and he went back to being a lurker troll, trying to maintain his cover.
Here is one of his posts from this spring....
This guy called David Brock a fraud in March of 2006.
Now you make me laugh.
I may have different views on different topics but I dont need to respond to you.
Instead I will do what you do and just attack you personally.
You are a fraud and a liar with MULTIPLE Screennames and attack people because you dont like their views on one topic.
You are a witch and a troll
If I have to listen one more time to Olberman reminding the audience of "...how it was at Cornell...", I'm gonna hurl. Who cares if he went to Cornell, University of Texas at El Paso, or Stevens, for that matter?
Now comes another in a veritable sea of political correctness to explain comments by another icon of "Progressiveness". Namely, those comments served up by Andrew Young about 10 days ago, in which he hit about every racial and ethnic minority available, in his defense of Wal-Mart (Wal-Mart booted him for it). Go ahead, BRAVEHEART, we're waiting.
I'm now awaiting your eloquence re: Andrew Young's taking aim at racial and ethnic minorities whilst defending Wal-Mart, approximately 10 days ago. The media gave him a free ride, but I know this forum won't, because it's dedicated to truth and fair play.
We're still waiting, Brave one.
If someone publicly and on tape referred to Condoleeza Rice as "that skinny n***** b****", you can bet that he would be all over it.
2 + 2 = Don't vote for a bigot.
Hey, all these comments are valid, but we're forgetting something here. Calling S.R. Sidarth a whiner is a LIE!
I saw an interview with an obviously intelligent young American man. Never in the interview that I watched did this obviously intelligent young American whine. He expressed sadness, as I recall, that an elected American official would act the way Allen did. But let me repeat, this intelligent young American citizen, S.R. Sidarth, DID NOT WHINE.
Now if I had been holding the camera as Mr. Sidarth was when Allen made his nasty racist comments--come on, just watch the video; it's clear he's being racist--I would also not whine. I might have instead, thrown the camera at him. We're just so lucky that this obviously intelligent young American kept his head to be able to give us the video.
Either Allen is too late, or just a little early.
In the past, in South Africa, if a white male LEADER singles out a "macaca" in the midst of a white rally, and accuses him of "stalking" and spying where he doesn't belong, a RIOT would ensue, complete with a lynching.
Ditto, in the American South of a few decades ago, a rally Leader's admonition of the outsider in their midst would have provoked the mob to respond and "take care of the situation" by falling upon the offender.
In Nazi Germany, the Leader would identify and demonize those "outsiders", the ones who were not LIKE the true Germans, and those the Leader identified were marked for prison, torture, and death. The Leader expected to incite the CROWD, to create an unruly MOB, and to identify convenient scapegoats for extermination.
The ACCUSATION, throughout history, has been a CALL TO ACTION.
ALLEN's "tactic" here is not unusual or unique. It's just that his timing is wrong. EARLIER, the mob would have responded correctly, and carried out the crude punishment that Allen suggested was due.
Or perhaps, Allen is just a little early. Perhaps our "masses" just need a little more rightwing training, before delivering their Pavlovian action at the Leader's whim.
Lord knows, the rightwing is certainly "identifying enemies" up a storm. All Democrats and Liberals are TERRORISTS, you know? Appeasers, enablers, or outright supporters. The PRESIDENT HIMSELF tells us so, followed by the VP and the entire Administration and then by the Rightwing Propaganda Ministry MEDIA. Rightwing talking heads are not even subtle in their hinting that violence is a proper response to "UnAmerican" behavior which is specifically identified as disagreeing with the President.
The Rightwing Leaders must be dismayed that the mobs aren't responding as history suggests they should and WILL, with swift action and vigilante "justice", ridding the planet of undesirables at the Leader's whim.
I guarantee you, Allen was surprised and stunned that the crowd didn't respond with a negative reaction to the "outsider" cameraman. What's WRONG with these people??
the audio would have captured me saying "Sweeeeeeet," and my Snoopy dance would have made the picture jiggle.
It's not often you get to single-handedly crash a guy's hopes for the presidency.
There are several things that "I just don't get". Why in the hell is Tucky still on TV? Why does MSNBC insist on trying to find a show for him? They sent him to Lebanon and dressed him in a flak jacket. Tucky, war correspondent. Nope, that didn't work out. Put him in a pair of dancing pumps and have him leer at a scantily clad woman. We all know how badly that went. Tucky is what he is. A graduate of the toney St. George School located outside of Newport, RI. I'm sure if you find a copy of his yearbook he hasn't changed at all. A small minded, upperclass, talentless boy who feels entitled. Remind you of anyone? By the way, I hear his dad has been instrumental in finding the boy employment. Sigh!!!
I am watching Tuckie right now bashing Dems yet again...
Hardball was an awesome episode today. Finally Matthews defends liberals!
That radio host who was on Tucker's 3 on 3 bit was a a hole! He said some horrible things and even Tucker was mad at him. Cons have really become some evil beast who are more about destroying the left than helping their country
I dunno, Tucker -- seems to me as though people aren't so much outraged by the "Macaca" reference as they are by its horribly racist and xenophobic context:
If this were a poor choice of words, that would be one thing. But exactly how do you defend what Allen was trying to say, regardless of the words he chose?
He!
"I don't get it." I actually watched Carlson for about 5 minutes today. I swear he must have said that phrase several times. What I don't get is why he's doesn't get it. A US Senator and potential presidential candidate used a racial slur. I get it. Especially considering Allen's mother is from Tunisian descent. He probably heard it one time when he was 6 years old and basically pulled it of his walnut-sized brain and used it as a racial slur. I get it Tucker? Why don't you?
If he loses because he called this kid "Macaca,"
Then voters have decided that they don't want this kind of talk to carry on to the Senate floor, representing the views of the state of Virginia. It would be a great reason to lose.
whoever wrote the captions meant what the rest of us see: Tucker doesn't get it. Why choose that caption? Whay not "Why the big deal?" or something else that doesn't mean that you're an idiot? Maybe because he is, little trooper. Maybe because he is. How does one NOT feel the need to make fun of this bozo?
of instrument/gauge connected to Tucker's brain, which displays on-screen, to help his audience.Helpful readings come up, according to his current state-
"I'm angry"
"I'm getting paid to lie"
"donuts are good"
"bow ties make propagandists look cute and harmless"
This guy was on "Dancing With The Stars" along with Jerry Springer. Who cares about anything Tucker Carlson says? He's a baiter-for-hire. He gets paid to go on television and say things to get people worked up in a lather, and it works every time. He says something offensive and/or stupid, then a bunch of people here come on and call him names and go on and on about how outraged they are, and he gets more exposure and more people watch his show, it just goes on and on and on.
Are we really getting anywhere here? Are we?
Sometimes I think we make these people like Carlson far more powerful than they really are.
I've taken potshots at him myself. It's easy to do. He's nerdy, wears a bowtie, comes from a rich, pampered background, has had everything handed to him. If he went to my high school, he would have gotten smacked around a lot. He's Alex P. Keaton made flesh.
But what we do when we all react to his comments is feed him. And by feeding him, we make our politics more about particular individuals rather than ideas, issues, and values.
Attacking Tucker Carlson isn't going to make him go away. And making him go away isn't going to change much if anything. Another pundit will replace him.
Again, I used to see all of this as a fight too. I once said somewhere that I wanted to bodyslam Rush Limbaugh. :)
Don't you guys ever get tired of coming on here and saying "ignore them" and "don't give them publicity"?
If you want to start your own website and ignore it when people like Tucker Carlson behave the way he did, then go for it.
It's not your job to tell Media Matters how to cover the stuff they want to cover.
They don't agree with you that the proper course is to ignore these guys, and they don't agree with you that what they say doesn't matter, and they don't agree with you that it is fighting a losing battle to point out his distortions because if he leaves the scene he will only be replaced by a like-minded person.
Who does care? Although I think he should lose the election because he was trying to be obnoxious and funny, and nasty, and he reminded me of every jerk on the football team who tried to get the crowd to laugh at one nerdy kid in the cafeteria. For that reason, he should lose the election, but honestly, he uses an obscure word that is an ethnic slur and all of a sudden he's the grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan? Let's get some perspective here. Racists generally don't hide their racism. They burn crosses. Lynch people. Block voting booths, shoot fire hoses at people.
"Racists generally don't hide their racism. They burn crosses. Lynch people. Block voting booths, shoot fire hoses at people."
Actually Allen did not hide either.
1. He hanged hangman's noose from a tree in his law office to suggest his approving attitude toward lynchings.
2. He used to display Confederate flag at his house.
3. He opposed the 1991 Civil Rights Act in Congress.
4. As a state delegate he opposed creating a holiday for Martin Luther King. He also voted against changing the racially offensive state song.
...I'm glad Senator Allen used the racial slur. I hope every Republican gets caught on tape saying something racist. Let them use every racial slur in the book. Let the people of America hear everyone of them. Let the people of the world hear it too.
It's great ammunition.
"If he loses because he called this kid "Macaca," that's got to be the worst possible reason to lose a race."
Let me guess. Carlson is a white kid, who always mingled with other white kids in his rich neighborhood. Obviously he never encountered any racism in his lifetime or never heard any racial slur.
If a senate candidate called Carlson "white monkey", that's a good reason to lose a race. Same way, if a senate candidate called a brown-skinned guy "macaca", that's a pretty good reason to lose a race.
Will the Webb campaign adopt the 'Macacarena' as its theme song?
Tuck as usual misses the point. Firstly if the comment was directed at anyone except a white, a black or Jew, Tucker seems to think it is okay. Who cares? Well Tuck I care. You see we of East Indian descent are the proud bearers of a culture that is beyond the realm of your infantile persona. We have long suffered under the Brits, The Nazi Afrikaners of S. Africa, and now you. Yes Tuck, we Indiands have dignity and pride, and from the reports of your pathetic performances, once cannot be saddned by how such a little boy like you, always seems to get it wrong. Why s that so Tuck or should I call you Toad. Perhaps dady is'nt around to change your diapers any longer. Yes Tucker we Indians have dignity, not an acquisition, just because one is politically correct. Oh! What did Jon Stewart Call you again?
I share the same sentiment, but in regards to Tucker's show. I don't care so I don't watch it.
Carlson "gets it" more than anyone here. His target audience is a specific (and not insignificant) sector of the population -- a sector that has exactly the same mindset as the senator. Tucker does not care what you think if you believe racism is wrong, because you would never vote for Allen anyway.
To express outrage at the Carlsons and Coulters of the world is as productive as picketing a dentist for pulling teeth. It would be better to direct your efforts toward projects that reduce the size of his intended audience. Educate people. Be a visible example of your positive values. And most of all, try to be dignified. Name-calling only reduces you to their level.
"To express outrage at the Carlsons and Coulters of the world is as productive as picketing a dentist for pulling teeth. It would be better to direct your efforts toward projects that reduce the size of his intended audience. Educate people. Be a visible example of your positive values. And most of all, try to be dignified. Name-calling only reduces you to their level."
Great comment. Thank you. I've been trying to say the same thing.
Media Matters points out conservative misinformation because it is important to do so.
It is not the only thing that should be done.
It enables lots of other things to be done, including making people like Carlson and Limbaugh lose their ability to spout their lies and distortions unchallenged.
There is great value in that, and if you don't like it, you can always leave!
My comment was not directed at MMFA. It was directed at the people posting comments -- the same old comments over and over. Yes, we get it and we agree, bigots are bad. Now go do something about it instead of sit there and complain.
With Limbaugh, Savage, Coulter and the like. We ignored them for years and they just went away. Wait, they didnt, they got HUGE audiences sold tons of books and made liberals look weak. Hey, if thats how you feel, by all means take that tack but you are wasting your fingerprints continually posting this advice to me. Been there, tried that, got a better idea.
First of all, "Macaca" even sounds like "Macaque", a type of monkey. If you've watched or read National Geographic, you probably have seen a few or more.
Secondly, I agree with the poster who brought up the context. Did Allen have any kind of indication the man wasn't from America and wasn't from Virginia besides the fact that his skin color was different? That's like walking up to a random Asian and saying in a loud, condescending voice, "WEL-COME TO A-MER-I-CA. DO YOU SPEAKA ENGLISH?!". If he beat all the horrible odds and happened to make up the word "macaca", which I doubt to hell he did, the fact that he ostracized him as a fool who doesn't understand the 'ways' of Americans is reprehensible and isn't the kind of conduct we should expect from our leaders.
I hope George Allen does lose. I hope that this does hurt his campaign, because what he did was wrong and stupid.
In short, I hope that the voting public makes a "monkey" out of Allen. :)
Would someone please spend a coupla minutes rationalizing the comments of Andrew Young (Progressive icon) the other day, when he attacked several racial and ethnic groups in the course of defending Wal-Mart?
Thank you in advance for your insight and perspective. The media has given him a free ride so far, but I'm sure that won't happen in this forum.