George Allen (U.S. politician)
George Felix Allen ( born March 8, 1952 in Whittier, California) is an American politician. The Republican was from 1994 to 1998 and Governor of Virginia from 2001 to 2007 one of the two senators for the state of Virginia.
Life and political career
Allen was born in California and grew up there but moved at the age of 19 through to Virginia. His father was a famous NFL football coach. From 1974 to 1977 he attended the University of Virginia School of Law and is now a lawyer.
From 1982 to 1991 he was elected representative in the House of Representatives from Virginia ( Virginia House of Delegates ). Allen representing the State of Virginia as a delegate in the House of Representatives from 1991 to 1993. In November 1993 he was elected governor of Virginia, and he took office for a term of true 1994 to 1998. Re-election was excluded in Virginia by law. In 2001 he finally moved into the Senate, where he beat Chuck Robb, the son of former President Lyndon B. Johnson. His tenure ended after he lost the Senate elections on 7 November 2006 in an extremely tight race against Democratic challenger Jim Webb. Before the Senate election lost Allen was next to John McCain as one of the most promising candidates of the Republicans for the presidential election of 2008. In 2012 he applied again to his former Senate seat, but lost to Democrat Tim Kaine.
Racism allegations and Macaca incident in the Senate election in 2006
2006, at the occasion of the forthcoming elections to the Senate of various publications that are more attributable to the left-liberal spectrum (Washington Post, The Nation, The New Republic ), accusations of racism. In fact, Allen declined in the past from a holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., and explained to his time as governor of Virginia April for commemorative month for the Confederacy. His ostentatious ties to the Southern flag was also criticized because the flag stands especially among the black population of oppression.
The racism allegations received new food as George Allen one of his campaign workers Herausforders Jim Webb, the dark-skinned students SR Sidarth who filmed a speech by Allen at a campaign event, with the words:
"This fellow here over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great. We're going to places all over Virginia, and he's having it on film and it's great to have you here and you show it to your opponent Because He's never been there and probably will never come. [ ... ] So, Welcome! Let's give a welcome to Macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia! "
Addressed directly.
( loosely translated: " This boy is here in front in the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name He is one of my challenger [ ... ] Hot Macaca we welcome Welcome in the U.S. and [ ... ] Virginia.. ! " )
Sidarth is indeed of Indian descent, but born in the U.S. and grew up. He claims to be the only Black people in the audience.
Allen said that he had thought of nothing in the designation Macaca and it was an invention of his hand. However Macacas are firstly a name for a -based, inter alia, in North Africa and on the other ape species, a term that was used under French colonial rulers in Africa as a derogatory term the dark-skinned natives. Since Allen's mother is a French woman who grew up in Tunisia, was part of the media speculated that Allen knew the origin of the term and its meaning.
Allen apologized for his choice of words and stressed that he never wanted to offend someone. Ultimately, this incident, which was recorded and discussed throughout the United States, however, contributed to the defeat with Allen. Prior to this incident, he had a lead of 16 percent to challenger Webb.