Contrary to the Pilot’s assertion this morning, I really haven’t written much about George Allen and the M-word scandal. But I feel like I need to weigh in on the latest issue making its way around the blogsphere: the 1996 photo (click to enlarge) of then-governor Allen with members of the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC). The quick and dirty is that Allen attended the Conservative Political Action Conference and the CCC was one of the sponsors. Allen posed for the picture with some of the members plus Charlton Heston. In 1998, it was discovered that the CCC was a racist group and the CPAC and most lawmakers have distanced themselves from it.
I don’t think the nature of the CCC is in doubt. The only question I have is how much did Allen know about this group and when did he know it? That information would go a long way towards letting us – his constituents – really know what he thinks about groups like this.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Vivian:
I think this conversation over at Waldo’s is appropriate to interject here. Plus it will save a lot of typing 🙂
whoops
http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2006/08/allen-council-conservative-citizens/
sorry, for double post.
I encourage folks on both sides of the aisle to spend a few minutes on the Council of Concerned Citizens’ website before making up their mind on this.
I thought it might be the sort of matter on which intelligent minds may disagree until I spent about three minutes reading their their website. It is an overt white supremacy organization. It is entirely outside of my understanding why Sen. Allen would give these men the time of day, to say nothing of have his photograph taken with them.
Vivian, you know better than this. Anyone can buy a ticket and get a picture taken with a politician. I can get a picture taken with Tim Kaine. Would that mean Kaine suddenly agrees with my political philosophy?
I’m not sure what you mean, Insider. I made no claims about Allen other than he was in the photo with people who were exposed to be racists. Did Allen know that then? If so, then he made a major mistake posing with them. If not, when did he find out? Did he ever disavow the group?
I know anyone can take a photo. Last year, one of my opponents got her picture taken with Kaine and then used the photo in promotional materials. Kaine issued a statement about it and told her not to use the photo.
*sigh*
This is reaching, Vivian.
How does asking a legitimate question of my current representative constitute “reaching”?
News Flash:
James Webb hunkered down in his bunker, while bloggers are sent out on raiding missions armed with racial incendiary posts….
I think the voters are going to be interested in the issues before them and not these side shows… Seriously, We just had some Webb supporters dressed up in a gorilla suit, a banana and a grim reaper in downtown Staunton, VA!
I enjoy the satire, but I think is obvious that the Webb campaign is looking to divert as much attention as possible, away from the issues!
spank that donkey, my thoughts exactly!
The bigger question is: Did Allen disavow his association with this group after they sent out literature with then Gov. Allen’s picture in it?
A responsible person would try to quickly distance themselves from this group. And mind you, Allen had full court communications staff as Gov. back then.
Vivian, it’s reaching. The picture was taken two years before anything was known about them.
Like a picture that people PAID to be taken means anything.
You and Jim from Bearing Drift were in the same car for 5 hours. Obviously, that means you agree with his political philosophy.
You’re getting race-baited by your own party…again…..and you’re falling for it.
Um – I think I was quite clear that the picture was taken two years before the CCC was exposed. It is absolutely legitimate to ask whether Allen knew about the group at the time or later. Why is that not a legitimate question? Explain that, please.
And I didn’t see anything about people paying to have their pictures taken with Allen. Do you have a link?
Finally, I don’t know what made you think I was in the car with Jim for 5 hours. You’ve got me mixed up with Eileen 😉
Vivian,
You should be one of the last people to fall for such tactics. Remember during the Treasurer’s campaign how Sherry White-Battle kept using that photo of her with Tim Kaine? That despite the fact that he was backing you against Ms. Conspiracy Theory.
Same here: don’t read to much into a photo. You’re being duped the way she tried to dupe voters.
Oops: too much, not “to much”.
Vivian,
You don’t need me to say: “You’ve already bested your opponents in this debate, and they must know it.” But I can’t help myself — you have.
Your questions are legit, Allen should answer them.
Allen has been lucky until 2006, he has played offense for most of his career in politics. Now we will see how the football coach’s son plays defense. So far, he’s not been so good at it.