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 
I’m still trying to figure out what is wrong with wanting to know when Allen became aware of the true nature of the CCC? 😕
Stick to your guns, Vivian. It’s a legitimate question, albeit a question you’ll never get an answer to. Kinda like some of the questions we asked AG Bob yesterday. 😦
“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.”
Terry:
With all do respect, The offensive play called by the Webb Handlers (coaches) is a “Hail Mary” Race Baiting Bomb”, run down the left side of the field !
So far the MSM and Webb Bloggers have caught the ball, and run with it… The real question is… will the referees/fans (voters) see the play for what it is?
Spank That Donkey–
“Will the referees/fans voters see the play for what it is?”
I think that’s exactly why Allen has dropped significantly in the polls since making the remarks. People have seen the tape and they’ve also seen Allen’s attempts to deflect responsibility from his mouth to the media.
On this CCC issue, I agree that Allen should answer these questions.
The statement by Allen’s communications director is not reassuring:
“I am unaware of the group you mention or their agenda and because we have no record of the Senator having involvement with them I cannot offer you any opinion on them”. That’s PR speak for “I’m not going to give you a straight answer to your question”. Why not?
Vivian, my apologies. I did mix you up with Eileen.
Point remains the same. They were in the same car for hours. They must support each other’s agenda, right?
Your red-herring point, is it a legitimate question, doesn’t matter. Every question is a legitimate question.
The fact that you’re focusing on race-baiting, again, says more about you than it does about Allen.
Ok… so I’m not a political animal in any way. I simply don’t know enough about VA politics to know (I know just enough to know I don’t know much!). Insider, I’m not a Vivian fan because I’m not a liberal (although I do respect that as a liberal she is willing to ask questions too many conservatives won’t!), I’m also not an HR Conservative fan because I’m not a conservative (although I do enjoy his (her?) insight on issues).
Although political affiliation has become overwhelmingly polarized in the last 10 years I self identify as a Republican. I’m socially liberal (down with the Marshall/Neuman Amendment) but fiscally conservative (how dare Norfolk buy a golf course when my taxes are skyrocketing and they have a massive windfall!) BUT… Vivian has a point: Senator Allen, WHEN did you become aware of who and what the CCC is?
THAT answer (whatever it may be) is not going to be the sole reason I vote for whomever I vote for nor is it going to form the pivitol point in my decision making process but as a constituent I darn well want to know if one of my elected officials had David Duke leanings and if he changed them, what was catalyst for this change? This is no “red-herring” question… this is about the nature of a man and his willingness to say for the record what he felt THEN because racism is a simple unlearnable habit like say… smoking.
Is race-bating the new term for asking questions? Don’t I have a right to know what the guy who represents me thinks about issues of race?
Lawrence, thanks for liking my analysis. Sorry you are not a fan. Sounds like you are a fiscal conservative though. That’s awesome.
Vivian, this is just new angle in the double standard that happens everytime a Republican runs for office that he has to answer any little thing that comes up concerning race or women. This is contrasted with Robert Byrd and Joe Biden and Bill Clinton who don’t have to answer to about anything. This is even shown with Jim Webb, with his issues in the past about women in the military. Just imagine if George Allen or another Republican running for office had said the same thing. Imagine the same Jim Webb, except running for another office with an (R) beside his name. Before anyone responds, just think about that. Imagine what the media would be saying. Now, back to reality, what is being said now about Jim Webb?
I don’t think anyone would be asking this question if a Democrat had accidentally had his picture taken with those people.
Lawrence, like you I am a social liberal but a fiscal conservative. However, I self-identify as a Democrat. Interesting how we came to different conclusions 🙂
hr, I disagree. I have seen posts about Webb’s past statements on affirmative action and women. I have seen posts about Robert Byrd (who, as I understand it, denounced his previous involvement with the KKK) and Biden and Clinton. Y’all all hold Reagan in high esteem but I recall his nickname was the Teflon President, because nothing anybody said stuck!
Asking questions about our elected officials is necessary part of the political process. Again, I have made no judgement about Allen vis a vis this photo incident. My indictment has been of the organization itself, which is decidely racist. So my questions for Allen remain: when did he know it and when did he disavow it?
Tucker – are you listening? Maybe you can convince Allen to come and live blog with me 🙂
Vivian, if you don’t think this picture was planned and strategically launched, you just don’t understand how campaigns are run.
As i said, you can ask all the questions you want, and every question should be answered.
But you’re still being used.
And HR Conservative is right. If Webb’s words about women came out of Allen’s mouth, NLS, you, RK and the WaPo would be screaming from the hilltops.
Insider, I understand quite well how campaigns are run. I think you guys are missing the overall point. I am insulted by the implication that I am being “used” when all I did was ask a question. Y’all want to talk about everything else but the issue: What did Allen know and when did he know it? Unless you can answer that, you are simply adding to the noise.
You are accusing US of adding to the noise?? HAHAHAHAHA. That is just too funny.
Vivian, what’s next? Gonna tell us you’re an “undecided voter?”
Vivian, what you are asking is completely reasonable. It is indeed a tactic to distract from an answer by spinning off topic. As is accusing you of being used.
It’s a simple question. It’s a reasonable question. It matters not where, or how the photo came into existance. The answer does not depend on the photo. But it also makes clear that if something is not reported on, then perhaps it doesn’t exist. If this photo did not exist, then there’d be no reason to ask your questions, so Allen may have been aware, or perhaps even affilated, with this group, yet we’d never know to ask.
I wonder what would happen if James Webb got his picture taken with a Confederate Reenactors unit. What would the bloggers from the left side of the spectrum say?
(yes I think that is relevent to this topic, and not a change thereof)