Redstate

the "everybody does it" defense, or the "they did it first" defense, or "they are bad and we are good" defense?

a deliberate attempt to misunderstand the issue, or are you genuinely confused?

The monkey suits are a reaction to Allen's comment, intended to provoke discussion about Allen's alleged racial insensitivity. To write a post that completely neglects to even mention this fact is misleading.

perhaps better than you do given your heroic defense of this stunt.

You did pick up on the fact that George Allen is not going to be at the event, right, so it is pretty hard to react to the actions of someone who isn't even there.

I guess I can follow the Mfume campaign around in blackface now knowing you'll defend me because it is just a reaction to what was done to Michael Steele.

Certainly you may question the decision to protest at this time and place (I do, in fact)

Who knew?

You can do whatever you want to do, streiff, it's a free country. Although if you're protesting remarks made by a candidate I don't know how much this quote gives you to work with:

But Kweisi Mfume, who is running for senator, yesterday outright condemned the comments by his fellow black Democrats.
"Racially tinged attacks have no place in this campaign for U.S. Senate," said Mr. Mfume, who has chided his party's lack of support for his campaign. "If they did, I could very well be the object of public racial humiliation, based on my skin color, by people who don't like my politics."
"Black bigotry can be just as cruel and evil as white bigotry. There are too many bigots in too many places," Mr. Mfume said, repeating a common refrain from his speeches.

is they aren't protesting Allen's remarks because it is not an Allen campaign event.

I don't know how much more clear this needs to be. Allen isn't there, ergo, they can't be protesting Allen.

The special occasion is the Fairfax County GOP’s Ethnic Rally this Saturday, September 9th, 2006.
(Details further down) Allen and three other Republican candidates will be attending the event.

Please note that I agree that this is not an appropriate time and place for their protest.

That has nothing to do with my point about placing this event in its proper context.

1). The author thought it didn't need to be stated for the same reason that it didn't need to be stated that water in its liquid form is wet and that in a closed thermodynamic system entropy always increases.

2). The author is of the opinion that Democratic political operatives will always try to portray Republicans as racists; the actual details are pretty much unimportant and uninteresting for those outside the campaign.

I'm torn, myself - although I do note that either answer still gives tacit encouragement for the Raising Kaine individuals to express their racism*. That's a bit of a problem.

Moe

The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC.

*"Monkey Fest". Charming people: I bet that they loved the blackfacing incidents, too.

Absent the context that this is a response to Allen's remarks, it appears that the Dems saw the Reps were holding an ethnic rally, called it a monkey fest, went out and got a monkey costume, and plan to disrupt it.

What actually happened was that the monkey/bananas stunt has been ongoing since Allen's remarks, the "monkey fest" of course refers to their protest and not the ethnic event, and the intent is to draw attention to alleged racial insensitivity on the part of Allen.

It's not that past events need to be recapped in excruciating detail, it's that when past events contradict your interpretation of current events they should at least be acknowledged.

With respect to your second point, what's your take on Allen's remark and his personal history?

this event stands alone, it isn't like they were stalking Allen in a gorilla suit, they choose an event where George Allen was not and an ethnic festival, to boot, to behave this way. Their actions speak for themselves.

As to Allen, he's apologized for this and there is nothing in his personal history that I find objectionable. I know you probably don't like the fact that he's been known to (gasp!) possess as Confederate battle flag but I don't have a problem with that and I suspect the overwhelming majority of Americans wouldn't either. I don't expect you to understand that but then again I could never understand how any American could vote for a guy who met with North Vietnamese officials while we were at war.

what they have been doing -- stalking Allen in a gorilla suit. According to the Raising Kaine post that started all this, "Allen and three other Republican candidates will be attending." It's not a random ethnic festival, it's a GOP event.

I happen to agree that this is not the proper place and time for such a stunt, but I would appreciate the event being placed in context.

you have paid staffers from the Webb campaign wearing a gorilla suit to an ethnic festival. I don't know how much more context an average person really needs. The act and its gleeful premeditation provide the context.

These guys are either stone racists, or morons, or probably both. That is the context.

...that they could and would scream about. We've seen it before, will see it again; it's what they do. As streiff has noted, the original incident has been apologized for over and over again, and as usual the Democrats doth protest too much. Since you asked.

And, brendanm98? We're functioning adults who can be reliably assumed to be checked out on the background, thanks. You want an infinite regress of hand-holding, read dKos or firedoglake.

Moe

PS: The actual intent is for Democrat operatives to display racist attitudes and get away with it. Since we're playing the 'peer into another person's soul' game, and everything.

The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC.

to this comment: And, brendanm98? We're functioning adults who can be reliably assumed to be checked out on the background, thanks. You want an infinite regress of hand-holding, read dKos or firedoglake.

Except I can't quite figure out what you're saying. Sorry, need coffee I guess. Could you put it another way?

This is a serious political weblog that pays attention to GOP politics; we thus respect our readers enough to assume that they are already aware of current events involving Republicans, particularly when said events are sufficiently notorious to make the evening news.

The next sentence was merely a sneer at two sites of which I have a low opinion, and thus had no real semantic content. I was caught up in the moment.

The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC.

We've already covered that point, although I notice you never answered my question. The story is manipulative to a degree that is, in my humble opinion, decidedly disrespectful to your readers.

I'd add that your impression of RS doesn't match what is displayed in the comments on this thread.

The context is that the left is attempting to paint a Republican office holder is being a racist, based on the usual flimsy evidence.

I submit that the fact that you ommited to mention this context in your remarks is manipulative and disrespectful to me, your reader.

1). Re covering: no, what was covered was your complaint about our disapproval of Democratic operatives acting in a racist manner. I really am sorry that they're doing this to your party, but that's not my fault.

2). If your rather snide notice was refering to your request for clarification, I did answer your question: you apparently just didn't understand it. If you were referring to your earlier question, let me paste my response:

Shrug) The Democrats found something... by Moe Lane

...that they could and would scream about. We've seen it before, will see it again; it's what they do. As streiff has noted, the original incident has been apologized for over and over again, and as usual the Democrats doth protest too much. Since you asked.

Otherwise, I'm at a loss.

3). We will continue to take the position that our readers are clever enough that we don't need to hold their hands. You find this uncongenial, ach, well.

4). There are easier ways to insult streiff and myself than passive-aggressive BS like that, and they aren't notably safer, either. Don't do that again.

Moe

The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC.

Actually, on second thought, I'm done now. If you feel so inclined, I would appreciate it if you reread the entire thread tomorrow.

This is not currently a discussion in which I can participate.

I'd like to assume your self-appointed role of Grand Inquisitor for a moment.

I threw out a question for people such as yourself but never received an answer. How about it?