George Allen Hates ME Too!

So Dara had a good post about George today that resulted in a rather lively comments section. But she didn't even mention the big news about G. Felix.

George Allen doesn't seem to like Jews.

I know, it's a shocker that a guy like G. Felix would be an anti-semite, but I hadn't really heard any hard evidence. Today, the Washington Post has the goods.

At a debate in Tysons Corner yesterday between Republican Allen and Democrat Webb, WUSA-TV's Peggy Fox asked Allen, the tobacco-chewing, cowboy-boot-wearing son of a pro football coach, if his Tunisian-born mother has Jewish blood.

"It has been reported," said Fox, that "your grandfather Felix, whom you were given your middle name for, was Jewish. Could you please tell us whether your forebears include Jews and, if so, at which point Jewish identity might have ended?"

Ok. I'm with Kos....
That's a dumb, inappropriate question for a debate, but it's Allen's response that's telling. Allen supporters booed the question from the audience, which is a little over the top but fine.... and then.....

"I'm glad you all have that reaction," Allen said to the audience as people jeered the questioner. Allen lectured Fox about the importance of "freedom of religion and not making aspersions about people because of their religious beliefs."

So there you have it. Calling someone Jewish is "making aspersions." Insulting them.

Wonkette has more.....

George Allen — whose mother was, yes, of the prosperous and well-known Jewish Lumbroso family — clearly so shocked — shocked! — at the question that he can’t bring himself to just fucking say “yes, my mom was a Jew, that’s why I bring up the fact that my grandfather was in a fucking concentration camp.” No, instead he suddenly (and temporarily, one presumes) becomes a First Amendment absolutist of a stripe we’ve never seen before: one who takes “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” to mean “the press doesn’t have a right to ask me if anyone in my family was ever a member of the Tribe in front of my milky-white constituents.”

I'm almost proud G. Felix hates me. If Macaca Man hasn't insulted your ethnic group yet, don't worry, he'll get to you soon.

Here's the video from the debate.