"Swinging" back at Allen

It has been reported that Dan Cragg was referred to the press by George Allen's campaign to claim Jim Webb had a racial incident in California. That story may now be falling totally apart.  From 9 News:

"Dan Cragg, who later worked with Webb at the Pentagon during the Reagan Administration, says Webb’s account is missing both from the tape recording and transcript of his interview with the rising star among Vietnam veterans. Cragg says he doesn’t remember if he erased that part of the tape or failed to record that part of the interview."

more...

"According to Cragg, when Webb did not publicly repudiate the allegations against Allen, he decided to "level the playing field."

Meanwhile, the headline on MSNBC is another person accusing Allen of using the n-word.  From that:

"When George Allen stood right up and said he had never used that word, and that just blew me away,” Waring said.  “I thought, ‘Boy, you could, if you had any integrity, you would say yes, I may have made some mistakes in my youth, in my younger years, but, and I'm sorry.’  But to hear him lie about it when I know he is lying."

Allen's problem developing now is not the use of racial slurs two decades ago, but his comments on Monday denying it.  What was otherwise a good day for him is suddenly turning sour once again!

Here's my NLS advice to George Allen:  "As long as you continue to lie about this story, the noose will continue to tighten."

Given Allen's history- that's something he will understand well.

Comments

[aes]

What happened to your "Amazing 180" statement?

[Not Larry Sabato]

The apparent collapse of the story that Webb had the same behavior.

[aes]

Thank God you take your own advice seriously...honesty. There really was no "180". From what I hear, the Allen camp (internally) believes that this is a 2 point race. That is why they are in a state of panic. As Chris Mathews alluded to tonight, people are coming out of the woodwork and contacting him. I don't think it is going to get better for him. At least, I hope not!

Allen fell in a Cragg.

Why is Terrel Owens like George Allen?

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&%09s=1045855935174&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190882460&path=

Even the Times Dispatch(Richmond) is against Allen on this.

Well, if nothing else, hopefully this non-episode teaches devoted Webbheads the dangers of blind allegiance.

For being a pretty secular crowd, I'm amazed at how easily liberals can fall into gushing groupthink. You can vote for a guy without worshipping him, kids. Let's just caaaaaaalm down here.

[Not Harry F. Byrd, Sr.]

Wadams is totally incompetent.

You'd think after circling the wagons on macaca, refusing to apologize, and giving the story 2-3 weeks of legs, Wadams, Allen, et al. would have learned their lesson.

Given how they dealt with the Chamber/jewish thing, I thought they learned by immediately laying it to rest, then Allen shows his insensitivity by making a stupid ham sandwich/pork chop crack.

Now, this pops up and it's back to deny, circle the wagons, counter attack with a bunch of Republican operatives (not just this guy but even the football player character witnesses were blatant partisans), and play the victim again. They haven't learned squat.

If Allen had said he'd used the word occasionally in the past, he'd learned from his mistakes, and moved on, he'd have been better served than by saying he'd "never" used it which is total nonsense and just egged on not just the people who've heard him say it, but every freakin junior reporter on the planet who wants to make their name by getting the next scoop with someone who heard it.

Wadams' ineptitude is digging his own candidates' grave.

[Greg A.]

Dammit, I am an Allen supporter, and this is exactly what I thought would happen. Allen is going to lose this by continuing to dig the hole deeper. All this is doing is drawing attention to the Macaca incident and forcing people to look into Allen's past voting record, which is incredibly poor in reference to black Americans. Frankly, I am embarassed.

Allen camp, get it together, we have got to beat Jim Webb!

Woah, th RTD article is really againt Allen. That's surprising but it makes a good point. Good for WEbb, too.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

Little slow on the uptake today Ben?

Dude, the 180 thing was hilarious, so much so I couldn't bring myself to comment.

Allen is still in deep trouble and there is just absolutely NO doubt about it.

You need to look more carefully where these accusations are coming from. The article in the Post THIS AM mentioned that the man reporting this behavior from Webb was PROMPTED and REFERRED by the Allen campaign.

NOT ONE of the Allen F-ups has had ANYTHING to do with the Allen actions, statements, and acquaintances who've come out with their stories---the Webb campaign has not sourced allegations.

On the other hand, from the women of the academy news conference, to the regurgitated accusations of anti-semitism, to the latest "Webb used the N-word too"---ALL ALLEN CAMPAIGN SOURCES!!!

Get a clue Ben and stick to the election analysis.

Webb is on the way to winning a Senate seat from Virginia. I know--it's still close, but it's clear where the momentum lies.

[Doug in Mount Vernon]

Just to clarify the last post it should have read:

"NOT ONE of the Allen F-ups has had ANYTHING to do with the Webb campaign other than the macaca video. The Allen actions...."

Sorry I must have accidentally highlighted and deleted that.

[Mimi Schaeffer]

MUHAHAHAHAAAAAA...

[Spank That Donkey]

ohhh, I saw Allen was running for President, and all of a sudden I realized my name and hazy story can be brought to light...

I am a hero... I made George Allen run away like a scared rabbit, when he saw me, and was confronted..

ooooooooo.... I'm somebody....

[Nova]

Like I've been saying, Allen could end this whole thing if he just came clean. I don't know why he doesn't get it. Clinton never got it either. Why do politicians always think they can lie their way out of things?

If Allen basically came out and admitted that he was a real ass when he was younger, that part of being an ass was using the n-word, and that he now realizes that only asses use the n-word, this story would become meaningless. He could even use the event to talk about how he fights for HBCU funding, and maybe get a bunch of "ethnics" next to him for a photo-op, like Colbert!

VA Centrist has basically told us without telling us that another Allen tape is the big bombshell he's been referring to. Allen can make that tape worthless if he just comes out and says: "Yes, I was a racist jerk! I admit it! And I was wrong! I lied because I was ashamed of myself! And that's why I've worked so hard to help my ethnic pals here with (at this point everyone stops paying attention). Vote for me!"

The whole thing would be over. The only thing that could revive the charges then would be something from the last 10-15 years showing Allen being a racist, and it seems that all the evidence has been from pre-1984. Allen does that, the whole character issue is off the table, he outspends Webb with some issue ads, and red Virginia elects its red senator.

If Allen is too stubborn to apologize, he deserves to lose.

[mr science]

I can't believe anyone got suckered by the Dan Cragg story for a second. How pathetic.

[lokiloki]

There is another Allen tape coming. It is in the last 10-15 years.

Just think: a woman in a stadium heard him use the word several times.

Just think: in how many other stadiums has Allen used the word? In how many of those stadiums was a camera present?

[lokiloki]

(And by camera I mean video camera.)

[plunge]

lokiloki, you are a douchebag who has spent his time insulting this great state. You have about as much credibility as Allen on this.

[lokiloki]

Thankyou sir.

[lokiloki]

And for those new readers, I might ask again: Virginia is for racists?

[plunge]

Chad, please just stop. You're not fooling anybody, and you're embarrasing yourself. :)

[military man]

lokiloki, if such a tape exists, why is no one coming forward with it?

[Poli-Carp]

I wouldn't say that Michael Paul Williams speaks for the Times-Dispatch.

[New Anti Allen Aid]

Check out the new anti-allen ad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTE0Gxbfv1k