Time To Renew An Old Joke

With the resignation of Florida Congressman Mark Foley, it's time to renew an old joke, from the last congressional page scanda, one from the Eighties (that one bipartisan, involving Massachusetts Democrat Gerry Studds and a male page, and Illinois Republican Dan Crane, and a female page):

You know that Congressman don't use book marks? They just bend the Page.

'Course, the difference between Republicans and Democrats is that Dan Crane was defeated in the next election, while Gerry Studds went on to serve several more terms in Congress.

And, of course, if Republicans acted like Democrats, we could expect that, in twenty years, the GOP would adopt an agenda which would seek to legitimate Foley's and Crane's behavior.

State Senate Blocks Action on Transportation

Indulging his fetish for increased taxes, Senator John Chichester has demonstrated once more why it is long past the time that we retired this chucklehead.

As much as two billion dollars in surplus tax revenue, and he wouldn't vote for anything that didn't include higher taxes.

Not that the House of Delegates covered itself in glory. A $1.5 billion bond package that would have sent only $375 million to Northern Virginia over five years --- 25% of the total --- is just a continuation of the same old problems of raping Northern Virginia to subsidize projects in other parts of the Commonwealth. I can't see a single good reason for Northern Virginians to vote for it. But at least it was something.

It was certainly more than Governor Timmy! and his Democrat/Repubmocrat allies offered.

BREAKING NEWS --- James Webb Terrorized Black Americans

WELL! Isn't this a revelation? It seems that the Washington Post's Michael Shear is reporting that Virginia Democrat nominee James Webb organized his ROTC unit to terrorize Black citizens in the Watts section of Los Angeles. Whether he was in uniform when doing so is a question apparently not asked, nor answered.

Webb's comments to the Times-Dispatch prompted Allen campaign officials to direct a reporter to Dan Cragg, a former acquaintance of Webb's, who said Webb used the word while describing his own behavior during his freshman year at the University of Southern California in the early 1960s. Webb later transferred to the U.S. Naval Academy.

Cragg, 67, who lives in Fairfax County, said on Wednesday that Webb described taking drives through the black neighborhood of Watts, where he and members of his ROTC unit used racial epithets and pointed fake guns at blacks to scare them.

"They would hop into their cars, and would go down to Watts with these buddies of his," Cragg said Webb told him. "They would take the rifles down there. They would call then [epithets], point the rifles at them, pull the triggers and then drive off laughing. One night, some guys caught them and beat . . . them. And that was the end of that."

Cragg said Webb told him the Watts story during a 1983 interview for a Vietnam veterans magazine. Cragg, who described himself as a Republican who would vote for Allen, did not include the story in his article.

Interesting, isn't it, that Shear felt it necessary to point out that "Allen campaign officials" were responsible for directing a reporter to Cragg. The reporter writing the Salon story evaded that question and refused to divulge his sources on an interview I heard on Chris Core's WMAL radio show the other day.

This apparently rates only four flipping toupees from Ben Tribbett. I wonder why? Oh, no I don't.

UPDATE: Well, I've seen today's WaPo. This story appears on page B1, front page of the Metro Section. That George Allen's purported racism rated repeated page one coverage and Jim Webb's purported serial hate crimes appeared buried in the second section of the paper tells you all you need to know about the editorial biases of Pravda on the Potomac. It certainly confirms Marxist I.F. Stone's observation that "What makes the Washington Post a great newspaper is the fact that you never know on what page the Page One story will appear."

Do Lefties Even READ The Constitution?

Apparently not, if you pay attention to how up in arms some on the far Left are over an apparent proposal to suspend the writ of habeas corpus in the Military Commissions Act of 2006 currently being considered by Congress.

The Constitution specifically empowers Congress to suspend the writ, as follows:

"The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it."

I suppose one can argue over whether it is appropriate in this case --- I might even agree with them --- but let's not pretend that even suggesting it is unconstitutional. Or that its scope is broader than it is. One incredibly foolish group is even suggesting that it "could allow the government to detain the attorneys themselves as 'enemy combatants.'"

One frequently wonders what color the sky is on the planet of these lunatics. Apparently, too, they speak another language. Clearly, they don't understand English.

Ya Gotta Believe!

There's so much tripe attributable to Democrats, but the recent hate campaign against George Allen is a new low for those that, many believe, couldn't sink any lower. But it's worth considering what you have to believe in order to support Jim Webb for the Senate

Ya gotta believe that George Allen used the word "nigger" thirty years ago, but that Jim Webb didn't use the word "gook" while a Marine in Vietnam.

Alternatively, ya gotta blieve that George Allen's use of the word "nigger" thirty years ago was unacceptable, but that Jim Webb's use of the word "gook" while a Marine in Vietnam was acceptable.

Ya gotta believe that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq when Bill Clinton, Teddy Kennedy, and other Liberals said their were, and that they magically disappeared when George W. Bush became President.

Ya gotta believe that George Allen's racist character thirty-five years ago is more relevant than was Bill Clinton's character when he was President of the United States.

Ya gotta believe that a man who quit Ronald Reagan's Administration over foreign and military policy differences knows better than a man who remains a member of Reagan's political party.

Ya gotta believe that young Mr. Siddarth was gravely offended by being called "Macaca" ... but sat down and broke bread with the people who thought it was funny, and drove for hours back to Northern Virginia without telling anyone that he had the goods on "Felix."

Ya gotta believe that "Macaca" is a term that resonates with racist voters in Breaks, Virginia.

Ya gotta believe that Jim Webb doesn't know that he's paying his nutroots supporters who are banging the racism drum.

Ya gotta believe that people who were willing to tolerate a racist as Virginia's Governer in 1993 and as Virginia's junior Senator in 2000 have seen the light.

Ya gotta believe that the GOP is a racist party, and that many people knew about George Allen's racism, and just didn't tell anybody.

Ya gotta believe that...

War is Peace

Freedom is Slavery

Ignorance is Strength

What A Great Idea

As implied in a post below, I am not of the mind that we should fear or flinch from actually uttering the racial slur that is the subject of the far Left's and media's hate campaign against George Allen, so long as it is not being used to refer to individuals or a group of individuals. Referring to it has "the n-word" strikes me as every bit as peurile as most of Jim Webb's nutroots contingent.

On the other hand, referring to it as "the Byrd word" certainly has its attractions. And is far more accurate and revelatory.

Weasels for Webb

Another self-identified yet anonymous "Republican" who claims to be voting for Webb.

Is anybody stupid enough to be persuaded by this? Put your name on it, and have a record as a Republican, and then I'll be impressed. Disgusted, too, but at least I won't think you're just a liar.

Ken Shelton's Inspiration?

Courtesty of Alton, we learn of one possible source for the myths --- if myths they are, and I believe that they are --- about George Allen. He provides four links:

Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4

Shelton is from North Carolina, isn't he?

I suppose some people might believe the George Allen story, just on the theory that you couldn't make this stuff up.

Well, maybe you can't. But you can sure change the factual context for political advantage.

Lefties Attack Susan Allen

In the continuing rush to the bottom which is the far Left (yes, VC, I said "far Left") of the Virginia blogosphere, Virginia Centrist --- so-called --- has reached a new low, and now attacks Senator Allen's marriage.

That's something I've only come to expect from some commenters at Sean Connaughton's Cult of Personality ... er, "Too Conservative."

And they're bold words from someone supporting a candidate who has three times as many ex-wives as George Allen.

Hitlary Says Condi Is Lying

This is priceless: a video in which Hitlary declares someone else to be a liar.

Aside from her consummate skills in this regard, isn't this the same woman who couldn't tell when her own husband was lying about "having sex with that woman; Ms. Lewinsky"?!?!?!

It's amazing what you can do when you're shameless.

Coming Soon to the Washington Post

Given its complicity in the hate campaign against Senator Allen, one wonders whether this isn't an upcoming page one headline in the Washington Post:

Monday, 2 October 2006
George Allen Announces Support For Pogroms!!!!
Racist Senator Offers Genocidal Vision for Virginians

(Alexandria, Va.) To a cheering crowd of racist Republicans, embattled Virginia Senator George Allen today announced his support for a new round of pogroms to combat poverty. "It is only through these pogroms that we can effectively work to rid Virginia of the blight of poverty," said Allen.

Independent Internet pundits Lowell Feld and Ben Tribbett were quick to discern the true significance of the Allen statement, saying that it was the latest in Allen's racist, anti-Semitic behavior and policies. "Pogroms were the standard modus operandi of eastern European anti-Semites in the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries," said Feld. "There can be little doubt that George Allen will soon offer a 'final solution' for the victims of poverty that includes concentration camps to starve them, and gas chambers to murder them." When asked if he expected such facilities to be located on Craney Island, Feld said he didn't know what or where that is.

University of Virginia political pundit Larry Sabato had this comment: "Well, while I wasn't there, this is clearly an effort by George Allen to appeal to his redneck, racist, 'Bubba' base. I'm not surprised. He'll almost certainly win over a majority of Virginia's redneck, racist, 'Bubba' voters with such a program. This race is over."

****

Of course, such a story will be accompanied by a primary editorial, roundly condemning Allen and the neanderthal, far-Right Virginia Republican Party.

Expect a correction, two days later, on page A24, bottom right-hand corner (actual size):

Wednesday, 4 October 2006
Correction
On Monday, the Washington Post inaccurately reported on a speech given by Senator George Allen. In Sunday's speech, Senator Allen announced his support for new programs to combat poverty, not "pogroms."
The Post regrets the error.

Guilty

There are not too many public controversies that don't have a Mel Brooks moment. That is, a moment when one has to harken back to some hilarious scene from one of his many hilarious movies.

After the last week of despicable charges from the Webb campaign and/or his nutroots contingent, one even has a choice. Personally, I'm torn between two musical numbers. Personally, I feel like Madeline Kahn must have felt during her musical number, "I'm Tired," in Blazing Saddles. But one guesses that Senator George Allen and his staffers are mindful of the great production number from History of the World, Part I: "The Inquisition" ("Hey, Torquemada, what do ya say? 'I just got back from the auto-de-fe...."), particularly Jackie Mason's role in a ping-pong game.

Of course, among the funniest moments of the former movie --- ones that don't translate well into this unfortunate PC age, where cable TV stations expurgate the word --- are those dealing with Cleavon Little as the Sheriff. A black sheriff?!?! Well, the townspeople don't see it that way; the word "nigger" is used liberally.

And yes, I'm going to actually use the word. Gee, I guess my political opponents can now accuse me of using it. Oh, foresooth! In that context, of course, Mel Brooks was using it to make fun of the ignorance of racism. That was the point, after all. And I'm merely quoting him. Does that mean I've used what various White Liberals are calling "the n-word"? Oh, my!

And I'll use it again. After all, there are plenty of books around which use it. Heavens to betsy, I even read two books in high school (no, not George Lincoln Rockwell High) with the word in the title: Nigger, and Up from Nigger, autobiographies by comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory. I had heard him speak at Bloomsburg State College (now, Bloomsburg University), and was impressed. Pretty good books, too.

I have no idea whether George Allen used the word in college. My God, perhaps he took an English course on Joseph Conrad, and read The Nigger of the Narcissus! Maybe he even saw Blazing Saddles in a theatre, and dared to laugh at it. Frankly, I don't much care at this point. What I care about are the policies he advocates. Are they racist? Only in the fertile imaginations of the race hustlers.

Democrats are running a despicable, race-baiting campaign against Senator Allen, and it's abundantly clear that they are doing so to conceal the fact that their candidate is so utterly lacking in substance. It's long past time when they should be called out on it and condemned for it.

For it's not just George Allen they're hurting. It's Virginia, and the nation.

Of course, that's a natural consequence of a Liberal's election.

Allen Rebuttal to Webb ... er, Web Smear

Here it is, complete and unexpurgated. However, Jon Henke gets one thing wrong. "Swiftboating" is telling the truth about a Democrat and forcing a Liberal media to pay attention. There's a simpler word for what Salon and the paid Webb bloggers have done: lying.

Webb’s Dirty Tricksters: Salon

Sadly, the Webb campaign is continuing their attempt to make this Virginia Senate race about lies and rumor-mongering, rather than about issues. In Salon today, an anti-tobacco and environmental activist claims Senator Allen “used “N-word” in college“.

Let’s be clear: as with the previous rumors and lies pushed by the Webb campaign, this is categorically false. Rather than talking about the issues relevant to voters, the Webb campaign is pushing rumors and lies about Senator Allen and his family.

In the proximate case, we’ve got a story in which one named person claims three main things.

1. “He used the N-word on a regular basis back then.”
2. “Shelton also told Salon that the future senator gave him the nickname “Wizard,” because he shared a last name with [KKK imperial wizard] Robert Shelton…”
3. “Allen said he came to Virginia because he wanted to play football in a place where ‘blacks knew their place,’” said Dr. Ken Shelton, a white radiologist in North Carolina

Fortunately, we have quite a lot of evidence that his story is categorically false — that this Salon story is evidence of the Democratic Party growing comfortable with the “Swiftboating” tactics they’d previously decried.

Aside from Salon’s own admission that 16 of the 19 people contacted did not remember any evidence of racism from George Allen — in fact, the seven people who knew Allen well during that time period specifically said that “did not believe he held racist views” — we’ve got statements from a great many former peers of Allen that specifically debunk these charges. Most relevantly:

Shelton lied about the origin of the name “Wizard”:

Joe Gieck, 35-year UVA trainer: “I seem to recall that Ken Shelton got the ‘Wizard’ nickname for his pass catching ability and before George Allen came to the University of Virginia.”

George Korte, UVA linebacker ‘70-’73: “Ken Shelton received his nickname because of his ability as a tight end to magically get open and catch the football not because he shared someone’s last name.”

Charlie Hale, UVA center ‘70-’73: I have always known him by the nickname, ‘Wizard’. I have always thought the name came from his ability to catch passes … or his ability to somehow get open in the field. Personally I believe that he was a true ‘Wizard’ because he always had the ability to sneak out after curfew and never get caught.”

Shelton lied about Allen using the “n-word”:

Doug Jones, UVA defensive back ‘71-’74 and roomate of Ken Shelton: “I was on the University of Virginia football team with George Allen for the 1972 and 1973 seasons. During that time I never heard George Allen use any racially disparaging word nor did I ever witness or hear about him acting in a racially insensitive manner.”

George Korte, UVA linebacker ‘70-’73: “Contrary to Ken Shelton, I have kept up with George Allen the past thirty-five years. During this time, I have never known or heard him use racial epithets to describe blacks either in public or private. … George Allen did not use racial epithets or demonstrate racist attitudes towards blacks in the early 1970s.

Charlie Hale, UVA center ‘70-’73: ““During the 34 years I have known George Allen I have never heard him use racial slurs or derogatory language to describe a person or group of persons.”

Shelton lied about Allen’s reasons for coming to UVA:

George Korte, UVA linebacker ‘70-’73: “George came to University of Virginia because his father became the head coach of the Washington Redskins.”

Charlie Hale, UVA center ‘70-’73: “The reason that Senator Allen came to Virginia to play football from UCLA was the fact that he was very close to his father, loved professional football and wanted to be near his family who would be living in Leesburg, Virginia.”

Had the Webb campaign or Salon been interested in actual journalism, as opposed to merely repeating a Webb campaign lie, they could have discovered these facts for themselves. Instead, they are doing the dirty tricks of the Webb campaign.

[this story will be updated as more news comes in]

Complete statements are below the fold:

Statement from Joe Gieck, trainer for the University of Virginia football team for over 35-years:

“I seem to recall that Ken Shelton got the ‘Wizard’ nickname for his pass catching ability and before George Allen came to the University of Virginia.”

____________________________________________

Statement from Doug Jones, defensive back on the University of Virginia football team 1971 thru 1974 and roomed with Ken Shelton in his second year:

“I was on the University of Virginia football team with George Allen for the 1972 and 1973 seasons. During that time I never heard George Allen use any racially disparaging word nor did I ever witness or hear about him acting in a racially insensitive manner.

“He was a scholar-athlete and a leader. I was proud to be his teammate.”

____________________________________________

Statement from George Korte, linebacker on the University of Virginia football team from 1970 through 1973:

“Contrary to Ken Shelton, I have kept up with George Allen the past thirty-five years. During this time, I have never known or heard him use racial epithets to describe blacks either in public or private.

“Specific items in the article that are not true are as follows:
1. As stated above, George Allen did not use racial epithets or demonstrate racist attitudes towards blacks in the early 1970s.

2. George came to University of Virginia because his father became the head coach of the Washington Redskins. Instead of continuing his undergraduate education at UCLA, he transferred to be closer to his family. He came to University of Virginia to attend one of the top public Universities in the nation not as the article states “because he wanted to play football in a place where ‘blacks knew their place’.

3. Many of the nicknames used to describe the players were not given by George. Mine was Tez. I received this nickname because a coach mispronounced my name as Cortez. This resulted in my nickname given to me from another linebacker. Ken Shelton received his nickname because of his ability as a tight end to magically get open and catch the football not because he shared someone’s last name.

“It appears to me that Kenny Shelton has some deep rooted problems with his self identity and a rather hyper active imagination.”

____________________________________________

Statement from Charlie Hale, center on the University of Virginia football team from 1970 through 1973:

“My name is Charles M. Hale, Jr. and I am writing this to state my personal knowledge of Senator George Allen.

“I received an athletic scholarship and attended the University of Virginia from 1972 till 1977. I was a member of the football team and met George Allen in 1972. During my first year the position I played was center and Senator Allen was a quarterback. Neither Senator Allen nor I were on the starting team and our job was to run the opposition offense for our starting defense to prepare for upcoming games. It was during this time we became close personal friends.

“When I was being recruited by UVA, the head coach Don Lawrence, informed me and my family that we would have a new quarterback, it was the son of Coach George Allen who was going to be taking over as head coach of the Washington Redskins. The reason that Senator Allen came to Virginia to play football from UCLA was the fact that he was very close to his father, loved professional football and wanted to be near his family who would be living in Leesburg, Virginia.

“Senator Allen and I were team mates for a period of two years 1972 and 1973 when he finished undergraduate school and then he attended law school also at UVA. We have maintained a close friendship now for 34 years. In the summer of 1976 we spent 6 weeks together driving and camping across the United States to visit his home and family in California. After graduation from law school at UVA the Senator worked in Abingdon, Virginia as a law clerk, and I lived in Grundy, Virginia we continued to see each other and go hunting.

“In 1988 I returned to UVA for a celebration marking 100 years of football at the school. I had been living in the western US since 1978 and we renewed our friendship. He took me home with him that night where I was to meet his wife Susan. Since that time we have remained close personal friends.

“During the 34 years I have known George Allen I have never heard him use racial slurs or derogatory language to describe a person or group of persons.

“Ken Shelton is a close personal friend of mine for the same period of time I have known Senator Allen. Ken was and still remains an amazing athlete, he is one who contained the ‘complete package’ height, speed, toughness, coupled with an uncanny ability to block, run and catch the football. I lived in the same apartment with him for two years (1973 and 1974) and got to know him very well. I have always known him by the nickname, ‘Wizard’. I have always thought the name came from his ability to catch passes (like the day against the Naval Academy when he caught 3 for touchdowns) or his ability to somehow get open in the field. Personally I believe that he was a true ‘Wizard’ because he always had the ability to sneak out after curfew and never get caught.

Jim Webb's and the Democrats' desperation is showing .... again.

Count Me In

While not agreeing entirely with the tone and profanity (though I have cussed in my heart), I certainly find myself in agreement with both Not Buck Turgidson and Mason Conservative: I am thoroughly sick of the race-baiting occurring in the Virginia Senate campaign.

Racism is the nuclear bomb of political debate: if you're hit with it, there's little you can do to respond. The race hustlers have so successfully overtaken reality that they have been able to make even the most innocent phrase potentially explosive. Or at least, exploitable.

However, I am not going to engage in moral equivalency, for it is quite clear from the outset that Jim Webb's nutroots supporters have gone from Bush Derangement Syndrome to psychotic, and that this entire series of events can and should be laid directly at their feet. And it is truly disappointing that someone I like and respect --- even though we are political opposites --- as much as Ben Tribbett has joined on the nutroots bandwagon. In Ben's case, I wish it could be attributed solely to youthful exuberance, but he has so frequently demonstrated an insight and maturity beyond his years that I find myself hoping that he has been rolled.

There is a method to oppose the Bush Administration, American policy in Iraq, and any number of policies of the Bush Administration. Instead of constructive opposition, however, Virginia's Democrat nutroots are offering nothing more than hate.

Thus, it's not sufficient to say that invading Iraq and removing Saddam Hussein was unnecessary, ill-advised, and/or counter-productive, a colorable argument, even if ones with which I disagree. No, Democrats are claiming that: it was done for base personal economic profit; or that "Bush lied and people died," and never mind the worldwide intelligence consensus that Saddam possessed weapons of mass destruction.

I don't know if this hate campaign will alienate voters sufficient to keep them away from the polls; I tend to discount such concerns.

What I really wonder is whether this Democrat campaign of race-baiting isn't based upon concerns (perhaps discerned from polling data) that the Democrat hammerlock on minority voters in Virginia (and nationwide) is slipping away, as Republican policies spread prosperity to demographic groups previously not enjoying it, or rather, conditioned by Democrat politicians to expect government handouts.

But isn't it deliciously ironic that Jim Webb and his nutroots supporters are savaging George Allen, while they want Webb to join a Democrat Senate Caucus that included former KKK leader Robert Byrd (D-WV)?

Your Desperation Is Showing

Poor Jim Webb. It's really sad when someone previously considered fairly honorable diminishes his entire record out of naked political ambition.

Yellow stars? Lightning bolts might equal Nazis?

If Jim Webb had any decency, he'd salvage what's left of his honor and denounce those campaign-financed mouthpieces in the blogosphere who are attacking George Allen, and in the process, setting back race relations in Virginia forty years or more. He might even come up with an idea more original than cut and run in Iraq.

Their hate campaign is desperate, and despicable. That Jim Webb is financing it makes him equally guilty, and utterly unworthy of public office anywhere, at any time.

The Song Remains the Same

I'm certainly glad that someone has the time to do this research. Once again, that illegitimate Conservative tactic of using a Liberal's own words against him/her is used to provide a great history lesson from the folks advocating passage of Virginia's Marriage Amendment:

Virginians have seen the ‘Unintended Consequences’ argument before. Can you tell when the following statements were made?

1. “As an unintended consequence of the legislature’s reckless action, even contracts by heterosexual members of the same sex – mothers and daughters, grandfathers and grandsons, sisters and brothers – may be called into question.” Tracy Thorne, vice-chair of Equality Virginia.

2. “The unnecessarily antagonistic language goes well beyond prohibiting gay marriage. There may be other ramifications involving wills, medical directives, insurance policies and home ownership agreements.”

3. “But the law’s language has some concerned that it could effectively prohibit a variety of private contracts between two people of the same sex, regardless of their relationship. Others worry that the bill threatens similar contracts between people who are not gay partners but are simply both of the same sex.”

4. “The bill’s broad language would preclude contracts to share assets or provide for medical powers of attorney, and though its sponsors deny they intend to do so, it would seem to ban even certain contractual business relationships undertaken by people who happen to be of the same gender.”

5. “Both gay rights activists and independent legal scholars agreed the nation’s now most strongly worded anti-[gay]marriage statute could have considerable impact on the ability of same sex couples to enter into legal agreements with each other. The new law will abolish the rights of same-sex couples to execute a will, sign medical directives or craft custodial agreements, according to Dyana Mason of Equality Virginia. Equality Virginia, located next door to the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Union, is expected to announce a lawsuit by early summer.”

6. “Critics say the law...could negate powers of attorney, wills, leases, child-custody arrangements, joint back accounts and health insurance granted by companies that recognize domestic partnerships.”

7. “But some legal experts say the law is so vague and ill-defined that it could interfere with legal contracts such as powers of attorney, wills, medical directives, child custody and property arrangements and joint bank accounts.”

8. “Concerns are being raised that a new Virginia law affirming the state’s prohibition against same-sex marriage could have widespread impact on contract law in the state. Some worry that the law could undermine contracts between unmarried people of the same sex that govern both personal and business arrangements, such as real estate holdings, prenuptial agreements and business partnerships.”

9. “The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia announced yesterday that it will challenge a new state law that bans civil unions. The ACLU said it is seeking same-sex couples to come forward and serve as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Specifically, the group is looking for homosexual couples who have contracts or other agreements that have been invalidated by the law.”

10. “I see a whole lot of potential plaintiffs.” Kent Willis, executive director of the Virginia ACLU,

11. “Equality Virginia, a statewide gay rights group, will join the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund in looking for people harmed by the law to become plaintiffs in a lawsuit that will seek to have it overturned.”

12. “This is a law that is so broad and sweeping, I don’t think there will be any shortage of potential plaintiffs.” Daniel Ortiz, UVA law professor.

13. “Mark Usry, a local representative for Equality Virginia, previously known as Virginians for Justice, said the group will sponsor a lawsuit challenging the bill and asked attendees to donate money.”

Are these quotes from today? Are they about the Marriage Amendment?

No. They were used by Marriage Amendment opponents to question the Marriage Affirmation Act, HB 751, when passed by the General Assembly in 2004. Opponents of Virginia's state constitutional amendment defining marriage are using the same tired arguments they used two years ago when Virginia passed into law the Marriage Affirmation Act.

"Opponents to the the amendment are as wrong today as they were then," said Victoria Cobb, Executive Director of the Family Foundation. “Virginians need to be reminded that these same groups warned of “unintended consequences” in 2004 and even promised lawsuits. We are still waiting for the first lawsuit. I suspect we’ll be waiting long after the Constitutional amendment passes because opponents are simply wrong.”

Sources: Roanoke Times, May 7, 2004; Virginian Pilot editorial, June 2, 2004; Free Lance Star, May 18, 2004; Washington Post, May 9, 2004; Washington Blade, May 7, 2004; LA Times, June 20, 2004; Associated Press, May 24, 2004; ABA Journal Report, July 16, 2004; Washington Times, July 2, 2004; RTD, July 1, 2004; Roanoke Times, July 1, 2004; Roanoke Times, July 1, 2004; Daily Progress, May 5, 2004

What is it about the far Left that gives them such trouble with facts?

More Childishness from Greg Letiecq

So Greg Letiecq, he of the sterling defense of freedom of speech, has decided to start editing my self-defensive posts at his little website.

Some pseudonymous commenter noted that:

James, I hardly ever agree with you, but your last post is dead on. It’s okay to promote social justice as long as it’s voluntary. Rishell is trying to get the government to promote it. If she’s elected, which I find it hard to believe she would be, none of us would be able to afford to live in Virginia anymore. With all of the programs she wants to impliment we’ll pay so much in taxes are kids will go hungry.

I responded as follows:

Read what I say, rather than what others with a self-serving agenda and/or hidden personal vendettas have to say about me, and you’ll probably discover that you agree with me far more often than not, “Had to Say.”

Now, I wasn't specific in mentioning anyone, but perhaps a guilty conscience (presuming the existence of one) provoked the OWW aka AWCheney to jump in with one of her self-serving cheap shots:

If what you say didn’t come served with a large helping of vitriol James, I’m sure that could be said of many people, myself included.

I responded as follows:

My “vitriol,” AWCheney, is limited to those "with a self-serving agenda and/or hidden personal vendettas."

Like you, AWCheney.

Greg decided that he should edit my post, declaring factual statements about Harry Parrish's primary campaign manager in 2005, a woman who aided in bringing since unprosecuted charges against opponent Steve Chapman but tried to deny her involvement (i.e., "those 'with a self-serving agenda and/or hidden personal vendettas. Like you, AWCheney.") as "offensive content." Offensive to AWCheney, probably, but not to those interested in facts regarding her sleazy tactics.

Apparently, though, "offensive content" is identifying the sleazy tactics of Greg's friends, but not belittling comments like this:

AWCheney said on 24 Sep 2006 at 5:57 pm
Actually no, Jimmy, you spread your vitriol indiscriminately…which is why you are so popular.

I responded with this:

Once again, the OWW can’t respond to facts, so she responds with belittling name-calling. To make it clear again, “Jimmy” is my ten-year-old son. He does not post here.

Get back on your meds, OWW.

Apparently, for Greg, that last line was "offensive content." Here's my last post on that thread:

James Young said on 24 Sep 2006 at 9:18 pm:

It's really amazing what you consider "offensive content," Greg. Noting the sleazy behavior and cheap shots of your friends? I note that AWCheney's belitting comments survived unscathed.

You're quite a selective champion of free speech.

Not to worry, though. I've posted the comments over at my site to demonstrate your selectively self-serving commitment to free and open debate.

And your hypocrisy.

We'll see how long my comment survives.

One really has to wonder about the relationship between Greg, the missing and as-yet unidentified "BVBL," and AWCheney. The posts which caused Steve Chapman to sue Greg and BVBL had all of the hallmarks of a well-funded opposition research operation.

Coincidence? Maybe a jury will decide. Were I representing Chapman, I would certainly be taking AWCheney's deposition.

These guys are priceless! Perhaps they're angling for a job in the Webb campaign of hate, distortion, and race-baiting. They'd fit right in.

UPDATE: Greg has made some comments that I commend to your attention, and also has removed some of the offending posts.

However, he now has a post up (one of his usually humorous photos, with appropriate captioning for the hearing impaired) which says very nearly one of the same things that I did. Hmmmm.

UPDATE II: I also managed to misspell Greg's name, which he was kind enough to overlook. It was unintentional, and I have corrected the error.

George Will on Michigan Civil Rights Initiative

George Will has an excellent column in today's Washington Post on the sleazy tactics of advocates of racial spoils systems to oppose a citizen's initiative to makes explicit in Michigan's state constitution the color-blindness spoken of so eloquently in dissent by the first Justice Harlan in Plessy v. Ferguson.

Observers of those opposing Virginia's Marshall-Newman Amendment to protect marriage will recognize the scare tactics being employed by nihilistic proponents of the radical homosexual agenda.

Democrat Chairman Candidate's Website Appears

Nine years ago, I ran (for the second and last time) for public office, the Dumfries District seat on the Prince William County School Board. It was in the early days of the Internet, and I certainly had no real appreciation for the Internet's power in campaigns. Nevertheless, a very pleasant young man from Woodbridge was kind enough to volunteer to put up a website for me. I don't know how much traffic it got, but I remember looking at it and thinking it quite good.

Whatever it looked like, it was certainly better than this.

One would think that a Democrat nominee for public office in a county of a third of a million people could do better than this. Sharon Pandak has managed to put up a site with even less substance than your average Democrat candidate.

"Experience Integrity Leadership"? What "Experience"? "Integrity" compared to whom? "Leadership" to where?!?!?

Previously, I was doubtful that Corey Stewart could match Chairman Sean's 70% in 2003. After all, Chairman Sean pulled a lot of Democrat votes because of his tax-and-spend policies.

But if this is the level of professionalism and substance we can expect from the Pandak campaign, Corey might even exceed 70%.

H/T to Greg.

Despicable Democrat Smears

Like most people (even Jim Webb is making pretensions, though I don't believe him), I'm getting a little sick of the race-baiting campaign against George Allen.

Perhaps the most despicable element of it, though, is that, in order to believe the smears, which started with a comment in August, you have to believe that Mrs. Allen --- George's mother, not Susan --- is a racist, and that it was at her knee where young George learned to badly mispronounce the racial smear "macaque."

Personally, I don't believe it. Any more than I believe that Jim Webb didn't refer to Southeast Asians as "gooks" during his tour in Vietnam. Don't expect a series of front-page Washington Post stories exploring that reality.

Jim Webb and his paid bloggers should be ashamed of themselves, but they probably aren't. Hell, Jim Webb won't even own up to financing this hate campaign against George Allen.

And after all, smearing a frail 83-year-old woman is a small price to pay in order to obtain political power.