Former Sen. and Virginia Gov. George Allens’ 2012 campaign to return to the US Senate has attracted several “gotcha” left-wing media folks, who are likely looking for the next “Macaca” moment. Allen lost his 2006 Senate re-election bid after he pointed out Indian American S.R. Sidarth, who was tracking Allen’s campaign for Democrat Jim Webb, and called him “Macaca.”
“This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is,” Allen said at a campaign event in 2006, referring to Sidarth. “He’s with my opponent. He’s following us around everywhere. And it’s just great,” adding that Webb was getting financial support from a “bunch of Hollywood movie moguls.”
“Let’s give a welcome to Macaca, here,” Allen continued, referring to Sidarth again. “Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia.”
Allen faced a torrent of criticism from the mainstream media after he made his remarks about Sidarth. Democrats attacked Allen too, accusing him of racism and discrimination.
Now as Allen seeks to regain his Senate seat, he’s got a whole new set of people videotaping him. Allen’s new press secretary Bill Riggs confirmed for The Daily Caller that American Bridge, an organization affiliated with Media Matters and the “brainchild” of liberal activist David Brock, and left-wing political consulting firm Terra Strategies have sent trackers after Allen. In addition to that, the Virginia Democratic Party has sent a tracker after him too. Riggs was confirming news first reported on conservative Virginia blog BearingDrift.com. (Unemployed woman trying to sell handwritten letter from Obama)
Terra Strategies helped with the presidential campaigns of Democrats John Edwards, Al Gore and John Kerry, in addition to several other left-wing campaigns and political efforts.
Shauna Daly, a former spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, founded American Bridge. She was a spokesperson for the DNC when Tim Kaine was the chairman. Kaine is the Democratic candidate that either Allen or one of his GOP primary opponents will face in the 2012 election.
This revelation doesn’t surprise Allen’s campaign, though.
“It’s not surprising that Chairman Kaine’s allies in Washington will do whatever they can to advance their liberal agenda,” Riggs said in an email to TheDC. “George Allen is focused on running a positive campaign talking with Virginians about ideas and solutions to jumpstart the economy, unleash our energy resources and rein in wasteful government spending.”
Political candidates and organizations send trackers to videotape their opponents as they speak publicly. It’s not an uncommon practice. What’s odd about this, though, is that two national political groups sent trackers into Virginia to go after Allen. What’s even more unusual is that it’s still early in the GOP primary campaign, so Allen might not even be the Republican nominee. He’s the frontrunner right now, but there are seven announced GOP candidates in the race.
Terra Strategies didn’t return TheDC’s requests for comment. Daly and American Bridge couldn’t be reached for comment.