The full piece is up on New Republic (free registration required). Here's a choice excerpt:
From his back pocket, he removes a tin of Copenhagen--"the brand of choice for adult consumers who identify with its rugged, individual and uncompromising image," according to the company--and taps a fat wad of the tobacco between his lip and gum using an impressive one-handed maneuver. As the scrum breaks up, Allen turns away and spits a long brown streak of saliva into the dirt, just missing one of his constituents, a carefully put-together, blonde, ponytailed woman approaching the senator for an autograph. She stops in her tracks and stares with disgust at the bubbly tobacco juice that almost landed on her feet. Without missing a beat, Allen's communications director, John Reid, reassures her: "That's just authenticity!"
And the racist leanings keep coming: - Displayed a Confederate flag in his living room while running for Gov in 1993.
- Had a ficus tree in his law office with a noose hanging from it
- Accepted an invitation from a discrimintating club that 3 previous Govs had refused
- Declared April "Confederate History and Heritage Month"
- Voted against Martin Luther King day
Is this enough to derail a Presidential bid with 2 years to go? |
