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Sen. Allen Claims Jewish Roots
By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 19, 2006; 5:18 PM
Republican Virginia Sen. George Allen said for the first time today that he is part Jewish, a day after responding angrily during a campaign debate to a question about whether his family has Jewish roots.
In a statement released by his campaign, Allen denounced the TV reporter who asked the question but said he is proud to have recently discovered that his grandfather, a Nazi resistance fighter in North Africa, was part of a well-known Jewish family.
"I was raised as a Christian and my mother was raised as a Christian," Allen said. "And I embrace and take great pride in every aspect of my diverse heritage, including my Lumbroso family line's Jewish heritage, which I learned about from a recent magazine article and my mother confirmed."
Allen was asked about his Jewish heritage by Peggy Fox, a WUSA-TV reporter, at a debate with his Democratic opponent, James Webb, in Tysons Corner on Monday. Fox had asked earlier in the debate about whether Allen might have learned the word "macaca," a demeaning term which he used to describe a Webb aide last month, from his mother.
Allen responded angrily to both questions and said only that he was raised Christian.
"Why is that relevant -- my religion, Jim's religion or the religious beliefs of anyone out there?" he said to Fox, prompting applause from the audience of about 600 business executives. He said people should not make "aspersions about people because of their religious beliefs."
In the statement issued today, Allen called Fox's questions "especially reprehensible" and "deeply offensive."
But he said a recent magazine article, which raised the question of his Jewish heritage, had prompted him to ask his mother.
"Some may find it odd that I have not probed deeply into the details of my family history, but it's a fact," he said. "Whenever we would ask my mother through the years about our family background on her side, the answer always was, 'Who cares about that?' "
Fox said she was surprised by Allen's angry reaction to her question and she defended the decision to probe what she called a factual issue about his background.
"I don't know why he was set off. I was dumbfounded at his reaction, and somewhat speechless," she said. "It didn't impugn anyone. It was just a question about a fact. He's attacking the media. If you don't like the question, attack the media."
By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 19, 2006; 5:18 PM
Republican Virginia Sen. George Allen said for the first time today that he is part Jewish, a day after responding angrily during a campaign debate to a question about whether his family has Jewish roots.
In a statement released by his campaign, Allen denounced the TV reporter who asked the question but said he is proud to have recently discovered that his grandfather, a Nazi resistance fighter in North Africa, was part of a well-known Jewish family.
"I was raised as a Christian and my mother was raised as a Christian," Allen said. "And I embrace and take great pride in every aspect of my diverse heritage, including my Lumbroso family line's Jewish heritage, which I learned about from a recent magazine article and my mother confirmed."
Allen was asked about his Jewish heritage by Peggy Fox, a WUSA-TV reporter, at a debate with his Democratic opponent, James Webb, in Tysons Corner on Monday. Fox had asked earlier in the debate about whether Allen might have learned the word "macaca," a demeaning term which he used to describe a Webb aide last month, from his mother.
Allen responded angrily to both questions and said only that he was raised Christian.
"Why is that relevant -- my religion, Jim's religion or the religious beliefs of anyone out there?" he said to Fox, prompting applause from the audience of about 600 business executives. He said people should not make "aspersions about people because of their religious beliefs."
In the statement issued today, Allen called Fox's questions "especially reprehensible" and "deeply offensive."
But he said a recent magazine article, which raised the question of his Jewish heritage, had prompted him to ask his mother.
"Some may find it odd that I have not probed deeply into the details of my family history, but it's a fact," he said. "Whenever we would ask my mother through the years about our family background on her side, the answer always was, 'Who cares about that?' "
Fox said she was surprised by Allen's angry reaction to her question and she defended the decision to probe what she called a factual issue about his background.
"I don't know why he was set off. I was dumbfounded at his reaction, and somewhat speechless," she said. "It didn't impugn anyone. It was just a question about a fact. He's attacking the media. If you don't like the question, attack the media."
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