US Senator and 2008 Presidential hopeful George Allen expressed deep regret at having used racially loaded remarks against an Indian from his opponent's camp and said he may even call upon the man and apologise.
At a rally on August 11, Allen introduced Shekar Sidarth, a campaign worker from the camp of his opponent Jim Webb, saying, 'This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt - Macaca or whatever his name is - he's following us around everywhere."
Allen finished up saying, "Let's give a welcome to Macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia."
Macaca is the common name of a monkey found in Asia. In Africa, it is also a common racist insult in French used to describe Africans. Allen, a Republican, said he didn't know what the term he used meant, and that he had no idea that Sidarth was Indian-born in America and an alumnus of his own university.
He had apologised for his description of Sidarth in statements to The Washington Post and during a meeting of Indian-Americans led by Sanjay Puri of the US India Political Action Committee. But he said he also hoped to express his sorrow in person.
"I look forward to seeing him [Sidharth] on the campaign trail and I'm going to personally talk to him and apologise," Allen told rediff.com, adding that he may even call on the young man at home to apologise to him if they did not meet.
"I am truly remorseful, I am truly sorry that it happened. It was a mistake and it was so contrary to what I truly believe," Allen said.
Asked if he believed if the controversy could affect his presidential aspirations, Allen said, "I am not worried about that. I am worried about doing the job I was elected to do."
Allen, who has visited India and who said he was a sponsor of the India-US nuclear pact and the increase in H-1B visas that many Indians avail of, said he would redouble his efforts to engage with the Indian American community and work to promote even stronger US-India relations.
