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Allen Scrambles to Heal Rift over Racial Slur Sen. George Allen (R-VA), speaking at a campaign event last week, called a young Indian-American man who was working for his opponent a "macaque" or "macaca" -- the name of a type of monkey, and a word that in much of the world considered a racial slur against dark-skinned people.

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Allen Scrambles to Heal Rift over Racial Slur

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Allen Scrambles to Heal Rift over Racial Slur

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Sen. George Allen (R-VA), speaking a campaign event last week, called a young Indian-American man who was working for his opponent a "macaque" or "macaca" -- the name of a type of monkey, and a word that in parts of the world is considered a racial slur against dark-skinned people.

Allen, who has ambitions to be the 2008 Republican candidate for president, has apologized and met with Indian-American political leaders.

Slate chief political correspondent John Dickerson talks with Alex Chadwick about the political fallout.