Here's a second one I can't resist: Sen. George Allen (of Macaca fame) doing a cameo years ago in the 2003 pro-Confederate film Gods and Generals (you can even see him listed on the IMDB page as a Confederate officer).

Remember: This guy's not even from the South.

Just what are the Southern rights Allen felt such a need to celebrate? (You can ask former Klansman Sen. Robert Byrd, also an extra in the movie, the same question.)

(via Sullivan guest bloggers)

UPDATE: Well, the hate-mail has flown on this one.

Two general categories:

1) Do I know the movie is based on a trilogy of books by Michael and Jeff Shaara (and that the 1993 film "Gettysburg" is based on another volume from the trilogy), which taken together are not generally considered pro-Confederate?

Well, I've not made a study of the film, but I'd read that and I've seen it on cable. Let's just say I think the film gives the Confederacy more sympathy than it is due while whitewashing the issue of slavery (the only two black characters with speaking parts are pro-Confederacy).

2) Is anyone who takes pride in their Southern heritage a racist, by my logic?

Well, here was my main point: GEORGE ALLEN DOES NOT HAVE A SOUTHERN HERITAGE! He grew up moving around the country following his father's coaching career; and his father was from the Midwest. His obsession with cultivating a Southern, good ol' boy image and embracing all things Confederate is, therefore, rather inexplicable and a little bit disturbing. And it certainly doesn't do his chances of winning the presidency any good.

Back to the question at hand, though: No. Having pride in one's Southern heritage is nothing shameful, in my view. Honorable men fought and died on both sides in the Civil War. But that heritage and that war can't be extricated from the moral crime of slavery.

I don't know if George Allen is a racist -- in fact, I think that's unknowable. Politically, however, he's got a race problem. It's of his own making. And this is one more piece of it.