If you haven’t seen the video of George Allen, contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 — well, where the hell have you been? Actually, I missed it until Friday night on PBS, but word is that it has been the most viewed clip on YouTube.com.

The video was shot by a young American man of Indian descent who works for Allen’s opponent in a Virginia race. In it, Allen looks right into the camera and addresses the young man with a strange term that may be derogatory.

It’s not the language that matters here; you need to see Allen’s mien and posture. This is a man caught being very ugly, being a bully. He’ll go far in politics.

Now, I’m certain we’ve all done things we’d rather not see on video, maybe even ugly or mean things. But, we’re not all contenders for the presidency — no matter how low the entrance requirements have sunk.

Allen is a strange bird, from Southern California but with Dixie in his heart.

These days, many southerners protest they are held to an unfair standard. Let’s see: generations of slavery, secession from the union with bloody consequences, birthplace of Jim Crow, the Klan and lynching — aw, what the hell, all is forgiven.

By this rude summary, I do not mean to paint all Southerners as participants in or celebrants of every aspect of their history — OUR history. I sincerely sympathize with generous, kind-hearted, colorblind, love-thy-neighbor Southerners who feel unfairly judged. Nevertheless, there are a lot of Confederate battle flags around. It used to be said, “the South shall rise again.” It did — and put Duhbya in the White House.

At the same time, it is clear that Boston could be south of Richmond if that’s how we rate racism. Racism, like all the -isms, is deeply human if inhumane. Few of us are genuinely innocent after a few years steeped in whatever niche of our culture. Hate is human. Ignorance even more so. mjh

Read mjh’s blog — The Real Inaugural Address

Brothers and Sisters, it has taken nearly 150 years to win our war against Northern Aggression. A lot of Yankee blood has watered our gardens. Now, we are triumphant. We have beaten the Beast …. [read one of my favs]