Wonkette

That’s basically what we get out of today’s Post story on Allen’s belated embracing of his heritage. Controlling the damage wrought each time Senator Shanda opens his mouth is not a job we’d wish on anyone, and by all accounts, Dick Wadhams (heh) is a decent sort. So, years after he was first asked and a month after the Internet learned about it, George Allen is willing to admit this much: His maternal grandfather was Jewish. This would be the one who was in a Concentration Camp for reasons that Senator Macaca, well, lied about (but it was a totally Spock kinda lie — Grampa Lumbroso was almost certainly an “Allied sympathizer,” as the Allies were the ones who didn’t want to gas him). But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. A couple more thoughts, and an excerpt from sister Jennifer Allen’s hilarious book, after the jump.

The Post:

He insisted, through a press secretary, that his mother was raised a Christian.

We don’t know if that’s true (she does appear to have gone to Catholic school, but Etty Lumbroso Allen was married by a justice of the peace at a “Jewish friend’s house,” because, for some reason, a Catholic ceremony wouldn’t work for her). Jennifer Allen’s memoir does have this anecdote, though:

I’d only been to church once. Throughout the service, Mom gave a continual play-by-play.

The procession of the priest: “Here comes the hypocrite.”
The collection plate: “Here come the vultures.”
The forgiveness of sins: “Here comes the guilt.”

We kinda like Etty Allen.

Allen Says He Embraces His Jewish Ancestry [WP]
Earlier: Senator Ferschlugginer
Guess What, Ladies? He’s Jewish, Too!