Northern Virginia Republicans are holding a rally on Saturday at Edison High School that’s designed to reach out to minority voters in Fairfax County. It’s actually an annual event at this point, but obviously this year’s rally holds more significance because the Democratic presidential nominee is black, and Virginia has become a swing state this year.

Via the tipline, TPM Election Central can’t believe that former Senator George “Macaca” Allen is going to speak at the event. Given Allen’s very public racial slur gaffe during his 2006 campaign, why would the Virginia GOP want him there? Why, because the the 2006 rally was actually designed as a way for Allen to try to recover from his Macaca Moment. It was scheduled only a month after a YouTube video of Allen addressing an Indian-American campaign aide to Jim Webb as “macaca” turned the former senator’s campaign upside down.

Of course, the 2006 rally did little to save Allen, and while it’s not surprising the Virginia GOP would include him in this year’s event as well, it is slightly surprising that the Washington Post’s story on Wednesday about this year’s rally doesn’t even mention the word “macaca.” Has Allen become so politically irrelevant that his presence at a minority-focused rally isn’t even notable?

If you’d like to find out what Allen’s thoughts on diversity are these days (also scheduled to speak are Reps. Tom Davis and Frank R. Wolf), the NoVa GOP Unity Rally at Edison High School (5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria) is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20 at 11:30 a.m.