One would imagine that the folks at the New Republic were hoping for a bigger splash to Ryan Lizza’s story. They leaked it in advance of web publication, and published the web story ahead of posting the full magazine — in which it’s the cover story.
Just two days later, Sen. George Allen was scheduled to take a “civil rights pilgrimage” through Southwest Virginia with civil rights leader Rep. John L. Lewis. Perfect timing to pin it on Allen, no?
In the Washington Post‘s coverage of the trip, the paper shrugs (if papers can shrug). The old news about the Confederate battle flag and noose make the ninth paragraph, and the TNR story makes the tenth.
Read more on the Lizza story here.
