ANN ALTHOUSE ON A WAPO HIT PIECE: “Lots of photos of Perry having nothing whatsoever to do with this story, and not a single one of the rock. Well done, WP!”

The first comment at a Washington Post article about how Rick Perry, early in his career, used to host events at a hunting camp where there was a rock that had the word “Niggerhead” painted on it. . . .

Reading on, we see that — according to Perry — Perry’s father leased the property in 1983, and the first thing he did was paint over the word on the rock. And every time Perry saw the rock, it was painted over. But WaPo found 7 individuals who say they remember seeing the name on the rock during the time when Perry’s father’s name was on the lease.

Funny that they never found Obama’s background this interesting.

UPDATE: Washington Post Now Literally Looking Under Rocks in West Texas to Find Dirt on Perry. “The Post knows all too well how this game is played. The original story will get major play, and while the follow up and its own climbdown will attract less attention, a lot of dust gets stirred up and most of it ends up on the Post’s target, in this case, Perry. What’s left in the mind of those who don’t follow the facts is that Perry is somehow associated with racism.”

ANOTHER UPDATE: A reader emails: “The Post failed to mention that Perry was a Democrat throughout most of – if not all – the period in question. Just saying.” Heh.

MORE: I think that Herman Cain hurts himself by joining in on these attacks. His big appeal is that he’s not just another black race-card-playing politician. Climbing on board with the Post’s hit piece suggests that actually, he is. It reminds me of Tim Pawlenty’s weak and opportunistic reaction to the attacks on Sarah Palin. I think that’s what killed his campaign. If you side with the media establishment against other Republicans, you won’t help yourself in this election cycle.