I’ve been wondering why more people have been hitting my post about the ugly racial history of Senator George Allen (R-VA). The reason, it seems, is that the resolution Allen is sponsoring to apologize for the Senate’s failure to pass anti-lynching legislation is about to reach the floor.

Unlike other media outlets, the Washington Post article on the resolution puts Allen’s sponsorship of the bill in the context of his political history:

”The apology is long overdue,” said Senator George Allen, Republican of Virginia, who is sponsoring the resolution with Senator Mary L. Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana. ”Our history does include times when we failed to protect individual freedom and rights.”

The Senate’s action is occurring amid a series of conciliatory efforts nationwide that include the reopening of investigations and prosecutions in Mississippi. Advocates say the vote would mark the first time Congress has apologized for the nation’s treatment of African-Americans.

Allen’s involvement could help mend his rift with black Virginians who criticized him for hanging a noose outside his law office, displaying a Confederate flag in his home, and proclaiming a Confederate History Month while governor.

The question that’s omitted, however, is whether this resolution — commendable as it may be — is enough to make up for his past history if/when he runs for president. My answer is no.

Update 6/14: It passed on a voice vote — apparently a handful of senators didn’t want to go on record supporting it. What a sad commentary on how far we have to go in this country.

Also, it’s worth noting that the New York Times joined the Post in pointing out the political incentives for Allen to push the resolution in its story today:

Others described the resolution as an act of expediency for Mr. Allen, who is a likely presidential candidate and who has been criticized for displaying a Confederate flag at his home and a noose in his law office. Mr. Allen said that they were part of collections of flags and Western paraphernalia and that he was motivated not by politics, but by a plea by Dick Gregory, the civil rights advocate, who wrote him a letter urging him not to “choose to do nothing.”