Gotta keep that WaPo story going somehow, especially after Perry’s big fundraising haul re-established him as a serious contender for the presidency. The sponsor of today’s resolution, incidentally? Former Obama campaign co-chair Jesse Jackson Jr, whose pop singlehandedly immortalized the term “Hymietown.”

Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. submitted a resolution today in the House of Representatives to “call on Rick Perry to apologize for not immediately doing away with the rock that contained the word ‘N*****head’ at the entrance of a ranch he was leasing on and which he was taking friends, colleagues and supporters to hunt.”…

Jackson, Jr., who drew his own primary challenger this week in his campaign for reelection to the House, said that even though the Perry family apparently took action to cover up the offensive word, “How, when, or whether Governor Perry dealt with it when he was using the property isn’t clear and adds a dimension to the emerging biography of Governor Perry.”…

Jackson, Jr. also pointed out that Herman Cain is the only Republican presidential candidate to criticize Perry “for being insensitive when the word was not immediately condemned,” and he called for “Perry’s presidential rivals, who have not yet made strong statements of outrage over the rock that contained the word, to do so.”

A rep for Perry replied, “With our nation’s economy faltering and the American people desperate for recovery, surely Congress has better things to do.” And indeed, you’re probably wondering, “Why is a House member introducing a de facto censure resolution against someone who’s … not a House member?” Good question; the GOP had the same thought, which is why Jackson’s resolution was initially ruled out of order. Jackson appealed the ruling and the chamber ended up voting 231/173 to table the matter. That’s almost but not quite party-line. The lone switcher was Henry Cuellar — a Democrat from Texas. No surprise.

Two clips for you, one of Jackson on the House floor and the other of Perry’s first public comments about the hunting camp to Fox News. Contra JJJ and some of WaPo’s sources, he insists that his family did address the slur on the rock by painting over it as far back as 1984. I hope he’s absolutely sure of that; if proof somehow turns up that the slur wasn’t obscured until years later, this story will burst anew with the fresh angle that Perry’s trying to cover up the truth. As for the Jackson video, I’m convinced that somewhere Axelrod’s watching it and thinking, “Wait until after Perry’s the nominee, dummy.” As it is, you know who this benefits? Right: The most electable Republican in the race.