[Charles Henrickson]

a Confederate flag he used to display in his home that was part of a flag collection.

A historically significant flag part of a larger flag collection? Shocking! Imagine, a Virginian flag collector having a flag that once flew over Virginia!

Allen also had a noose hanging from a ficus tree in his law office that was part of his Western collection and symbolic of his tough attitude toward crime.

Put it in Breaking Noose: George Allen wanted to be known as tough on crime! How awful!

[kevkrom]

I think the author was making your points, Charles, it just comes across poorly in print and out of context. I read them as pointing out "the rest of the story" from the claims in the media, as in:

Charge: a Confederate flag he used to display in his home
Response: ...that was part of a flag collection.

Charge: a noose hanging from a ficus tree in his law office
Response: ...that was part of his Western collection and symbolic of his tough attitude toward crime