SC blog finds success on well-trodden road

Palmetto Scoop is pleased- rightly- that the story he broke about a $4,900 SC state tourism agency ad buy targeting London gay tourists has morphed into an MSNBC story. That's blogging at its best:

The water cooler story of the day

By Adam Fogle | Mon, Jul 14, 2008 - 5:36 pm | Posted in Executive, National news

SC RESPONDS TO ‘SO GAY’ CAMPAIGN, STORY GOES NATIONAL

I’m currently tracking more developments into what WCBD-TV called “the water cooler story of the day” (above) — TPS’ story that South Carolina taxpayers were footing the bill for a $5,000 tourism campaign targeting gay travelers.
As you remember, the program was canceled the day after our story ran, and led most news programs in the state Friday and Saturday.
Now it has become a national news story as MSNBC has just posted a very in-depth report.
NBC Late Night host Conan O’Brien even joked on his show Friday, “South Carolina’s office of tourism has canceled a campaign to attract more gay tourists. Yeah, South Carolina canceled the campaign. As a result, for the 30th year in a row, North Carolina is the gayest Carolina.”
In the words of President Ronald Reagan, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you don’t care who gets the credit.”
But this story will likely grow as more information is discovered — via Freedom of Information Act requests and possible audits — about just how this oversight happened, who knew about it, and how many other similar programs exist. I’ve even been sent very credible information hinting at a possible cover-up.
Regardless, nothing has been more interesting than the responses of every day South Carolinians — exemplified by the three interviewed above.
“We’re so gay? Naw. Wrong, wrong, wrong state. Go to California.”
________
UPDATE: This story is now on MSNBC’s home page (screen grab here) as the top U.S. News story. Based on that, I’m predicting it will be on every major national morning news show by week’s end.

While we're waiting for an answer to our query to TPS about whether he believes Columbia city funds for all public festivals should be revoked and put into law enforcement, or just the one gay one, another question. Given the reaction you wrap your story with, above, what should SC do to get gay residents to leave?