Congratulations, Stephanie Williams, who was crowned as 2010’s Miss D.C. this past Sunday. Williams accepted the title from last year’s winner, Jen Correy, who you may remember making news this May after her Georgetown “bar brawl” — in which she slammed a man against a wall after he repeatedly physically assaulted her. That incident, and its coverage in the Washignton Examiner, is where the story takes a more interesting turn.

The Sexist keenly discusses the Twitter-based feud that has ensued today between Correy and Washington Examiner gossip columnists Tara Palmeri and Nikki Schwab, who wrote the original story about Correy and a followup today. You see, Palmeri and Schwab wrote up Correy’s self defense from sexual assault in a Georgetown bar — without using the terms “sexual assault” or “self defense.” The pair from the Examiner revisited their story today by asking the newly crowned Miss D.C. if she too would “slam a man (if provoked).” (Answer: yes, and she respects Correy’s decisions.) Correy took to Twitter to discuss the Examiner’s word choice and definition of sexual assault.

The really embarrassing part? Palmeri defended herself by saying that it wasn’t she who wrote the item, but rather her intern — under Palmeri’s byline. Journalism! The Sexist has a follow up story describing the Examiner’s second line of defense: victim blaming.

More than anything, it’s impressive that both the former and current Miss D.C. title holders are strong and smart enough to take a stand against sexual assault. And embarrassing that the Washington Examiner is not. Nay means nay, Yeas and Nays.

And if you’re wondering, yes, Palmeri and Schwab are the same gossip columnists who recently took heat for their non-story about wedding guest Dave Weigel — item! — dancing at a friend’s wedding.