Palin accepts apology, uses it to political advantage

After comedian David Letterman issued an apology to the Palin family for a joke he made at their daughter's expense, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin issued this response:

Of course it's accepted on behalf of young women, like my daughters, who hope men who 'joke' about public displays of sexual exploitation of girls will soon evolve. Letterman certainly has the right to 'joke' about whatever he wants to, and thankfully we have the right to express our reaction. This is all thanks to our U.S. Military women and men putting their lives on the line for us to secure America's Right to Free Speech - in this case, may that right be used to promote equality and respect.

It doesn't get much more heartfelt politically advantageous than that.

It's clear that Palin is using the situation to her political advantage. When your response to an apology like Letterman's is more than, "Yes, I accept his apology," and instead includes topics ranging from feminism to free speech, and ends with a line about our troops, you start to wonder: what is this REALLY about?

It's a political trifecta -- make it seem like you are an expert on feminist issues, rights to speech, and support the troops, and maybe the people's hearts will go out to you. Most of the time, however, the average person will see right through you.

Not so with the "Palinistas," who, despite Letterman's apology, continued to protest the comedian in New York City, though it was a small protest at only a few dozen protesters.