The US Military: Defending your Right to Tell Bad Jokes

Well it looks like the Palin/Letterman feud mentioned here awhile ago is finally over, and as I predicted, Letterman had some more apologies to make. So he made the apology with a very classy observation that it wasn’t the Palins’ fault that they had misinterpreted his remarks, it was his.

Now I was wondering what the Palin response would be, thinking that something along the lines of “apology accepted” would be likely.

And as I thought, that is pretty much what she did.

But you know, Sarah Palin is running for President in 2012, so you have to wonder how she was going to milk this for all it is worth – and look presidential to boot. So, no, she didn’t leave it at that she went to the GOP playbook and pulled out #18: say something good about the military.

Because you know, Democrats don’t like the military, or so Republicans will tell you. As a matter of fact, Republicans have a real love for the military to the extent that they recently sent them to two simultaneous wars. So every once in awhile they pull out #18, even when it seems somewhat disconnected.

As it did in this case.

From Politico:

“‘Letterman certainly has the right to 'joke' about whatever he wants to, and thankfully we have the right to express our reaction,’ Palin continued in the statement. ‘And 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.’”

But you have to give her credit. Who but Sarah Palin can think of how to relate an apology from David Letterman, something you don’t hear very often, to praise of the service of “women and men putting their lives on the line.” You do have to give her a little applause for that.

Because no one else has ever thought of that.

So next time you see a soldier in uniform, walk up to him or her and offer your expression of gratitude for securing David Letterman’s right to tell bad jokes dealing with sexual congress between teenaged girls and mature men.

I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.