More than one reason, more than one level.

Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska, and former vice-presidential candidate, has been embroiled in a very public spat with David Letterman of the Tonight Show. From the media stories I have read, Letterman made crude jokes at the expense of the Governor's daughter. Watching the ED Show today on MSNBC I saw some commentators admonishing Governor Palin for hitting back at Letterman and that it wouldn't do anything for her in the long-term. What these pundits do not get, is that Palin is not just a political candidate but also a mother. While she has made her mistakes, Governor Palin has every right to fire back when protecting her children. Not everything boils down to politics, and personally I am very happy with that. People may have many reasons for acting in a specific way or saying something that may seem provocative. Whatever you might think of her, all I heard when Sarah Palin spoke was a mother acting to protect her child. On that level she deserves praise.