Why Aren't We Angrier at Letterman Labeling Palin an Anti-Semite?

I realize I'm a bit late to the outrage over David Letterman's vomit-inducing anti-Palin 'jokes', but trust me I have been watching - and the coverage here has been spectacular. That said, there is one other angle to this story which I am surprised is not getting more coverage. This little joke is rightly overshadowed by the outrage over Letterman's perverted sexual 'humor', but I cannot let this issue die without going back to item #3 from the "Top 10 Highlights of Sarah Palin's Trip to New York":

3. Finally met one of those Jewish people Mel Gibson's always talking about

Maybe I'm a little oversensitive about these things, but as both a Palin supporter and a practitioner of Judaism...well...Let's just say that I would tell you how I felt, but that would require me to use a long string of Yiddish profanity and this is a family friendly site.

In my opinion, Letterman was out of line here on three fronts. First, he is assuming that we all get the joke - as if we all assume that people not from the East or West Coasts are bigoted, xenophobic anti-Semites. Unfortunately for Dave, the idea that such comments are funny is actually limited to the elitist circles in which he apparently runs.

Second, he assumes that it's funny to joke about anti-Semitism - and it's not. Frankly, I found this joke about as funny as the time somebody (knowing my religion) asked me what the difference between a pot roast and a Jew is (the answer being that that the pot roast doesn't scream when you put it in the oven).

And finally, I would think that he owes Alaska's Jewish community an apology for just assuming that they don't exist (and yes, I know there are Jews in Alaska, because I distinctly remember Gov. Palin having a bill signing at a synagogue last year). Listen, I grew up in Colorado, so I will admit that Western Jewish communities are much smaller than those on the coasts - but I can guarantee you that there are Jews all over the country, and people meet them all of the time. Frankly, the assertion that an Alaskan - or any other rural American - has never met a Jew is ridiculous, and the fact that Letterman even thought about cracking that joke is evidence that he lives in a New York bubble.

Of course, those of us who admittedly spend too much time tracking Gov. Palin know that she has not only met Jews in her life, but keeps a small Israeli flag in her office. And maybe I'm just getting too worked up over this - but somebody had to say it.

And while we're on the subject of Letterman - I think going on The Tonight Show would be a great move for both Gov. Palin and Conan O'Brien. However, I personally think it would be even funnier for Sarah to make Letterman the second-ranking late night host on CBS (at least for one night) by going on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.