On the surface, the tangle between David Lettermen and Sarah Palin may seem like celebrity tripe. But it has more substance than just a tabloid feud because it reveals a possible strategy Palin will adopt if she decides to run for president.

That’s why I don’t think this “dispute” over a dirty joke Letterman told about Palin’s family just “happened.” It was something that fell into Team Palin’s lap and they exploited it for full effect. The strategy is to make Palin a victim of someone who is part of the media’s elite, i.e., Letterman, right from his New York City studio, and then claim martyr status for her and what she supposedly represents, i.e., “the base.”

Other comedians have told jokes about Palin’s family and have gotten away with it, but this has more to do with timing. As governor of Alaska, she faces daunting logistical challenges in running for president, the first of which is the distance between the state and the media centers of the country. She had been out of the news cycle for the past seven months and her recent trip out east was designed to put her back into the spotlight. Indeed, Letterman’s joke was a godsend for her. Before he shot off his mouth, Palin was being dismissed in many GOP circles in Washington and was in fact accused of plagiarizing Newt Gingrich in a speech (if such as thing is even possible).

Then Letterman comes along with his crude joke and all of that is swept aside and Palin the Martyr takes center stage, vicitimized by the cruel and snarky eastern media elites. Ranks begin to close. Letterman becomes a target and is attacked by the whole party. He eventually is made to apologize but instead of doing so right away, he waits, allowing Palin to soak up as much of the spotlight as possible. Thus Letterman allows himself to be used to further Palin’s prospects and it’s too late to do anything about it.

This little dust-up should be a word of warning to all those who wish to critique the governor of Alaska. If such critiques are to be made they must be made on the substantive side, for it is on that side Palin has done little to burnish her image. Her handlers are on the lookout for any kind of statement or joke or anything said in a personal nature they can use to rally “the base” to Palin’s side under the strategy of victimization, because they know it is an easy way to draw attention to her and an easy to build up support.

It sure beats coming up with a 15-page proposal for dealing with health care.