Palin accepts Letterman's mea culpa

NEW YORK, June 16 (UPI) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin Tuesday said she accepts David Letterman's apology regarding a sexually charged joke he made about her teen-age daughter.

Letterman said during Monday night's show that he was sorry he made the remark, which sparked a media firestorm and prompted a group of his detractors to call for his firing.

"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," Usmagazine.com quoted the Republican former vice presidential candidate as saying in a statement. "Letterman certainly has the right to 'joke' about whatever he wants to, and thankfully we have the right to express our reaction. 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."