Palin: Who Am I Not to Accept Bashir Apology?

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said she accepts the apology of Martin Bashir,  the MSNBC host who suggested she be punished with human excrement, in her first direct response to the controversy.

"Who am I to not accept an apology? Everyone must humble themselves and accept that offer of apology," Palin told host Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday."
 
But if someone wants to attack her again just to make news then call her in private to apologize, they can go through her husband, Todd, or one of her children and leave a message.

"Hear what they have to say about it," she said.

Still, she told Wallace she is an adult and can handle being attacked.

"I can defend myself, and I can take it," she said. "I don't have to accept his vile, evil comments, so they don't have to affect me. … Are you going to become bitter or better?"

On May 15, Bashir called Palin America's "resident dunce" and a "world-class idiot" after she compared the national debt to slavery. He then read from the diary of a slave owner who described vile punishments for his slaves and suggested the same be done to Palin. He apologized on the next show.

MSNBC and its parent NBC have said nothing publicly about the matter, though it suspended host Alec Baldwin after he used a gay slur to reporters on a New York street.

Palin said MSNBC is OK with conservative women being the targets of attacks. She cancelled a "Today" show interview with Matt Lauer after the network failed to rebuke Bashir.