QUICK TAKES - June 17, 2009

Sarah Palin says she accepts David Letterman’s apology for a joke he made about her daughter.

The Alaska governor, in a statement issued Tuesday, said the apology was accepted “on behalf of all young women, like my daughters, who hope men who ‘joke’ about public displays of sexual exploitation of girls will soon evolve.”

On his “Late Show” Monday night on CBS, Letterman said his joke last week about one of Palin’s daughters being “knocked up by Alex Rodriguez” can’t be defended.

But the governor’s acceptance didn’t stop several dozen protesters from gathering outside New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater, where “Late Show” is taped. And that in turn prompted Letterman to devote his Top 10 list on Tuesday night’s show to “Things Overheard at the ‘Fire David Letterman’ Rally.”

Among them: “We should have done this years ago,” “Well, it was nice of CBS to provide the catering” and “David who?”