Much is being made of President Obama's dismissal of George Stephanopoulos' question about Sarah Palin's criticism of the New START treaty, but let's face it -- that was as easy as swatting a fly. The really important question was asked by Steve Benen at The Washington Monthy:

... why is George Stephanopoulos using an idiotic quote from a dimwitted former half-term governor of a small state as the basis for a question to the president? In effect, the "GMA" host was saying, "Some conspicuously unintelligent right-wing media personality said something stupid about a subject she knows nothing about. Mr. President, how do you respond?"

Not so fast says George Stephanopoulos:

Whatever you think of Sarah Palin, she’s a former VP candidate — and a potential challenger to President Obama — with a strong following in the GOP. She made a pointed critique of a new Presidential policy. By getting the President’s response, I was doing my job.

Well, Ron Paul is a potential challenger to President Obama too, but his every utterance isn't breathlessly reported. And while Palin may have a strong following in the GOP, the fact is, a majority of Republicans don't think she's qualified to be President, along with 71% of Americans overall, making her potential challenge nothing more than a starburst in the tea party movement's collective eye.

And a "pointed critique" of policy?

It's kind of like getting out there on a playground, a bunch of kids, getting ready to fight, and one of the kids saying, 'Go ahead, punch me in the face and I'm not going to retaliate. Go ahead and do what you want to with me.'"

That's not a pointed critique, it's a Fox News contributor and future reality T.V. star, peddling her patented brand of folksy hate.