[Joe 6-pack]

I agree. IMHO, when one assumes a role of being a public advocate for a cause, that person, by definition, becomes a public figure.

Her voluntary appearance with the specific intention of influencing public policy would I believe, qualify her as a public figure.

[longtermmemmory]

bingo, and the appology essentially immunizes him from any litigation.

It also opens her entire life, not just this episode.

Also, it makes every democrat, phone record subject to discovery.

It also makes her school transcript history (ALL of it) subject to discovery.