So you really think Jesse Jackson wanted the public (including the Secret Service) to hear him threatening to sever a body part from a presidential candidate?
His dislike for The One and what he stands for (usurping Jackson's position as an authority figure in the black community) is very apparent. Add the fact that if Obama were elected, that would reduce the ability of Jackson, et al. to continue to claim that blacks are disadvantaged at every turn, and I think that Jackson may have been frank because he has not had to learn to be cautious around the MSM, since he is on the same side with them.
However, supposed "Republicans" do not share the same luxury of being trusting of any media. Both Noonan and Murphy have been around the block and so I would not be surprised to find they did this on purpose. But, if not, they both definitely should have known better.
Regardless, it just illustrates that if you drink the Washington kool-aid long enough, it poisons your outlook. They obviously do not realize that Palin is touching a chord with Middle America.