Palin’s not using anybody. She’s being smart about not entering too soon given that the media will focus on attacking her from the hour she announces.
Sarah is a Fox News commentator. Back in March, Fox fired Newt and Rick Santorum as commentators because of their intent to run for president due to conflict of interest concerns. At the time, Fox did not terminate Sarah's contract because at the time, Fox determined she had not taken any action that indicated her intent to run for President.
Back in June, the executives at Fox News met with Sarah during her bus tour. Apparently, Sarah reassured them that she was not running for president, because they did not terminate her Fox contract.
Now, if Sarah is campaigning for president, as many of her supporters openly agree, or if even if she has decided she will run, isn't she being unethical by not notifying Fox News? Isn't she getting money from Fox News under false pretenses as well as giving herself the ability to continue to appear on Fox News as a commentator when other presidential candidates cannot? What does that say about her honesty and principles?
If Sarah is not running for president, then there is no ethical problem. But if she has reassured Fox News that she is not running for president but does not tell her supporters, what does that say about her?