No they won't be sorry. The damage is already done, and it's a victory for them. Like the Plame affair, facts mean little and public perception means everything.
I quibble with your assertion that "public perception means everything."
Rovian Politics 101 proves that "the perception of your base means everything."
This will fire up the base big-time, much to the Rats' amazement. On top of ole Bubba and the Hildabeast acting crazy and flinging whoppers last week, I say: Rove, you magnificant dog, you.