Pam Stout can check another New York institution off her list. The British-born president of the Sandpoint Tea Party, who last month was featured in an extensive New York Times piece about the tea party movement, faced off with David Letterman on the Late Show last night. The interview (see below) was civil, sincere, and mostly serious. Letterman, who has spent the last six months in a teeth-bared battle with tea party darling Sarah Palin, showed gracious restraint with Stout, even when Stout mentioned that Palin might be a candidate for president in 2012/Joel Smith, Inlander. More here. (Photo: Pacific Northwest Inlander)

Question: Why do you think David Letterman reached all the way out to Sandpoint to invite local Tea Party movement leader Pam Stout to his show?