Alaska’s Bob and Mark, who have been friends with the Palin family for over 16 years today defended Bristol Palin on their airwaves against deranged heckler Stephen Hanks, who had the unmitigated chutzpah to sue for her and Lifetime Networks for $75,000 for “defamation of character,” as is widely reported in many media reports today. Hanks claims he did not give permission to film him during an altercation with Bristol he initiated during which he insulted former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin – Bristol’s mother – calling her a “whore” and “the (expletive redacted) devil,” among other things.

Hanks’ claim that the incident was filmed without permission is bogus. TV cameras were there with Bristol when she entered the establishment, and Hanks was well aware of their presence. The talk show hosts also noted that Hanks is friends with Levi Johnston, who with the support of Rex Butler, Tank Jones, and the Roll Corporation has carried on a harassment campaign against the Palins. One could argue that Hanks probably likely had fore-knowledge that Bristol would be there.

As Bob and Mark said, Hanks is fortunate Todd Palin (or a security detail) was not around for the encounter, else he would have suffered a lot more than Bristol saying his homosexuality may have something to do with his tirade against her that night.

Bob and Mark said the outpouring of support for Bristol – even among those who don’t like the Palins – has been nearly unanimous on their personal Facebook pages. Hanks thought he would score points with the left for his actions, but even leftists will not defend him – and rightfully so.

There is nothing defensible about anything Hanks did. He initiated the altercation. He’s lucky he didn’t get beaten to a pulp and his carcass dumped outside the bar, which would have been his deserved outcome. If anyone had the right to sue, it was Bristol. Hopefully justice will be served, meaning Hanks’ lawsuit will be summarily dismissed, and maybe one day Hanks will learn what human decency means.