1) I agree that was aimed at Palin. (unless there is some new context revealed which shows otherwise, but I doubt it)

2) Considering how many times I have been told that I (or others) are voting for Obama cause he's black...
Or because of white guilt...
Or cause he's a "celebrity"...
Or < insert lame pretense here > ...

Or McCain lying about Obama and calling him a sexist...
Or claiming he's going to teach sex to kindergarteners...

While I personally wish she hadn't gone there, I can't help but wonder where the criticism was for the above contentions that came before this.

3) I would be curious as to the full speech contents.
In an "allegorical" sense, she's got a point.
People were told these great things about Palin, and her "skin deep" beauty sold people.
But when it comes to finding out if the "other" things about her, the in depth analysis, show "beauty" or the "same ol' thing", there are some that avoid looking or listening to others who have looked.