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Dear Mr. Tremolgie:

I enjoyed reading your "Palin Power" article in the December 3rd edition of The Bulletin. There is, however, one significant error in it to which I would like to call your attention.

You wrote that Newt Gingrich had said that "Mrs. Palin is only one of many stars in the Republican Party and she will not be a leader."

That is not, in fact, what the former speaker said. Here's the exact quote, linked to the article in The Hill, where it appeared:

“I think that she is going to be a significant player,” said Gingrich during an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation”. “But she’s going to be one of 20 or 30 significant players. She’s not going to be the de facto leader.”

Please notice that Gingrich said "She’s not going to be the de facto leader.” (emphasis mine)

The difference in the meaning of his actual quote and the meaning of what you reported, "she will not be a leader," (emphasis mine, again) is significant. Your version of Gingrich's statement is grossly misleading.

I'm sure that it wasn't intended as such, as I have observed other journalists making the same mistake when reporting what Gingrich said. The mistake does, however, warrant a correction. It is only fair to both former speaker Gingrich and Governor Palin to set the record straight.

Your attention to this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and regards,

Josh Painter, Owner/Blogmaster
Gov. Sarah Palin for President

- JP

Thanks for your feedback and the kind words.
However, your analysis, in my opinion, is flawed.

Let me point out two significant errors you made:

First, you omitted the title of the Hill piece:
“Gingrich: Palin won’t be future GOP leader”

Second,I was not quoting Gingrich. I was paraphrasing.
He said she will not be a leader.

Tell me what does it mean not to be a “defacto” leader.
De facto means in reality or actually - regardless of lawful authority. Something generally accepted.

Well in that sense there can be no GOP leader without an election. So there can never be a defacto leader because the GOP leader will have to be elected.

However, will she be the actual leader?

I think she is now. Don’t you?

Gingrich was parsing sentences. He is a very intelligent man who is also a politician. It is one of those how white is white things.

Gingrich was hedging his bets so to speak. You have to read between the lines.

Once again, thanks for the kind words.

“But she’s going to be one of 20 or 30 significant players. She’s not going to be the de facto leader.”

This comment is stupid no matter how you quote him. If we had 20 or 30 people in our party that will be “players” on the level Palin is, we wouldn’t be in this mess.