Palin not speaking at Republican convention?

I put the question mark on the headline for a reason.  Everyone began reporting this last night, based on a statement from Sarah Palin herself.  Greta van Susteren got the scoop on the statement:

Everything I said at the 2008 convention about then-candidate Obama still stands today, and in fact the predictions made about the very unqualified and inexperienced Community Organizer’s plans to “fundamentally transform” our country are unfortunately coming true. This year is a good opportunity for other voices to speak at the convention and I’m excited to hear them. As I’ve repeatedly said, I support Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan in their efforts to replace President Obama at the ballot box, and I intend to focus on grassroots efforts to rally Independents and the GOP base to elect Senate and House members so a wise Congress is ready to work with our new President to get our country back on the right path. This is imperative. As President Clinton said in 2008 while candidate Obama and lapdogs in the media were thrashing his wife’s record and reputation, this is “…the biggest fairy tale.” For the sake of America’s solvency and sovereignty we must close this nonsensical book in November

Reuters and the Associated Press followed by reporting definitively that Palin won’t speak at the convention. Neither had any additional information to further support that conclusion.  The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake offers some analysis, but no further confirmation.  However, as I read that statement, I don’t see any solid demurral from Palin, only that she looks forward to “other voices” at the GOP convention, and that her focus will be on House and Senate races … which is where Palin has focused since the midterms.

Perhaps this is Palin’s way of making it easier for convention organizers to keep her off the agenda; maybe she agreed to issue a soft denial for the sake of unity.  She explicitly supported Romney and Ryan in the statement and attacked Obama on their behalf.  Still, I think it’s a mistake to keep her off the dais.  Palin electrified the convention in 2008, and it’s just good manners to have the #2 from the last ticket speak at the next convention.  Few people in the party can fire up the grassroots like Palin does, and few people will draw the attention she gets.  If there is still room to offer her a speaking slot, the convention should do so, and do so quickly.

• New SarahPAC video: Palin will be a player in the 2014 midterms
• Priebus launches $10M outreach program, calls for earlier conventions
• Sarah Palin at CPAC: “Mr. President, you won. Accept it.”

Blowback