Disinvited for second time, 'miffed' Palin may skip GOP gala fundraiser altogether

Washington, June 8 (ANI): After being invited and disinvited a couple of times, Sarah Palin may not appear at the gala GOP fundraising dinner at all.

After being invited for a second time to speak to the annual joint fundraiser for the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Alaska Governor was told abruptly that she would not be allowed to address the thousands of Republicans.

On Saturday, a finance official with the NRSC called Palin aide Meg Stapleton to say that NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions didn't want Palin to speak.

Recounting the conversation Sunday, Stapleton said she told the NRSC staffer: "Why, at a time when we're trying to build the party, would you pull a move like that on somebody who earlier in the day just attracted 20,000 people?"

Palin may now skip the dinner altogether, and her allies are miffed at the snub from the congressional wing of the Republican Party.

The disinvitation from speaking, said a campaign committee official, was done "out of respect" for the former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

"A great deal of effort has been put into this fundraising event, and Speaker Gingrich has gone above and beyond the call of duty," Politico quoted NRCC spokesman Ken Spain, as saying.

"It is our hope that Governor Palin will attend the dinner and be recognized, but we understand if her busy schedule doesn't permit her to do so," he added.

Last week, due to the urging of Republican fundraiser and Palin friend Fred Malek, the NRSC extended a new invitation for Palin to speak.

But then, Palin aides say, Sessions was concerned about not wanting to upstage former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and disinvited Palin.

Originally, the NRCC Chairman in early spring thought that Palin would be the perfect headliner for the dinner.

But after public uncertainty as to whether she had actually accepted and would attend, the NRSC and NRCC decided to invite Gingrich instead. (ANI)