Sarah Palin defends Newt Gingirch

The State Column: Sarah Palin defends Newt Gingirch
Former Alaska governor defended Newt Gingrich Wednesday, saying the former House speaker was the victim of the “lamestream media.”

“We should ignore the lamestream, leftist media’s criticism of what it is that we say in an interview if we believe what it is that we say. Don’t let them, in a 24-hour news cycle, make us change our positions,” Ms. Palin said during an appearance on Fox News.

Ms. Palin’s defense of Mr. Gingrich comes as the former House speaker faced serious criticism from both Democrats and Republicans throughout the week after he offered his opinion on Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan. Mr. Gingrich, in an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, said the Wisconsin Republican’s controversial plan was “right-wing social engineering.”

The comment set off a storm of criticism from Republicans, sending the Gingrich campaign into damage control.

“It was not a reference to Paul Ryan. There was no reference to Paul Ryan in that answer,” Mr. Gingrich told Rush Limbaugh. “It was interpreted in a way which was causing trouble which he doesn’t need or deserve,” Mr. Gingrich added. “My answer wasn’t about the budget, and I promptly went back to say publicly that I would have voted for the Ryan budget.”

The Georgia Republican also apologized to Mr. Ryan in a personal phone call.

Ms. Palin’s defense of the Republican presidential candidate comes as she continues to consider her own presidential campaign. Speaking on Fox News Wednesday, Ms. Palin said she is still considering entering the race even as the field quickly takes shape.