Four years ago Sarah Palin was the Republican party’s Vice Presidential nominee. But at this point, Palin has not been invited to speak at this year’s convention in Tampa. Newsweek’s Peter Boyer explains the snub by the Romney campaign is making the Tea Party livid. And an excuse about her being a Fox News contributor isn’t holding water.

The Romney camp will not comment on Palin, or on plans for the convention, but one adviser associated with the campaign suggested that Palin would be prohibited from speaking at the Republican convention by her contract with Fox News. “It’s true I’m prohibited from doing some things,” Palin says, “but this is the first I’ve heard anyone suggest that as an excuse, er, reason to stay away from engaging in the presidential race. I’m quite confident Fox’s top brass would never strip anyone of their First Amendment rights in this regard.” (Fox says her contract would not prohibit speaking at the convention if she sought permission.)

What do you think? Should Palin be invited to speak?