“claim she didn’t write this piece”
Even solid freeper Washi (checked “in forum” posting history) in comment #26 questioned this despite the clear byline. You’ve properly identified the line of attack. Fortunately, Gov. Palin has a couple years to establish that she speaks he own mind, as opposed to zero speaking TOTUS’s.
Who cares. What politician doesn’t have advisors. IMO she has less then most, so more of her comments are actually her own, written by herself.
But it is hypocritical. Remember the reaction to her resignation speech - many on both sides of the fence said she should have political consultants look through it to make it, ahh, “snappier”.