Salon requested documentary proof from Oostveen. Below, on Page 1, is a redacted e-mail from a McCain staffer to Oostveen about letter writing, as well as the sample letter that was attached to it. The sample was meant to be an example of a "good letter to the editor that concentrates on our support for Gov. Palin." On Page 2 are three more letters that Oostveen says a different McCain campaign worker gave her as examples of the style of letters she should write. On Page 3 is a set of guidelines for writing letters that Oostveen says was given to her by Phil Tuchman, who is mentioned in her column. On Page 4 and 5 are two pages of talking points that Oostveen says she was given by the campaign. On Page 6 are three examples of letters Oostveen says she wrote and gave to the campaign so they could be sent to McCain supporters in battleground states, including the Iraq letter. According to Oostveen, a McCain staffer told her that supporters would be invited to pick and sign letters. After that the letters would be mailed to local newspapers.
Salon has no evidence that any of the letters Oostveen wrote were ever published, in their original or adapted form, as letters to the editor in newspapers.
Gail Gitcho, a spokeswoman for the McCain campaign, said that Oostveen did not properly identify herself to campaign workers in Arlington. "She did not represent herself as a journalist to the people who work in the mid-Atlantic office." Oostveen, who also wrote a column about an earlier stint phone-banking for the McCain campaign, says she twice explained to different workers in the Arlington campaign office that she might be using her experiences as a volunteer in her columns for the NRC Handelsblad.
The text of the attached sample letter:
Dear Editor:
Sarah Palin's selection by John McCain completes the dream ticket the American people have prayed for to clean up national politics. She brings to the Republican ticket the character, integrity, and depth of experience to produce real change in Washington. Her executive experience challenging corruption and special interests in resource-rich Alaska -- even within her own party -- produced landmark ethics reform legislation while promoting development of energy resources. Her veto cut budgetary spending, and she refused $400 million federal taxpayer dollars to fund the infamous "bridge to nowhere." Palin's courageous presence with Alaska National Guard serving in harm's way serves her well as a potential Commander-in-Chief of the United States military forces, and saying goodbye to her own son deploying to Iraq lets every mother know she understands their concerns. While Barack Obama spent his time crafting his personal story with votes of "present" in the Illinois House and campaigning for President during his first U.S. Senate term, Palin had boots-on-the-ground proving her executive ability to lead. McCain-Palin get my vote for their willingness to force the REAL CHANGE to return Washington to representing the Americans who elected them.
More sample letters: 
Guidelines for writing letters to the editor: 
Talking points, Page 1: 
Talking points, Page 2: 
The letters Oostveen wrote, typos included:
Dear editor,
Being the on-in-a-million executive supermom is not even the biggest quality of Sarah Palin. Her biggest plus to me is that, being amazingly smart and qualified, she managed to remain a woman like us. She is the PTA running hockey moms. She is the working mothers of special needs children. She is every caring mother of a challenging teenager. And most of all, she is just like any mother of a child who deploys to Iraq in the service of this country.
My son too, is there.
And my heart needs him back safe so much.
But when I see him again, I also want to see his face glow with pride. Just like the day he told me he enlisted.
That is why Senator John McCain could count on my vote from day one.
With Sarah Palin, I have even more reason to trust in victory. She represents my heart.
Sincerely,
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Editor,
While Barack Obama was worried about the price of rucola at Whole Foods, Sarah Palin challenged the influence of the big oil companies. It was she who fought for the development of new energy resources. This proves that already as a governor of Alaska, a state the liberal media now like to scrutinize as being not important enough to earn experience, she did something with much greater consequence for the energy crisis than buying overpriced organic food. So who has the record of accomplishment here?
Sincerely,
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear editor,
Every mother knows that if you want to help a kid grow up to like a decent citizen instead of a whiner, making the effort of saying 'no' can be crucial. As a stay-at-home mom, this is what I admire in Sarah Palin. She has actually said 'no' by cutting budgetary spending as governor of Alaska. She said 'no' to the bridge to nowhere and saved taxpayers 400 million dollars. You don't need the experience Sarah Palin obviously does have, to recognize the importance of her decisions. Let's show a next generation of voters how to keep this great country great.
Sincerely,
The Gamble: General David Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008
The author of "Fiasco" uses hundreds of hours of exclusive interviews with top officers in Iraq and extraordinary on-the-ground reportage to document the inside story of the Iraq War since late 2005.
By Thomas E. Ricks
Small Wars Journal
A journal dedicated to the study of such subjects as counterinsurgency, foreign internal defense, support and stability operations, peacemaking, and peacekeeping. Founded by ex-Marines.
Afghanistan is worse than you think
We all knew that the situation in Afghanistan has been rapidly becoming worse. But few people know just how steep the downward spiral has been.
By Alex Koppelman, Salon
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