总理温家宝在赈灾中鞠躬尽瘁而主席胡锦涛在政治上乏善可陈，二者对比强烈。 因此，有人难免想像这场地震或许改变了中共最高阶层的平衡，把由温家宝所代表的自由派势力推向了权力中心。
Given the sharp contrast between Premier Wen Jiabao’s caring attitude during the earthquake and President Hu Jintao’s mediocre political performance, some people could not help but imagine that the earthquake may have tipped the balance at the Communist Party’s highest levels, pushing the liberal forces represented by Wen to the center of power.