Top Palin aide resigns
Washington (CNN) - Sarah Palin's spokeswoman Meg Stapleton, a close adviser to the former Alaska governor who developed a rocky relationship with other Republicans and members of the media, has resigned, two sources close to Palin confirmed Wednesday to CNN.
Stapleton, a spokesperson for the former governor since 2006, cited the need to spend more time with her husband and young daughter. In a statement first reported by Politico, Stapleton explained that serving Palin "has been an honor" but said it is time to "refocus my priorities."
But ever since Palin was suddenly elevated to the national stage in August 2008, Palin insiders, members of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign and other Republicans sympathetic to the former governor have grumbled privately about Stapleton's ability to handle the increasingly monumental task of advising Palin, a global political celebrity whose every word is dissected and analyzed by pundits, celebrity magazines and the blogosphere.
Members of the political press corps have also long been frustrated with Stapleton, who was the primary conduit between Palin and members of the media since the end of the 2008 presidential race, but rarely responded to phone calls or e-mails. When Stapleton did, they were often terse or combative.
She and Palin had previously spoken about resigning, but Stapleton informed SarahPAC staffers of her decision by e-mail last week.
"Earlier this week, I handed Governor Palin my resignation, effective the end of this month," the e-mail said. "While I had hoped to work together on so many more projects, time with my precious 2-year-old has been further minimized with the whirlwind commitments of all things Palin. I have done my best to scale back, but Isabella is now resorting to hiding my BlackBerry, and she shouldn't grow up begging for a mother to start acting like a mother."
There are no immediate plans to hire a replacement for Stapleton, a source close to the Palin family told CNN. The source noted that the family, which takes pride in their Alaskan identity, are comfortable speaking in their own voice.
UPDATE: Fred Malek, an influential GOP fundraiser and adviser to Palin, e-mailed to compliment Stapleton on her service.
"Any professional has to be judged by success, and by any measure, Team Palin has been an enormous success," Malek told CNN. "As Governor Palin's principle aide during this awesome rise, she has been a one woman band and deserves much credit and admiration."
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It's all Katy Couric's fault for asking Palin tough questions like what's her middle name.
Nobody cares what Sarah Palin or her advisers do
Please STOP writing about this brain dead twit !!!
Was she sick of Palin? You betcha!
No professional would go near the Sarah Palin disaster zone. She is toxic waste in the political world. Not qualified or fit to serve any political office.
Never heard of a woman leaving her job to spend more time with her husband. Wouldn't wish that an any man.
Now if only Palin would resign (again), and go back to Alaska never to be heard from again... the world would be a safer place.
Looks like one of the baboons fell out of the tree and hit her head. The jolt seems to have awakened her to the despicable company she was keeping.
I'll be Palin's adviser. Here's my advice: Quitters don't win and winners don't quit. Get a real job and zip it.
Perhaps Stapleton is thinking she has enough fodder to write a book of her own! Now that book I would purchase! Let's see she has a child that needs her but Palin doesn't HMMM!
Another person who has discovered the "real" Sarah Palin...
The rumor is that Palin has hired the media manager for P.T. Barnum's Circus, based solely on the slogan, "A sucker is born everyday". Go get them Sarah, "Send in the Clowns".
Meg – please don't come back to Alaska. We like it better with you outside.
I would equate Stapleton's job with the guy at the circus who has to follow around the elephant with a bucket and a shovel.
Smart lady for making a smart decision! Took a while, though.
A "terse" and "combative" spokesperson? Sounds like the one the White House puts in front of the cameras every day, maybe she's applying for that job.
Quiter just like the x gov.
The lady was good for Palin in Alaska but not on the USA field. Really a good move for Palin.
She'll be able to obtain someone who can manage the National Press in a better way.
Palin in 2012
Meg Stapleton must be getting out before to much stupid rubbed off Gov Palin onto her
Time to abandon this ship of lies.
Yeah... I'm sure that's WHY she resigned.....
That would be 'ex' Gov. right?
This is probably a good move for Palin....public perception vs reality are two different things. She wants to enhance that public perception, especially since her last poll.
I thought Joe the Plumber was her adviser ?
In other words, she got sick of following around a barely coherent diva with a princess complex.
I did not read the article as I am sick and tired of that old dried up woman Palin. But if this person resigned she must have had some sense. Now if the others would only copy her sense Jim Hall Kansas City Mo.
Look CNN, enough of your righty tighty biased based stories............move on to some real news and get a grip lease!