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."
From CNN Politics
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If Palin can find a more qualified person to handle the media, maybe she can craft a consistant message without the perpetuant political gaffes that have highlighted her run in the national spotlight thus far.
It still wont make her a more intelligent person and the devisiveness she brings to the process will most likely be kept. Hopefully she ends this right wing squabble and moves to a more viable constituency.
Its the palm reading incident. Everything changed after that stupid palm thing. That was a sign that the end is near. Palin put a stop to pictures and recordings at her speeches because it will lead to more truth to be told and that will undermine the speaking fees, but the Tea Party needs the Press and the Press needs recordings and pictures, so it looks like the Party is over, the plane is going down and people are starting to bail... Crash and burn, it was all seen in her palms. Thank God she never had a chance to write the nuclear launch codes on the palms of her hands for the whole world to see.
Obviously, those even working closely with this "nut case" have had enough.
I would say she made a wise decision...
The Palin family are "comfortable speaking in their own voice?!" I understand the caribou calls better!
Don't cha just love it when an EX-staff claims it was an "honor" until they realize the TRUE COLORS of their candidate? I find that really funny.
People CLOSE to Sarah Palin have quickly started to distance themselves from the Ex-Governor, Ex-Candidate, Ex-Beauty Queen, Ex-Mayor, Ex-journalism major.
Makes you say hummmmm.....
" . . . the family, which takes pride in their Alaskan identity, are comfortable speaking in their own voice."
As I recall, Sarah and her husband, until recently, also expressed pride in their 'Alaska identity' by belonging to a secessionist party. So much for being a patriotic American!
Good for you, Meg. Isabella shouldn't grow up begging for a mother to act like a mother.
It's too bad that Willow and Piper are going to have to.
Kudos to Meg Stapleton for seeing the light, and not wanting to become what Palin so obviously is: An unfit mother.
You should never become a stranger to your own children. Sarah Palin is a prime example of that.
Sounds like Ms. Stapleton finally wised up to the fact that Sarah Palin is a loser. The staffers are learning there is no future in being associated with the Queen of Trailer Trash Family Values.
in other words, she is a pitbull with lipstick also.....
This article turned me into a Democrat. Stupid Palin.
Mrs. Palin does not possess the skills & abilities needed to even think about running for president. Don't forget that she is a QUITTER. What is she going to do when she is president? Quit when the going gets really tough and complicated?
A rat knows when to abandon a sinking ship.
Sounds like Ms. Meg is throwing a dart at Palin that Palin is much too involved to be a good mother!
Meg will write a book and the real reason/reasons will come out.
You betcha!
The aide wants to "refocus her priorities" on someone relevant because of their poltiical success, not because of their political failures.
No wonder Meg Stapleton has resigned – if idiot Palin has to write 3 points on her hand how the hell is she going to lead a campaign – we don't this kind of idiots in the White House.
Perhaps Meghan has seen first hand what happens to children who do not get motherly love during their formative years and has decided she doesn't want little Isabella to turn out like Sarah's brood.
i would quit to if i had to work w/ her all the time,, maybe she just needs to be a grandma, because someone who has to write reminders on her hand surely and certainly can not run this country, if she ever became president i would move to another country in a heartbeat.
She is tired of lying for Sara Palin. Good move for Stapleton and bad news for Sara Palin becasue she just lost her right hand man.
I would have "jumped ship" right after the "In what respect Charlie??" interview!!!!!!! If you have to be a spokes woman for a person who cannot SPEAK, does that not make you the SPEAKER????? Who's on first?
What took her so long? Was she not given a bonus or raised after all the money falling on Sister Girl or is ready to write her own Game Change book?
What took her so long? Was she not given a bonus or raised after all the money falling on Sister Girl or is she ready to write her own Game Change book?
I like this statement "Palin, a global political celebrity whose every word is dissected and analyzed by pundits, celebrity magazines and the blogosphere." Thats because Palin makes for good humor " Wake up America"
Now if Palin would only follow her into obscurity!!!!!!!!!