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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"After watching her latest interviews, it was clear to me that she is a lost case, so i resign".
Another one bits the dust!
Idiot Palin will now be dumber, since she doesnt have anyone to give her to spoon feed her.
?Hey...Sarah....how does it feel to have someone quit on ya?
Idiot Palin will now be dumber, since she doesnt have anyone to spoon feed her.
I love how the 'source' noted that the family are comfortable speaking in their own words.
That's a very scary prospect.
Please send your applications now before that can possibly happen.
Run, Sarah, run! And for the sake of bipartisanship, have Barack Obama as your vice-president.
Palin-Obama in 2012!
Sarah Who's what did what now? (As in 'Who gives a flying fig?')
let the rats leave the sinking ship! Hopefully this is a step towards the former governor of alaska realizing that she isn't ever going to be president. we all know the is a better place without her telling her lies and constant repeating of incorrect and ignorant information.
I wonder if shes the one that told Sarah that there were actually 2 Koreas.
She will hire another go-fer, but really why does she need anyone, she is just a citizen of the US. Nothing more.
Why is this surprisng, from the camp of the uber-dysfunctional Mrs Palin? Never a coherent thought or plan; staff incapable of controlling her either.
More of the same... chaos
Just another bad choice by Palin.
Who cares! It must be a very slow news day.
I heard that Stewie Griffith needs a job. Some mean lady got him in trouble.
I nominate either Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh.
"The source noted that the family, which takes pride in their Alaskan identity, are comfortable speaking in their own voice."
That's a capital idea!!
Will we have to pay to hear Sarah speak in her own voice since her exposure is now strictly limited to closed door pay-per-view speaking engagements?
Or will it only be on Fox, where she can "express herself" in carefully managed friendly situations where she won't be ambushed by such partisan gotcha questions like "What are your credentials", or "Where do you get your information from", or "Is Africa a continent"?
Maybe Sarah can grow a bigger hand and put all her important messages
on each and every finger and leave the palm area for the fortune tellers to
let her know her bright future.
I guess she just couldn't take dealing with a idiot anymore, or maybe she realized what a hypocrit this wack job really is. Good for her.
Maybe Sarah can grow a BIGGER HAND and put all her important messages on each and every finger and leave the palm area open for all the fortune tellers to let her know her bright future.
Maybe Palin needs to stay home and take care of her kids.
Republicans have a pat answer when they resign, leave office or get kicked out...."they want to spend more time with their family". Gee someone come up with another one please. I think that's worn out.
I heard Sarah Palin was trying to recruit her look-a-like, Tina Fey, to replace Meg Stapleton as her spokeswoman, but Tina Fey is a heck of a lot smarter than both Meg Stapleton and Sarah Palin put together.
Who does this affect other than the news media itself? No one. I shouldn't even be giving this item credibility by making this comment. Can we please confine the Palin stories to those rare occasions where she does something newsworthy? Thanks.
If all the media organizations would leave Ms. Palin alone, she would go away.
Here's hoping Sarah Palin will follow the wisdom of Ms. Stapleton and realize *her own* children need her as well. We'll manage just fine without her.