Things have gotten a little ugly between Christopher Buckley and the movement his dad pretty much founded, reports Howard Kurtz in the Washington Post. The son of legendary William F. Buckley, godfather of modern conservatism and founder of the National Review, wrote a back-page column for that magazine until last week, when he endorsed Barack Obama on the new website the Daily Beast. The younger Buckley's offer to resign was promptly accepted.
Buckley said he had been a McCain supporter, but found the senator's airing of "mean-spirited and pointless" ads, not to mention his choice of Sarah Palin as running mate, a deal breaker. “Within hours, poor NR was being swamped with furious mail," said Buckley. NR’s editor denied that the Buckley hate-mail was voluminous, but did suggest that Buckley had offended with his “dim view” of conservatives. Buckley continues to own a seventh of the magazine, and sit on its board.
(More Election 2008 stories.)