Buckley Leaves Magazine His Father Founded After Backing Obama

By Christopher Stern

Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Author and humorist Christopher Buckley resigned from the National Review, a conservative magazine his father founded, after readers complained about his endorsement in another publication of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Buckley, son of the late William F. Buckley, wrote today in theDailyBeast.com, an online publication in which he endorsed Obama, that he resigned from the National Review after it was deluged with critical responses to his column at the rate of 700- 1.

``The only thing the right can't quite decide is whether I should be boiled in oil or just put up against the wall and shot,'' Buckley wrote.

Buckley, who has worked as a speechwriter for Republican presidential nominee John McCain and former President George H.W. Bush, endorsed Obama in a column titled, ``Sorry Dad, I'm Voting for Obama.'' Buckley is a trustee of the National Review, a position he was given in 2004 when his father gave up control of the magazine.

Calls to Buckley's book publisher and to the Daily Beast seeking his comment weren't immediately returned.

National Review Editor Rich Lowry responded to Buckley today, writing that messages were actually running 100-1 against him, not 700-1.

Lowry also wrote that Buckley was writing the column in the National Review on a ``trial basis'' while another columnist was on leave. ``We continue to have the highest regard for Chris's talent and wit, and extend to him warmest regards and understanding,'' Lowry wrote in his online response.

Calls to the National Review were referred to Lowry's online comments on the matter.