Apparently, Goodyear agreed.
Shortly after 4:00 p.m. this afternoon, the Republican National Convention announced that it had accepted Goodyear’s resignation, setting a new land speed record for shortest time lapsed between the “story breaks” and “ax falls” phases of a political scandal. “Today I offered the convention my resignation so as not to become a distraction in this campaign,” said Goodyear in written statement. “I continue to strongly support John McCain for president, and wish him the best of luck in this campaign.” Asked later by the Politico whether Team McCain had given him the boot, Goodyear said no. “My decision,” he added. “[It was] unambiguously the right thing to do.”
Ironically enough, though, Goodyear defended his involvement with the brutal Burmese regime in Isikoff’s original story. “It was our only foreign representation, it was for a short tenure, and it was six years ago,” he told NEWSWEEK at the time, adding that the junta’s record in the current cyclone crisis is “reprehensible.”
Funny how the spotlight changes things.
