White House Picks Openly Gay Jeremy Bernard As Social Secretary

[TampaYankee]

White House Picks Openly Gay Jeremy Bernard As Social Secretary

Staff

On Top MagazineFeb 25, 2011

The White House on Friday named Jeremy Bernard, who is openly gay, as Special Assistant to the President and Social Secretary

The White House on Friday named Jeremy Bernard, who is openly gay, as Special Assistant to the President and Social Secretary, a job typically filled by a woman, ABC News reported.

“Jeremy shares our vision for the White House as the People's House, one that celebrates our history and culture in dynamic and inclusive ways,” President Obama said in a statement announcing the appointment.

“We look forward to Jeremy continuing to showcase America's arts and culture to our nation and the world through the many events at the White House.”

Bernard previously served as Senior Advisor to the Ambassador at the US Embassy in Paris and replaces Julianna Smoot.

He'll be responsible for planning official White House social events, including high-profile State Dinners that take months of planning.

As chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama, Tina Tchen will work closely with Bernard to coordinate events.

“I look forward to working with Jeremy to continue the great work of the Social Office, from fun and educational student workshops to elegant State Dinners that welcome world leaders to the White House,” Tchen said in a statement. “Jeremy's creativity, perspective and skills will be a welcome addition to our East Wing team, as we showcase the White House and celebrate America's arts and culture.”

See source article at:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2011/02/white_house_picks_openly_gay_jeremy_bernard_as_soc.php?ref=fpa

[OneFinger]

I found an article that indicates he's been a large fundraiser in the past. According to that story:

The real significance in his hire: The Obama administration seems ready to make amends with wealthy donors who've felt shut out in recent years. Bernard is a major big-dollar fundraiser with a savvy sense of who needs to be rewarded with invitations to the right White House events.

Link to Story

He's also kinda cute.

He's the one on the left (appropriate placement for someone in the Obama administration).

[TotallyOz]

Do you think that his pick is only because the election is over and he knows the next one is going to be harder as he has alienated his entire base?

[TampaYankee]

Do you think that his pick is only because the election is over and he knows the next one is going to be harder as he has alienated his entire base?

It doesn't really matter at this point. He is our hope whether we passionately support him or not.

I am of two minds about him. He has accomplished MUCH in his two years -- more than any other Dem since Johnson. Certainly not all I wanted and not in the style and passion I wanted. Some things I think he failed on, eg. financial reform to name one. IMO we are no less at risk than before reform.

Nevertheless, we cannot cede the next SOTUS appointments to a Republican President or have a GOP President rubberstamp the draconian GOP House measures. I believe it likely that the Senate goes GOP in 2012 too.

He is our hope whether or not we are pleased with his tepid passion in carring out his duties or his more middle of the road path after the last elections. The alternative would be devastating and screw up the country for a generation.

[TotallyOz]

The alternative would be devastating and screw up the country for a generation.

I could not agree with you more. The alternative would be horrendous. The question is why now? Why does he start making these moves now? What is the motivation? You may not feel that is important, but I do. And, it will also be one of the determining factors of my next vote.

In the end, I'll still vote for him if he is the one on the ballot. But, I won't do it with a smile. And, I much prefer that he give his blessing for others to run that won't be so polarizing.

[MsGuy]

For the life of me I can not understand why many gays are so dissatisfied with Obama. He is well into the process of cramming acceptance of open gay military service down the throats of the Army brass and he did it by Congressional repeal of DODT, a much stronger and more durable route than an executive order. WTF, he bought my vote with that alone.

Not saying there aren't a lot of grounds that have nothing to do with sexual orientation one might oppose BO on but, as far as gay issues go, he's done just fine.

[TampaYankee]

For the life of me I can not understand why many gays are so dissatisfied with Obama. He is well into the process of cramming acceptance of open gay military service down the throats of the Army brass and he did it by Congressional repeal of DODT, a much stronger and more durable route than an executive order. WTF, he bought my vote with that alone.

Not saying there aren't a lot of grounds that have nothing to do with sexual orientation one might oppose BO on but, as far as gay issues go, he's done just fine.

I agree, my differences are not so much with gay issues as other policies in general. I also agree that his approach to dadt repeal is more robust than what some had advocated with taking short cuts. I do think he has unecessarily sent a lot of mixed signals on gay issues that have riled the natives about his approach.

He is sly in that he sort of starts a rumble and then steps back and let's others fight the battle in the open. He stays in the background behind the scenes. Not inspiring leadership but in the end more often than not he gets what he wants or most of it. Not inspired rousing leadership for the troops but he does get results.

In the next two years he has to move toward the center to get things done or appear as a reasonable moderate against intransigent Repubicans, or appear as an ineffectual executive leader to the independents that will hurt is reelection. Clinton laid out that road and Obama will have to take it too. The independents will elect the next President, as they have all the past presidents in the last 25 years.

As for why now, I suspect he figures he needs to shore up bridges to the gay community just as he needs to do so with the labor community. Let's face it, the right is much better at messaging than the Dems and Labor has been. The Right succeeds at selling policy fictions and half truths and other downright lies. That is easily proven, whether it is birth certificates, or the President's religion, or the effect of budget cuts on jobs and the recovery, or the impact of Health Care repeal on the Deficit.

The result of this is that he has to carefully navigate political waters minimize his cross section to right wing attacks aimed at the middle-of-the-road community. This frustrates his base who wants to see charges up the San Juan Hill convinced that the middle will see the light and fall in line behind the charge. Unfortunately, the middle doesn't always see everything as clearly as some of us feel they should. Part of that is because of the opposition's messaging operation.