A Dunn Deal
EmailFormer Obama for America campaign adviser Anita Dunn will on Monday become the new White House director of communications, replacing Ellen Moran.
Dunn was originally President Obama’s first pick to be communications director. She turned down the job to spend more time with her family, but after Moran announced she was leaving to become the chief of staff to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, the President asked Dunn to re-consider her original rejection of the job offer.
"It’s hard to say no to the president," a White House official says.
Those who worked on the campaign are especially excited that Dunn will join their ranks, not only because they consider her nice and smart but because during the presidential race she would bring snacks — "a lot of candy, a lot of movie candy," one official recalled, slobbering, "Starburst, Good & Plenty, Whoppers, a lot of Rolos."
Dunn, a partner with Squier Knapp Dunn Communications, is a fixture in DC Democratic circles. She and her husband Robert Bauer, President Obama’s campaign and personal attorney, were recently profiled as a Washington Power Couple in Newsweek.
She was communications director and chief strategist for the 2000 presidential campaign of former Sen. Bill Bradley, D-NJ, having started her career in President Jimmy Carter’s White House as intern for chief of staff Hamilton Jordan. In 2006, she became a senior consultant for then-Sen. Barack Obama’s political action committee HOPEFUND.
Dunn is also part of the "Daschle crew" — advisers and aides to former Senate Majority Leader (and erstwhile Department of Health and Human Services Secretary nominee) Tom Daschle, many of whom are already scattered throughout the Obama White House, including senior adviser Pete Rouse and Dunn’s new deputy, Dan Pfeiffer.
- jpt
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This is a much better fit for the Obama team than an aggressive outsider like Moran.
Posted by: matt | April 30, 2009, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
Not much of a P.R. challenge in a town owned lock stock and barrel by the Democrats, is it? The Dems own the major institutions, and there’s no serious opposition. What does a “Democrat strategist” do these days to keep busy?
Fabulous job on the press conference, both Tapper and Obama. Loved it. Didn’t like what he said, but it was great to watch.
Posted by: jordan | April 30, 2009, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm
And the revolving door keeps spinning…from ‘campaign advisor’ to flack to ‘communications director’.
Next thing you know she’ll be hosting ‘This Week’
Posted by: J House | April 30, 2009, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
It seems a little two face for an administration to tell people they aren’t healthy because they are two fat and then promote the “candy” lady. What message are they sending?
Posted by: jon | April 30, 2009, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
Mr. Obama says today Chrysler “bankruptcy is a great thing”. He makes words become so unimportant.
Posted by: young_voter | April 30, 2009, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm
jon,
the message that everyone should have is
“Moderation in everything”
there is nothing wrong with eating
CANDY…
we americans need to learn some restraint when it comes to our appetities-of all kinds.
Posted by: WHAT! | May 1, 2009, 8:30 am 8:30 am
The return of our great-granparents’ fascists:
“Trying to handle the crisis, the Fascist government nationalized the holdings of large banks which had accrued significant industrial securities. The government also issued new securities to provide a source of credit for the banks and began enlisting the help of various cartels…. The government offered recognition and support to these organizations in exchange for promises that they would manipulate prices in accordance with government priorities. A number of mixed entities were formed… whose purpose it was to bring together representatives of the government and of the major businesses.… This economic model based on a partnership between government and business was soon extended to the political sphere, in what came to be known as corporatism.… The Fascists began to impose significant tariffs and other trade barriers.… Various banking and industrial companies were financially supported by the state.… [The national leader] created the [New Governmental Entity]….[which soon] controlled 20% of [the nation's] industry through government-linked companies.… [The national leader] also adopted a Keynesian policy of government spending on public works to stimulate the economy.… Public works spending tripled to overtake defense spending as the largest item of government expenditure.”
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | May 1, 2009, 9:15 am 9:15 am
J House:”And the revolving door keeps spinning…from ‘campaign advisor’ to flack to ‘communications director’.”
? The incoming administration brings in the team it worked with prior the election. What, specifically, do you see as a problem with this? You believe Obama should fire all his staff and start from scratch upon election?
Posted by: jhw539 | May 1, 2009, 9:18 am 9:18 am
“The return of our great-granparents’ fascists:
“Trying to handle the crisis, the Fascist government nationalized the holdings of large banks which had accrued significant industrial securities.”
Yeah, just like Sweden… They may have a healthy fully private banking sector today, but everyone remembers their horrible facist stage after nationalization in the 90′s, right?
Posted by: jhw539 | May 1, 2009, 9:21 am 9:21 am
Hyena
you can rant on about ‘fascist’ america, for eternity, but no one will take you or anyone else seriously… which is why the republican/conservative political party is so reviled. …. keep it up…. Jindal, Palin, Gingrich, Cantor…….. Steele.. the parade of fools is endless.
Posted by: Dewde | May 1, 2009, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
jw,
My point is that the bi-partisan governing elite that runs washington are in bed with one another.
Do you know who and which govts she was pitching for in private practice?
You probably don’t care, given that the current sec. of state has a former president for a husband that has flacked for private individuals and govts for years (and GW’s dad, too, I might add)
Posted by: J House | May 1, 2009, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
Sounds like a Dunn Deal.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 1, 2009, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm