Gibbs on Moran’s Departure: Family, not Friction
Email
From Sunlen Miller
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs today beat back questions over the abrupt departure of White House communications director Ellen Moran, framing her move as a decision made more for her family and less due to troubles breaking into the tight-knit communications team.
Less than one hundred days into the administration Moran resigned her post yesterday as the developer of the president’s message and communications strategy, in order to work as the chief of staff for Commerce Secretary Locke.
"It’s a position that greatly interests her and it gives her a chance to spend more time with her husband and her children," Gibbs explained to reporters today, "you probably get to see your kids and your family a little bit more often….I saw my son last night when he got up at 11:30 p.m. looking for more milk. So that was the only time I saw him yesterday."
When Moran was tapped for the top communications job in late November, the move was seen then as somewhat of a surprise. She was the only senior member chosen to be a part of Obama’s communication staff that had not worked for the campaign and when she was Executive Director of Emily’s List, the organization endorsed Obama’s rival, then-Senator Hillary Clinton in the primary.
Moran – who rode to Iowa today on Air Force One today with the President – was the subject of much questioning on both legs of the trip, amid reports implying her premature departure was much due to her not fitting in among a very close communications staff which had worked with the President longer.
"I guess I tend not to focus on blogs and web sites," Gibbs responded. "You know, look, I mean, I think she’s — well, let’s just say I don’t believe everything I read on a computer."
The White House as not named a replacement for Moran yet.
- Sunlen Miller
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I can’t blame Ellen Moran for wanting to leave the staff of idiots. She’s much more competent than the whole lot of Obamabots put together. Best of luck to her.
Posted by: K | April 22, 2009, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
I’m not sure “beat back questions” or “was the subject of much questioning” exactly capture the sentiment. One question on the gaggle out and then a short exchange on the flight back — perhaps brought up by the same reporter again — and even then the question relied on a vague and unsourced “implication in some of the coverage.” I understand that it’s just a blog, but this is drumming up something where there is thus far nothing to be seen (and you know it’s just going to be canned statement from Gibbs, so it’s not like there’s any squeezing of information going on here.)
Posted by: Anon | April 22, 2009, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
When can we expect that Janet Napolitano will feel a sudden need to spend more time with her family?
First she laments the infiltration to the U.S. from Canada by the 19 9/11 hijackers. Then she issues a report warning against the susceptibility of returning veterans to recruitment by violent right-wing extremists. And now she declares that it is not a crime to enter this country illegally.
What is her job description again?
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 22, 2009, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
Ellen Moran seems to be the only sane person from this cabinet of corruption Time to abandon this sinking ship
Notice the faster the ecomney sinks now the less is said about it from this facist administration
the only good news today is the NYTs has only 34 million dollars left to operate on.. it is 1.3 billion in debt.. let this dog die LMAO
Posted by: Breaking News | April 22, 2009, 9:35 pm 9:35 pm
It’;s obvious that Moran did not fit in as a veteran of the ’08 campaign.Gibbs can’t spin this story away…
Posted by: matt | April 22, 2009, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm
the few women to penetrate the inner circle are being herded out after window dressing for the boyz klub cabinet charade.
Val Jarrett is Mrs. Obama’s second cousin. she’s a potted plant as far as influence and is a token female bigtime.
now Larry Summers trains his sights on Dr. Romer to run off the other influential person who might overshadow a man.
Hillary, who should be in the Oval, is kept away from the action and away from The One, whose world is a snug compartment of Chicago and Ivy League men, who nod along with his Word.
Barf. Hillary – stage a coup!
Posted by: Orlando Nan | April 22, 2009, 10:07 pm 10:07 pm
They can always find another moran to replace this one.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | April 23, 2009, 7:34 am 7:34 am
Loved her work on Happy Days.
Posted by: Silky | April 23, 2009, 10:49 am 10:49 am
I can’t blame Ellen Moran for wanting to leave that group of idiots. When is Napolitano going to be fired. The army, vets and us citizens of this once wonderful Republic ARE NOT EXTREME TERRORISTS! You idiots do not belong in our fine Republic….you MORANS just do not fit in here. It is NOT A MATCH IN CASE YOU CAN’T TELL. Too much taxation when BO promised TAX CUTS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, too many derogatory remarks AGAINST OUR GREAT SOLDIERS AND MAKING UP OF BAD COMMENTS ABOUT U.S. AS YOU TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD, etc. Your plan to fix the country is not WORKING! When is it going to start working…we’ve got the money now where are the jobs for our citizens that you promised?! They weren’t given to the 165,000 illegal aliens were they! We wouldn’t be so broke if we weren’t funding these wars all over Europe….let’s first stop funding Israel, Afghanistan, Venezula and whatever else is going on….too many to keep track of…bring the military men and women home to the USA and their families. Why is it always the USA funding these countries and wars …especially when we don’t have it to give. Let them fend for themselves. TAKE CARE OF THE AMERICAN CITIZENS AND THE USA F I R S T! I hope Mr. Perry isn’t going to give that $15M to Pakistan. Let’s stop printing PLAY MONEY.
Posted by: Linda | April 23, 2009, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm
Obama transparency: “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Posted by: RR GOP | April 24, 2009, 1:17 am 1:17 am