Lynn Sweet, the Chicago Sun-Times columnist who has covered Barack Obama for years (and not as a "fan" or an apologist) gives her take on Desiree Rogers' critics:
Rogers was hired by the Obamas because she has the ability to pull off events with style. She is there to help Mrs. Obama execute one of her main agenda items, to open up the White House to the community, run programs and events that are inclusive and creative, and share them with the nation. That's what she has done.
Look at the record.
Rogers has presided over some 170 events at the White House since Jan. 21: bill signings, Easter Egg rolls, St. Patrick's Day and Halloween parties, a breast cancer awareness event, a music series, dinners for the nation's governors and the state dinner last month. Students from area schools have been a part of most of these events. Each music night, for example, featured daytime workshops with the performers.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gave a vote of confidence to Rogers the other day. "The president, the first lady, and the entire White House staff are grateful for the job that she does and think she has done a terrific and wonderful job pulling off a lot of big and important events here at the White House."
I'd argue that in the nation's capital, most people don't know it. Moreover, not a single one of these "friends" is named. The only actual person named, contradicts the main narrative. I realize that this is a story about the "social secretary" and not an investigation of loose nukes--but that only makes the point. If you're not quoting people who have something to lose--friendship and social standing do not count-- you need to get these people on the record. Otherwise, you're just gossiping.
The undercurrent in most of the backlash against Rogers is the fervent wish for her to fail (and by extension in the eyes of some critics, Michelle Obama). After all, she is not a "glittering blonde" and she is certainly no stranger to the spotlight, so she must be taken down a peg. The Who do you think you are? undercurrent has been there from the day Roger's position was announced. Think about it: Most stories you have heard involving black women this year have been about how nobody wants to date us, how we waste thousands of dollars trying to get "Good Hair" or how we are constantly absent or misrepresented in Hollywood or fashion magazines. A Desirée Rogers, well-educated, confident and good-looking, is still confusing and even offensive to some people (and not just white people) because she doesn't have "the look" of someone leading the life she lives. In fact, prior to the parade of stylish, educated black women who came in with the Obama administration, many people were quite comfortable in the notion that (multiple!) black women like this did not exist. The Obamas have known Desirée Rogers for more than twenty years and I doubt they would have tapped her for this position if they had a problem with her skills, style or personality - all things they knew about long before the rest of the world.
I am having major issues with the White House State Dinner crashers, Tareq and Michaele Salahi. The first description of Michaele Salahi referred to her as a "glittering blonde decked out in a red and gold sari" and I knew we were in trouble. Even at the White House, the automatic assumption about a "glittering blonde" is why of course she belongs! She looks the part, right? Unlike White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers and White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett apparently.
They may be big deals, but White House insiders Valerie Jarrett and Desiree Rogers had a hard time getting into the White House Correspondents Dinner and POLITICO was there to catch it all on tape. The two were stopped by security and forced to reveal IDs to prove that, well, they're sorta big deals.
President
and Mrs. Obama missed the Oscar's to host their first black-tie dinner
in the White House. Love Mrs. Obama's glittering black gown. The
necklace? Not so much. Not that she cares what I think about it...
First Lady Michelle Obama was in "a deep-purple, sequined fall 2008 "twilight gown" by Chicago-born designer Peter Soronen. The necklace is by Tom Binns. (h/t The Cut)
Valerie Jarrett, Senior White House Advisor and Special Assistant to the President.
Desiree Rogers, White House Social Secretary and Special Assistant to the President.
Governor David Paterson and First Lady Michelle Paterson of New York.
Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Mr. Gary Sebelius of Kansas.
Governor Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane Patrick of Massachusetts.
Governor Bobby Jindal and First Lady Supriya Jindal of Louisiana.
Governor Luis Fortuno and First Lady Luce Vela Fortuno of Puerto Rico.
I have used the example of a "Mocha Mom" on this site and in numerous conversations offline regarding Michelle Obama and finally an official "Mocha Mom" has spoken up! Jolene Ivey, co-founder of Mocha Moms on CNN:
Michelle will be following in her mother's footsteps, being
available for her children and her husband while forgoing a paycheck of
her own. It's not a lifestyle that's right for all families, but it's a
template that should get more attention -- and respect -- now that our
incoming first lady will model it on the world stage.
When my
first son was born 19 years ago, I quit my job as Rep. (now Sen.) Ben
Cardin's press secretary. Family and friends disapproved, in a range of
volumes.
The new mom friends I made were mostly white, and I'm
grateful to them even today for helping me get through those early,
confusing, frustrating, thrilling years. But I was lonely for friends
who understood my jokes, and what it was like to walk a path unlike any
family member before me.
A friend told me to stop my whining
and start a newsletter. Call it Mocha Moms, she said, and use it to
find other women like me. Another black at-home mom friend helped me
launch it nearly 12 years ago! Two more women found us, and we built
the framework for the organization that today has more than 100
chapters around the country.
I can't think of a better ambassador for Mocha Moms than Michelle Obama. For all the 16 years I was home with my kids,
no one cared what my views were on anything more exciting than toilet
training. She'll be in the position to bring light to issues and
organizations that are currently working in obscurity, and energize
their efforts.
Mom-In-Chief: Moms Closely Watch Michelle Obama - A conversation between Jolene Ivey, co-founder of the Mocha Moms; Leslie Morgan Steiner, editor of Mommy Wars; author Rebecca Walker and Anna Perez, former press secretary to First Lady Barbara Bush on Michel Martin's Tell Me More show on NPR. All four guests also wrote essays on Michelle Obama's new role for The Root.com.
As several sources have already pointed out, the job of White House Social Secretary is no joke and I would not consider it below a Harvard MBA. She is responsible for coordinating political as well as non-political events for the presidential residence and workplace including iconic White House events like the Easter egg hunt, official State dinners or small teas for the First Lady. She also works with the White House Chief Usher to coordinate
domestic staff. Ms. Rogers told the New York Times that she envisions“Wonderful picnics outside, tree decorating, inviting military families
over. One of the things that is particularly important for
this administration is that we continue along this vein of making it everyone’s
America. You will definitely see some new things. We’re not going to be
superpredictable, where everything looks the same.”
Media junkie that I am, I have long been familiar with Desirée Rogers even though I am not a Chicagoan.
In the video above, Desirée talks about her new role in the Obama White House.
Melody Barnes, an "unabashed progressive" was named head of the Domestic Policy Council. According to The Field: Barnes will coordinate the mega-board of the Cabinet secretaries of
Health and Human Services, Justice, Labor, Education, Housing and Urban
Development, Commerce, Energy, Treasury, Agriculture, Transportation,
Interior and Veterans Affairs. Basically, she'll be domestic policy
czar.
Understated but interesting. I like clean, elegant lines, and I love it when a piece has surprising detail.
Where do you like to shop?
Frances
Kahn in my hometown of Richmond. The owner, Rusty Lester, does a great
job of buying fun, new designers as well as classics. The assistant
manager, Julie Bristow, knows my taste and what’s in my closet. I shop
once in the spring and once in the fall. My mom comes along, and
everyone is wonderful to her. I have a glass of wine, we laugh and
catch up, and it’s efficient. I don’t like to spend a lot of time
shopping.
What’s the best fashion advice you’ve ever received?
The
best life advice I’ve received is also the best fashion advice: Be
authentic. You shouldn’t wear it just because it’s in style or looks
good on somebody else. You have to know who you are and honor that.
Despite her charity work and social schedule, Fenty said she never
considered giving up her career as her husband became more prominent in
local politics. "I think it's important for working mothers to see that I work," she
said. "If people are going to take notice of what I do or what I don't
do, I would like them to say, 'She works, she has a career and she
didn't give it up when her husband became mayor.'… I think it's really
important for me to send that message, especially to the low-income
women."
Valerie Jarrett,White House Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison, and a long-time personal friend and mentor of the Obamas,has also gotten her fair share of link lately. In a recent New York Timesarticle, Michelle Obama says that Valerie “automatically understands your values and your vision,” and is “somebody never
afraid to tell you the truth. She knows the
buttons, the soft spots, the history, the context.” She also revealed the twenty-one life lessons that she "ticks off in speeches and keeps on her computer hard drive" that have carried her through her life and career:
1. To thine own self be true.
2. All leaders are passionate about their beliefs, even the ones you don’t like.
3. Trust your gut after you have listened, studied and learned from those with a diverse range of opinions.
4. You never know who is watching, so work as hard as you can regardless of the assignment.
5. Don’t stay in your comfort zone too long.
6. As my grandmother would say: put yourself in the path of lightning.
7. Be flexible because opportunities rarely knock at the most opportune moments.
8. Take time to be kind to everyone.
9. Focus on your priorities.
10. In order to lead, someone must follow.
11. Effective leadership depends on your ability to connect and motivate people, not on your title, position or power.
12. Set high standards for yourself and your team (lead by example).
13. Take the time to develop personal relationships all along the way,
and really cultivate those upon whom you depend. In order for them to
help you, they must know you. And you must know what will motivate
them. Nurture them so they can help you lead. They must believe in not
just your ideas, but you.
14. Good will matters.
15. Women are particularly good at listening and studying their audience.
16. Have the courage to make tough decisions.
17. When you lead, not everyone will follow, and that’s okay.
18. You will fail. Don’t take your failures or your success too seriously. Learn to laugh at yourself. Trust me. It helps.
19. Affiliate yourself with worthy institutions, lead by good people who share your core values.
20. You can have it all, just not at the same time, and in the proportions you may want.
21. To those who much is given, much is expected.
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