Obama Names Valerie Jarrett Senior White House Advisor

President-elect Barack Obama has formally named his friend Valerie Jarrett to be a senior adviser in the White House. Her official title will be "senior advisor and assistant to the President for Inter-government relations and Public Liaison in the Obama White House," according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet.

Jarrett is a co-chair of Obama's transition team and was a top advisor to him during the presidential campaign.

From Lynn Sweet's report:

Jarrett, 51, a Hyde Park resident, is a veteran of Chicago's City Hall who went on to become the CEO of The Habitat Company, a major Chicago real estate firm as well as serving on a variety of civic and corporate boards. [...] Joining the campaign while still juggling her Habitat duties, Jarrett functioned as a friend--dining with Obama and other pals before a debate--as a top surrogate for the fund-raising drive--and as an advisor, often with Obama on the campaign plane.

Jarrett's White House role may be similar to the one played by Karen Hughes in President Bush's first term, the Washington Post speculates, "providing political advice while keeping him grounded."

Comments

[xmw]

I was so hoping he would find a place for her in his administration. She met Barack thru Michelle. She hired Michelle for her first big position,

[dbawden]

A competent advisor this one. Smart, articulate, and trusted by both Michelle and Barack. Think about who Bush had!

[pupbayer]

Uh, someone who was smart, articulate, and trusted by both Laura and George.

[WilliamBentley2]

Karen Hughes? Articulate: sorta. Smart? Smart enough to leave early.

[GabrielXL]

...and that was their biggest mistake.

[StillIRise]

Actually, Hughes was one of those Bush loyalists Texans who would never tell Bush what he didn't want to hear. In fact, I'm sure that one of the reasons she left the Bush administration was because, rather than to voice her disagreement with the corruptness and incompetence of Bush/Cheney, she decided to just go away. This is not the kind of Senior Advisor Jarrett will be. Unlike Bush, the Obamas do not base their trust on blind support; their trust in others is rooted in honesty and constructive criticism, which is why they worked so successfully together in creating such a phenomenal campaign.

Jarrett embodies a sense of intelligence and trustworthiness that George Bush doesn't even understand! With all due respect to Hughes, there's no comparison.

[chulanow]

What qualifications does she have to do the job and what qualifications are actually necessary?

She obviously has his trust and has been loyal so those are positives, however, I would like to know more about her and what impact she would have on policy.

[DaisyDooks]

Google her. She's a huge business and civic leader in Chicago - very well known. She's no push-over.

[StillIRise]

Research! It's all there, online.

[xmw]

More than mine.

[ricitizen]

See attached for more details. The women is a power and is a product great parents and history of the United States.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/11/5954/0307/835/658175

[annis]

WOW. I had NO idea - thank you, thank you.

[Kate4Change]

She was the Chief of Staff for Mayor Daley of Chicago and his chief advisor during the campaign. What ever advice she gave him helped him win the election and has been notably been recognized as one of the most brilliant campaigns in US history.

[forpeace]

*

Excellent choice, she is very competent, smart, and exceptional.

2 Thumbs UP!

*

[DaisyDooks]

Go, Valerie! I'm so happy for you. Now I'm waiting to see if Hermene Hartman's (Owner of N'Digo Magazine) going to play a role. She was another staunch Obama supporter and mentor. Aiight, Chitown. Represent!! Southside Boogie all the way!!

[ksmagenta]

Valerie Jarrett is a brilliant and insightful woman. So far, President-elect Obama has been well served by her wise counsel.

[Chanel]

She seems like a very smart and capable lady. I'm just a little upset with her hairstyle.

[pupbayer]

I thought it was an unflattering picture but Archivist1000 assures me she IS funny looking.

[StillIRise]

Strange that we'd be talking about hairstyles and physical appearance in discussing the qualifications of the next Senior Advisor to the President.

[Chanel]

Wooooowwwwww.

I certainly didn't mean to set off a FIRE STORM. I'm CERTAIN Valerie Jarrett is both qaulified and capable. I honestly just don't like her haircut. PERSONAL OPINION. It's not even that deep.

[Catlion1]

Independent from Maine says "COOL" -I like her! I look forward to seeing and hearing more from her!

[AsISaid]

Great move. This is a very smart lady who knows Obama very well and will help protect his back. He needs more of these types of people around him. JFK did the same thing and he had a great, great staff.

[DaisyDooks]

Oh, and she is not one to be messed with. She's a very good attorney. She doesn't take any shiggety. They'll find out soon enough. She is fierce - in a very good way. Obama needs that around him.

[MIMom]

OK - does the president have more than one "senior advisor" then? I ask because HP was reporting that David_Axelrod would be "senior advisor".

[gi]

ACTUALLY THEY BOTH ARE.

[ricitizen]

Yes, they are both senior advisors but with different titles and areas of expertise. I expect there will be a couple more to come.

[pupbayer]

I'm not impressed with this choice and not surprised but I do think they could have found a better picture of her. They seem to go out of their way to find the most unflattering pictures of people.

[MIMom]

You don't like anything Ob.ama does.

[pupbayer]

Wrong! I LOVE the way he is picking so many from the Clinton administration!

"John Podesta, chief of staff under former President Bill Clinton, is co-chairing Obama's transition team. And the president-elect on Wednesday named a team of six people, all of whom served in some capacity under Clinton, to head the agency review in the State, Defense and Treasury departments.

Obama has authorized former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to join former Republican Rep. Jim Leach in representing him among the gathering of delegations from 20 countries this weekend at the global economic summit.

And his White House staff has already started on a Clintonesque note. He tapped Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, a former Clinton adviser, to be his chief of staff. And Democratic sources say Vice President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Ron Klain, Al Gore's former chief of staff, to serve in the same role for him. (Klain was also a Biden adviser during his Democratic primary bid.)"

Hey, if this isn't "change," what is?

[Archivist1000]

You're not impressed ... really ... and what exactly do YOU KNOW about her??

[pupbayer]

Questionable dealings in the housing industry in Chicago for one

[pupbayer]

So you are saying she really IS this funny looking?

[DaisyDooks]

He doesn't know anything. He/She is just talking smack.

[StillIRise]

Why aren't you impressed? Because you don't like her picture???

Typical pupbayer superficial, shallow, vacuous post.

[pupbayer]

Silly StillRise.

[PKSSK]

Excellent appointment. This woman is very bright and he trusts her like a sister, much like JFK and RFK in the white house. I am waiting to see where Tim Kaine, Caroline Kennedy, Janet Napolitano, Kathleen Sebeilus and Bill Richardson land, as they have all been trusted advisors and loyal surrogates through out this campaign, more so than the Clinton's.

[pupbayer]

The Clinton's what?

[KarenJW]

Awesome woman! Great choice!

[Sabreen60]

Excellent choice, IMO. She's brilliant and exceptional.

[roshni]

Excellent choice.
She is very competent and a good friend.
He will need the support as he moves forward.