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

[Veganie]

I am glad for Obama, she is a very intelligent and loyal woman. Her daughter is going to be just like her. Wondeful!

[RReitz]

Saw her on Meet The Press and was very impressed with her, she is very sharp and all business.

[WinterStorm]

AbSoLuteLy Fabulous pick. I don't know about the Karen Hughes comparison, I mean transitively one would have to compare Obama to Bush...NO CONTEST. Great pick I think.

[pupbayer]

Cool! She is Iranian of the Day on iranian.com. So, does she really have dual citizenship?

[AlligatorShuz]

I thought she was black because she dated someone that I know?

[rasit]

Here is your answer:

Jarrett was born in Shiraz, Iran, where her father, Dr. James Bowman, ran a hospital for children as part of a program that sent American doctors and agricultural experts to developing countries to help jump-start their health and farming efforts. At age 5, the family moved to London for one year, then returned to Chicago our answer:

[bandillero]

3 people - same answer word for word. Can you at least give credit to your source? Else this is blatant plagiarism

[amistad]

Are you an *diot?

[AlligatorShuz]

Jarrett was born to an African-American family in Shiraz, Iran, where her father, Dr. James Bowman, ran a hospital for children as part of a program that sent American doctors and agricultural experts to developing countries to help jump-start their health and farming efforts. At age 5, the family moved to London for one year, then returned to Chicago in 1963. Her father, who is of African American descent, is a pathologist and geneticist. He is currently Professor Emeritus in Pathology and Medicine, University of Chicago.[3][4] Her great-grandfather was the first African-American to graduate from M.I.T., her grandfather was Robert Taylor the first black man to head the Chicago Housing Authority, and her father, Dr. James Bowman, was the first black resident at St. Luke’s Hospital. Though Ms. Jarrett has never worked in Washington, her great-uncle is Democratic powerbroker Vernon Jordan. [5] Her mother, Barbara T. Bowman, is an African-American early childhood education expert and co-founder of the Erikson Institute for child development.[5][6]

[AlligatorShuz]

Valarie Jarrett uncle is Vernon Jordan now that should put to rest what her ethnicity is!

[Bitsko]

Let's fill up those positions and get this Jubilee Train rolling!

[grateful4thedead]

So, what's the deal with the US Senate seat .....wasn't she supposedly in the running for that?

[reasonlives]

not anymore, only one job at a time.

[nellie]

She didn't want it. She wanted a job in the White House. And she got one.

[fem56]

Sounds pretty darn impressive. Great choice!

[RazzesMe]

I applaud Obama for this. It shows his humbleness. No one can ever be the "perfect" President. He is surrounding himself with very intelligent people who probably wouldn't have a problem slapping him upside the head in that occasional dumb moment. Seriously, Jarrett brings world experience with her as does Emanuel with his ancestry and work experience. I was born abroad as a U.S. Citizen and know the advantages to having the experience and ties, even sympathy, to foreign countries. It makes a person less bigoted, less racist, and more global-thinking. More willing to find a way to create world unity and peace. Anyone who hasn't ventured beyond our borders is missing out big time on amazing people and cultures. My best friends don't even live in the U.S.

Anyway, we all do live on the same soil when you really think about it. Water only sits on the land that connects us all.

[TheMediaRanger]

Well said.

[DaisyDooks]

I cosign your commentary.

[Agentlady007]

Absolutely a good pic.
Here'a her Wiki profie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Jarrett

[Bitsko]

Sounds great.

[Skye]

Another good pick.

[firewmn]

**
I LLLLLLLLL iiiii kkkkk eeee..... IT..!

; +

[aztecdiva]

Here is an excellent bio on Jarrett but more importantly her parents and family linage. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/11/5954/0307

[JFyfe]

Thank you for that link. What a fascinating and accomplished woman.

[lagumbo]

Valerie Jarret is an excellent pick. She ia a brilliant woman and a good friend to the OBAMAS.Way to go PRESIDENT OBAMA.

[LJA]

David Axelrod is also his adviser at the white house. Does anyone know what would be the difference between him and Vallery in terms of poisition and duties? Thanks.

[firewmn]

**
about 50,000.00............. !!
**

[jashbowie]

Well, I'm sure that Valerie deserves that extra money.

[SharedHumanity]

Read this and get a sense of the woman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Jarrett

[Sherzie]

Great information.
Obama's team must be the most extraordinary group ever assembled by a president- elect. Gives me goose bumps.