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

[AtheistUS]

Great, he gathers (attracts!) great people.

[peacegurl48]

Wonderful choice, she bright, articulate and throughtful,very classy woman.

[Forester]

"Jarrett's White House role may be similar to the one played by Karen Hughes..."

hold on....

I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.

[Grunty1]

Her role, not the quality of her service, will be similar.

[Forester]

It was the name that got me gagging.

[SharedHumanity]

A fantastic choice....­a smart, capable woman who navigated the halls of power well before our currently heady times where black men can be considered qualified for President.

[gbrooks]

Fantastic pick. It almost makes me forgive you for Rahm Emanuel. . . .almost.

[psychmaj323]

GREAT PICK, I really like Valerie.

[CaliforniaJake]

This is a good pick. Jarrett is articulate, one of the smartest women on his transition team.

[DaisyDooks]

Ok, if someone says she's articulate one more time... WTF?! Well, at least, that's one attribute that can't be applied to Palin.

[Montanan4Obama]

I think Valerie Jarrett is an excellent choice. She is bright, articulate and measured. She will give Obama her unvarnished opinion. Of course, Obama seeks a diversity of opinions. What a concept and a stark change from W.

[GuyFawkes]

How soon before Sean Vanity starts screaming that she was born in Iran?

[teronhussein678]

LOL

[tedbear]

Just from interviews I have seen with her, she seems to be very intelligent and down to earth. She comes off as someone you'd like as a personal friend! He has good taste. Well, except for the Hillary thing going on today.

[islanbatman]

I got that impression too.

[spinns17]

great pick mr president

[brooklyncitizen]

The Obama administration will continue to educate America and the world at large about the treasure trove of quality people here (especially African American).­....it wasn't apparent after the last 8 years and it is good to see that our brain trust will be put to good (and needed) use.

[StillIRise]

The good thing is that she won't be just a token. Both Condi and Powell were merely put on the stage with the Bush administration to show "diversity," and then they USED to promote some of their most vilified policies. Condi's still being used. She's the "go-pher," the one who takes the heat for Bush's incompetence, both here and abroad. But I also believe that she and Bush were friends, and she truly believed in him and in what he was doing. Still, he USED her, and I wouldn't be surprised if she got out of Dodge, and off the political stage, as soon as this term ends.

Valerie Jarrett will be an asset to the Obama administration in her own right.

[DaisyDooks]

Yeah, I felt the same way about Condi & Powell. They were made scapegoats. This illegal war put both their professional credibility on the line. With friends like Bush & Cheney, who needs enemies?

[DosaHut]

I hope her job will be more than that of Karen Hughes, whose official role was "Dubya's butt-kisser"

[brooklyncitizen]

Read her profile on Daily Kos and see if it answers your question.

[chevyval]

More happiness in our new world.

[Julie02]

Love her. Great pick.