Wolfson Over Fear Of Flying -- Destined For State?

With Hillary Clinton seemingly locked up for the post of Secretary of State, several Democratic sources have begun speculating that her long-time communications hand, Howard Wolfson, would be brought on board to help with the task.

A seasoned press flack who Clinton implicitly trusts -- and, it should be added, who is more than capable of handling the job of State Department spokesperson -- Wolfson is a naturally good fit. But there is one problem: he has a famous fear of flying (Jason Horowitz of the New York Observer called him "the John Madden of politics.") And to conceivably work in State, air travel is important.

Well, it turns out, Wolfson no longer suffers aviophobia.

The man who had to chauffeur himself across the country during the Democratic primary -- and who, for family vacations, would often drive to the destination while his wife and daughter flew -- now is comfortable traveling via plane. Since the end of the Democratic primary, he tells the Huffington Post, he has flown to Europe on three occasions, twice to the West Coast, to each party's convention, Florida, Boston and (on several occasions) New York City.

"Something just snapped," Wolfson explained to New York Magazine last month, "and I wasn't afraid anymore. It had to do with wanting to get out of the country as soon as possible."

With this hitch hammered out, it is easy to see how Wolfson ends up with the communications spot at State, provided of course that Clinton is actually appointed. But, before going there, he throws a bit of cold water on the theory.

"I'm not sure it's for me in any case," he writes, "but the flying wouldn't be an issue."

Comments

[mcfried]

NO, NO, NO - This better not be true. I was just getting over my disappointment of the probability of C.linton as SOS. This will put me over the edge. Having watched the primaries I can honestly say this man is on of the slimiest political creatures I have ever seen. I don't want these people anywhere near the foreign policy of this country - they can't be trusted.

[sueno]

I agree! not this bum! not again-
This is like bringing "Dracula" home for dinner-
This guy needs a very short leach.

[woody7]

Why are we getting all these Clinton people? I thought "O" was going to
Shake things up. I am totally against "H' for SOS also.....

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is for Howard Wolfson, James Carville and Dick Morris to be abducted by aliens so that I (and the rest of the world) never have to hear one more word out of their yammering sycophantic pie-holes ever again!

[mamala4]

Send Wolfson and Carville to Chicago....Morris can go to Mars...

[evekendall]

I just saw this. I think I'm going to be sick.

[savertime]

Why would Hillary take campaign strategists (and not even good ones at that) to the state
department?

She will be much better off finding foreign policy experts, not hit men, to serve her.

[hwebb54]

He's not a strategist. He was a communications director for the campaign. Same job Robert Gibbs from the Obama campaign was. They do nothing but push the message that is given to them by the actual strategist.

[coryco]

I was planning to vote for Hillary before the primaries started. What changed my mind was the first appearance I saw of this guy on a talk show. He exuded the old politics of division. From that moment my vote was up for grabs to anyone but Hillary.

[GeorgeP922]

If you thought Wolfson was vomit inducing, check out Mark Penn.

Not only does he LOVE division in politics, he is a self proclaimed expert in it and he wrote a book all about it.
Go to Amazon and check out "Microtrends" by Mark Penn.

If there is one big ?-mark of HRC is what was she possibly thinking hiring a Dick Morris protege, giving him 12 million dollars, and then being suprised when she lost and was out 25 mill in debt.

We MUST clean these people out, they don't care for our idealogies or beliefs one bit, they just want that sweet sweet paycheck.

[hwebb54]

Obama picked her. Seems like the Obamabots on here still can't stop the Hillary hating even though he has already won and wants her to have the job. This is the politics of division. Holding grudges when it doesn't pay to do so.

[hardybear]

Respectfully, some of these bash- Obama's-decision posts Are *the politics of division*.

I know we are 'no organized party', but is anyone but me increasingly nervous that the same Clinton-based squabbles are shredding the unity we had achieved?

I think the president-elect deserves better than that.

[terraprieto]

Wolfson hired Phil Singer as press spokeman for Clinton. Singer was well known to regularly have angry shouting matches with reporters.

Then, Wolfson complains about the hostile press coverage of Clinton.

Wolfson is FAR too stupid to allow into an important government position.

[ohmercy]

And they're off....

WOO HOOO
this should be fun.

So many clinton articles- so many hysterical drama queens.
The exploding heads have been very entertaining.

Sam, I'm surprised there were no digs or attacks in this.

Thanks!
You better watch it though, they can turn on you too!
;-)

[mom2sons]

No wolves allowed! She should break ties with the main people who ran her campaign. Obama should say no. He will have leaks for sure! LOL.....And this is not funny!

[derekw007]

Hey Howie, the jerkstore called, they are running out of you!

[GeorgeP922]

Alright, we all agree, we hate Wolfson, almost as much as we hate Mark Penn and Dick Morris.

But aside from all that, who makes the hiring decision here?

Is it the SOS? Is it the Transition Team? Or is it the Federal Government?

This is critical, and I am disappointed Sam did not address that, and to a greater extent how he failed to comment on how unacceptable to anyone who is a Democrat.

The story isn't that this guy is afraid of airplanes, the story is that he thinks he can weasel himself onto the Federal payroll while working at Fox.

[anthonylee]

What a perfect gift for a person who "communicated" such a lousy campaign message!?!?

We all know that as part of Hillary's negotiation for the SOS position, she get's to bring her people with her. I just don't understand why she continues to pick these losers who wouldn't otherwise have a job to look forward to.

Can't wait to see McAuliffe's bid for Gov. of Virginia play out. . . . it should be drama filled!

Anybody heard from Mark Penn? It's about time for him to crawl back from that dark place that he resides in - I hear Lieberman is looking for a strategist!

[GeorgeP922]

I am trying to understand this.

Does she have hiring power when it comes to these appointments?

I hope not, because if that means she will be dragging the Dick Morris crowd around our government than I say No Thanks to her appointment, and do not expect it to last very long.

Obama will lose his patience and replace with hero Supreme Allied Commander Wes Clark.

[CabaretArtist]

Putting in a request on my heavy rotation prayer list that this numb-nut whack job NEVER GETS NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE. NO NO NO NO to Wolfson and his ugly ass. Yep, extra chanting, too, will go in immediate effect. Please don't mess up this glorious picture being painted. NO NO NO NO to Wolfson.

[mcantwell]

Wolfson stated "Something just snapped." Yeah, sure. It was probably Hillary with her whip.

[Beamreach]

Hope he doesn't bring that dreadful sweater to the new post.