Obama Girls' Godmother Among Members Of Prestigious White House Commission

As Lynn Sweet reports in her Sun-Times blog, the list of the 28 members of the President's Commission on White House Fellows is out.

Among the Chicago names are Facing History guru Judy Wise, the founder of the group's Chicago office, formerly its executive director, an early supporter of Barack Obama, and a member of his National Finance Committee (and a close friend of mine) and Bryan Traubert, an ophthalmologist, member of many nonprofit boards, and husband of Obama campaign finance chairman Penny Pritzker.

Another Chicago name on the list, Eleanor Kaye Wilson, caught my eye. When I was writing a profile of Michelle for Chicago magazine, I tried but failed to land an interview with Ms. Wilson, known affectionately by the Obamas as "Mama Kaye."

Ms. Kaye's bio on the White House press release describes her as an educator whose work has included stints at DePaul University's School for New Learning and at the Chicago City Colleges system, "where she developed ... a welfare-to-work education and training program for General Assistance participants."

Ms. Wilson, who lives in Olympia Fields, is the Obama girls' godmother as well as a friend and contemporary of Michelle's mother, Marian Robinson. Yvonne Davila, a friend of Michelle's since their days working in City Hall, told me that when Michelle and Barack were on the campaign trail, the Obama girls would often stay with with Mama Kaye, whom she describes as "the Martha Stewart of our group. ... She does foods that are amazing. She also does arts and crafts and it's such a great [treat] for our kids to go over there."

I posted earlier about Cindy Moelis, another Chicago name--one of Michelle's closest Chicago girlfriends since their days together working for Mayor Richard M. Daley--whom Obama previously named as director of the Fellows program. She and her husband, Bob, named counsel to the transportation department, are in the midst of moving their family from Chicago to Washington.

The commission is loaded with big names: former Senator Tom Daschle, slated to be HHS secretary and health czar but forced to drop out over a controversy involving unpaid taxes, Maya Soetoro-Ng, the President's half sister, Tom Brokaw, Vartan Gregorian, a former president of Brown University, Ruth J. Simmons, the current president of Brown University, and Laurence Tribe, an influential professor at Harvard Law School.

Comments

[Kit Rice-Gibson]

Heard in today's job industry, it isn't what you know but WHO you know. This has worked for the good ole boy network for years. Did someone lose their membership or are they just looking to add up jabs against the President about his choices for this commission? Tell me why should I care about him picking a team to vet our future White House Fellows(our public servants)? The man is busy trying to take care of more pertinent things. If he needs to pay the commission, he makes enough on book sales to pay them out of his own pocket.

[whocan]

exactly why is this commission prestigious as opposed to just another hole for tax dollars... And this also looks like another Chicago style patronage nepotistic clout entitlement here.... a Stroger / Daley waste of money

[areaman03]

Ok.

[DeloresT]

4 questions: 1.What does the commion do? 2. Are they paid? 3. Why is this relevant? 4. If they are being paid....can I get on the commission?

[Carol Felsenthal - Huffpost Blogger]

I don't believe they are paid--more later on this.

Their role, according to a press release from the White House is:

Washington, DC - Today, President Obama appointed 28 members to the President's Commission on White House Fellowships. This accomplished group of citizens representing a broad range of backgrounds, interests, and professions are responsible for recommending a group of exceptional men and women to the President for selection as White House Fellows"
.

"The men and women of this commission embody what makes the White House Fellows program so special," said President Obama. "These leaders are diverse, non-partisan, and committed to mentoring our next generation of public servants. I'm confident that they will select a class of White House Fellows that demonstrate extraordinary leadership, strong character, and a deep commitment to serving their country."

[S1m0n]

What does this commission do?

[actionwriter]

Palin-Letterman is yesterday’s news. Give it up.
Sarah can take care of herself quite well.
Letterman, Andy Rooney and Bill OReilly are industry dinosaurs.
These gray old men need to move aside and let someone like Glen
Beck take their seat.

[Carol Felsenthal - Huffpost Blogger]

what?

[mypov123]

lol exactly, what does the above post have to do with THIS story??