As world watches Cairo, Michelle Obama shakes up White House staff

One other thing that President Obama left out of his global speech to Muslims today was word of the top-level shakeup in First Lady Michelle Obama's White House staff.

While the nation was watching the world watch Obama speak and tour in Egypt, news of the East Wing staff changes came out. Out as the old chief of staff after less than five months is Jackie Norris, who started working with Mrs. Obama during the Iowa caucus campaign.

In as the new chief of staff is Susan Sher, who's been a friend of her boss since even before they started working together years ago at the University of Chicago.

Norris was sent over to become a "senior advisor" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

To make things look all smooth and friendly-like in a city that thrives on gossip about invisible internal conflicts, all three women issued boiler-plate statements of their longtime friendship, deep commitments and excitement about pursuing the administration's agenda.

Norris, for instance, was quoted as saying: "I am grateful to President and Mrs. Obama for the opportunities and friendship they have given me over the last few years and I am looking forward to becoming an integral part of this Administration’s efforts to advance the cause of national and community service."

The only cliche left out of the White House statement was anyone's avowed goal of spending more time with their family.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Comments

[Pom Pom Girl]

Sonia Sotomayor - Do You Want An Affirmative Action Judge?

Before Sotomayor's confirmation hearings begin, the Supreme Court probably will overturn a ruling she supported on the 2nd Circuit — the propriety of New Haven, Conn., canceling fire department promotions because there were no African-Americans (although there was a Hispanic) among the 18 firemen the selection test made eligible for promotion. A three-judge panel of 2nd Circuit judges, including Sotomayor, affirmed a district court's dismissal of the firemen's complaint, doing so in a perfunctory and unpublished order that acknowledged none of the large constitutional questions involved.
Stuart Taylor of the National Journal calls this "a process so peculiar as to fan suspicions that some or all of the judges were embarrassed by the ugliness of the actions that they were blessing and were trying to sweep the case quietly under the rug, perhaps to avoid Supreme Court review or public criticism, or both." Taylor says that when "the circuit's more conservative judges got wind of the case," they sought to have it reheard by the full 2nd Circuit. They failed but successfully argued that the Supreme Court should take the case.

Taylor has also noted this from a Sotomayor speech to a Hispanic group: "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion (as a judge) than a white male who hasn't lived that life." Says Taylor, "Imagine the reaction if someone had unearthed in 2005 a speech in which then-Judge Samuel Alito had asserted, for example: 'I would hope that a white male with the richness of his traditional American values would reach a better conclusion than a Latina woman who hasn't lived that life' — and had proceeded to speak of 'inherent physiological or cultural differences.'"

Such a perspective on race based decision making is not the sort of Change we had hoped would come from candidate Obama.

[Warren Yeager]

I applaud Mrs. Obama on every level. 1st, she rewarden a woman who worked hard to get the President elected. She gave Ms Norris a shot at a position which she may not have been ready, and when it became apparent that she wasn't up to the task, Mrs. Obama showed her loyalty to the American people and brought in a more experienced choice.

I'm not knocking Ms Norris, by the way. It seems that Mrs. Obama is as committed as the President to make her time in the White House meaningful, and I'd imagine few people could keep up with her. To keep Ms Norris in the 'family' is the kind and just thing to do.

[paul in NY]

Norris must have had a hole in her soul.

[ALEX]

"shakes up the White House staff", eh?
One change: Chief of Staff. And, the former moves
to another position within the Administration.
Mr. Malcolm needs to make time for personal hygiene,
perhaps!