Obama Appointments: Hillary, Christina, Melody, Heather, Ellen, Valerie—and there's Michelle
November 25, 2008
The Women's Media Center is in the news. Our work on sexism in the media is mentioned in The Wall Street Journal's online Journal Women story "Sexism's Coming Out Party." and in the Poughkeepsie Journal's "Public Editor: Race, Gender Issues Top Campaign Coverage." The WMC is also hosting its first auction! Be sure to check out details below and see what is up for grabs. The Appointments: Hillary says yes; two women walk out on stage as part of President-elect Obama's economic team. A woman here, a woman there, soon you're talking about real equality! Well, we have a distance to travel before that. But, for now….the naming of women, and women of color. State: No doubt Hillary is assembling her staff as we speak-with an announcement scheduled post-Thanksgiving. WMC Progressive Women's Voices participant Michelle Wucker gives us an idea of the job ahead for Clinton. Wucker is the Executive Director of the World Policy Institute, a leading progressive policy think tank. She concludes: " The new secretary of state will be at the center of the global effort required to calm financial markets and restore global economic growth, to promote international justice, and to find common approaches to global security challenges. No country, even a superpower, can do any of this on its own." Read her illuminating commentary on our website by Click here for an application for our Progressive Women's Voices program and to check out a great new reel of PWVV highlight clips. The deadline for the first class is December 15. Inner Circle: Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor -- Valerie (co-chair of the Obama transition team) is packing her bags for Washington, having mentored Michelle and Barack Obama into the White House. Jarrett is an accomplished political counselor and businesswoman (real estate.) Early reports suggested that the President-elect wanted her to replace him in the Senate. Instead she will be "one of the four or five people in the room with him when decisions get made," Read The New York Times profile. Economic Team: Fed chair Timothy Geithner takes the top Treasury spot; his mentor, Larry Summers, will head up the National Economic Council (and avoid confirmation hearings). New to the scene: Christina D. Romer, Director of the Council of Economic Advisors - Dr. Romer is Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, where she has taught and researched since 1988. You can read her bio and resume on the Berkeley site, here, and be sure to read her Encyclopedia Britannica entry on The Great Depression, an expertise of hers. Let us hope the concept remains historical. Melody C. Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council - Melody Barnes is co-director of the Agency Review Working Group for the Obama-Biden Transition Team, and served as the Senior Domestic Policy Advisor for the Obama campaign. A colleague of transition chair John Podesta's at The Center for American Progress, she was a long-time aide to Senator Ted Kennedy. Her portfolio will include health reform. Heather A. Higginbottom, Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council - Heather Higginbottom served as Policy Director for Obama for America, overseeing all aspects of policy development. From 1999 to 2007, Higginbottom served as Senator John Kerry's Legislative Director. Communications: Ellen Moran, Director of Communications -- Moran is executive director of EMILY's List, which raises funds for pro-choice women candidates. Something of a surprise-Moran was a Hillary Clinton supporter-right up to her concession and EMILY's List worked hard for a Clinton win. This, on the heels of a Clinton State Department, will go far to convince Hillary supporters of his "inclusiveness." And In the White House: Michelle Obama, First Lady -- Two reporters have major stories on the Michelle factor. Allison Samuels has the cover story on Newsweek, What Michelle Obama Means to Us about how she'll change the world's image of African-American women-and the way we see ourselves. And Rachel L. Swarns, New York Times Washington correspondent , writes about Michelle as only the second First Lady with a career (the first and only was Hillary)-and what that means. Desiree Rogers, Social Secretary --We know that Michelle is taking her duties as entertainer-in-chief seriously-she has picked Chicago businesswoman Desiree Rogers as her Social Secretary. Rogers, like the First Lady, has a Harvard MBA. WMC AUCTION COMING UP!! LET THE BIDDING BEGIN! Tell your friends and mark your calendars; it's almost here – the first WMC Online Auction! Starting Monday, December 1st, the Women's Media Center invites you to visit www.wmc-auction.com to bid on some fantastic items. Here's a preview of what you could win: • A vacation at a gorgeous Palm Springs home – featuring its own pool, Jacuzzi and tennis court. So stunning, it has been highlighted in numerous magazines and is part of the Palm Springs historic site registry. • A private tango lesson from WMC Board Member and renowned professional Argentine tango dancer, Loreen Arbus. Learn to tango in New York, Los Angeles, or Buenos Aires – you pick! • An opportunity for a truly unique celebration - a karaoke party for ten with WMC President Carol Jenkins in New York City. • Lunch with WMC Founder Gloria Steinem or CNN's Soledad O'Brien. • Dinner with Board Members Gloria Feldt or Helen Zia. • Books, art, museum tours, and more! AND by popular demand, the chance to buy WMC caps, mugs and totes! The auction will run for 2 weeks and all proceeds will benefit The Women's Media Center. Thank you in advance for your support! Be sure to check in with us at www.womensmediacenter.com for the latest-and help us make women visible and powerful by supporting our programs. You can donate here. With warmest wishes to you for a wonderful Thanksgiving from the entire WMC staff, Carol Jenkins President, The Women's Media Center
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