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| Home Front: Politix |
| Obama social secretary let 1st priority slip |
| 2009-12-06 |
| The heat's on Desiree Rogers. Now, a lot of people in Chicago are wondering will they or won't they fire the nation's celebrity party planner. For those who don't know, Rogers has been under intense scrutiny since a Washington couple crashed the president's first state dinner. The highbrow shindig was thrown in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. But the guest of honor was overshadowed by the antics of Tareq and Michaele Salahi, reality TV star wannabes who sashayed their way into a dinner that was supposed to be invitation-only. Despite their names not being on a guest list, the uninvited managed to get up close and personal with President Obama and other Cabinet members. A committee investigating how the Salahis did it want to talk to Rogers. That's not likely to happen. So far, the White House has dug in its heels -- ignoring threats from members of Congress that if Rogers doesn't voluntarily talk to them, she will be subpoenaed. But the controversy has put Rogers in the headlights. What an untidy mess for an administration that likes things tied with a bow. One head that won't roll On Thursday, the director of the U.S. Secret Service, Mark Sullivan, threw himself and his agency into the flames by acknowledging to a House committee that "appropriate procedures" were not followed. The agents who waved the Salahis by all of the checkpoints have been relieved of their duties and most likely will be sacked. Meanwhile, the White House social secretary appears to be immune to any punishment. For one thing, Rogers, who once headed up Peoples Gas and was the Illinois Lottery lady during former Gov. Jim Edgar's administration, is so socially connected, who would dare humiliate her publicly? As an early supporter of the Obama campaign, and the BFF of Obama insider Valerie Jarrett, Rogers has been instrumental in hooking up the first family with the right benefactors. Truth be told, Rogers -- who was a leading member of Chicago's business and philanthropic community when Obama couldn't rent a car with his credit card -- is the one who brought the Obamas to the party, not the other way around. So no. She is, after all, a member of Chicago's chic elite. And she isn't just any old social secretary. She's a top-tier socialite. Rogers isn't likely to be pushed out of the East Wing anytime soon. The elected officials who are hounding Rogers to answer questions have forgotten that she has two titles. She is also a special assistant to Obama. As my father would say, Rogers has the world in a jug and the stopper in her hand. Her style has redefined what it means to be a social secretary in the White House. But people on both ends of the spectrum agree that Rogers' faux pas embarrassed the Obama administration. Craving too much attention? The social secretary "has to be a worker bee, and Michelle [Obama] is the queen," said a woman who has observed elegant private functions over the years. "You're supposed to be a supporting actress." As an example, the source, who asked for anonymity, pointed to the glare Rogers has knowingly sought. "I didn't think she needed to be at Fashion Week," she said. "In light of what is going on in the country, you have to play it low-key." Obviously, Rogers didn't get where she is in life by being low-key. While the first lady has been up to her elbows plucking vegetables from the White House garden, Rogers has planned nearly 200 elegant parties and social events. Regardless of her title, over the years, Rogers' name has shown up most often in the society columns. So it isn't surprising that Rogers would bask in the glory of being a VIP at one of the world's most exclusive events. Her sin was forgetting that her paid job is to make sure the president and first lady look good at every social function. Frankly, there's real trouble brewing when the social secretary's public persona begins to overshadow that of the first lady. Given Roger's credentials and past experience, it is unlikely that party-gate was a result of her being feckless. She just forgot her place. It happens. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 It does not totally disclude blame from the Secret Service, but I know how it works around disdainful big whigs also. |
| Posted by: newc 2009-12-06 18:10 |