white house social secretary

posts about #whitehousesocialsecretary more →
Blame For White House Crashers Settles On Social Secretary
Open House: What Desiree Rogers Brings To America
New White House Social Secretary Is Well-Educated, Dressed

Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.

Dsmvwl Admin Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

Cimorene
10:38 AM

In reply to Blame For White House Crashers Settles On Social Secretary
", the focus on her former lifestyle and current comeuppance sounds a bit like mockery of a black woman who tried to rise above her station — mockery that even extends, in Sneed's case, to the First Lady and her "clique.""

This, exactly this.

It's pretty gross that people are perfectly content to complain about her fucking dress, when we had a president for 8 years who was spending a shit ton more money on a fucking war that killed people and tortured people. I mean, the billions spent on blowing up brown folks' homes doesn't really compare to the price of a designer gown. Plus, also, gowns never fucking kill people*.

And remember that dude who threw a (totally justified) shoe at Bush? Why did nobody complain about how the secret service et al. fucked up when they let a hostile person into the president's presence, then didn't react until he had already throw a shoe at his head?

The mainstream media does not have the vocabulary--or the inclination to try to build one--to talk about powerful women who aren't silent and submissive to their menfolk. Michelle Obama is always either --look! sexy arms!-- or --who does she think she is wearing designer outfits to soup kitchens!!!--. It's so depressing.

*Unless you live in Ancient Thebes...
Reply

Cimorene was starred Cimorene was unstarred

cate3710
10:44 AM

@Cimorene: Hee. Medea reference FTW!
Reply

cate3710 was starred cate3710 was unstarred

That_little_attention_whore
10:49 AM

@Cimorene: I was going to say "unless you are on CSI Miami"

I would say the murder was.......by design. YEAAAAAAAAAH!
Reply

georgina
10:27 AM

In reply to Blame For White House Crashers Settles On Social Secretary
I'm really over the outrage on her sartorial choices. For some, fashion is a hobby. Yes, it can be an expensive hobby, much like golf, travel, wine, etc. Can't the Salahi issue or her job performance be discussed without bringing up this woman's clothes?
Reply

cate3710 promoted this comment georgina was starred georgina was unstarred

Astigmatism
10:26 AM

In reply to Blame For White House Crashers Settles On Social Secretary
To be fair, professional event planners - who one would assume to be a nonpartisan, or at least not-uniformly-anti-Obama - lot, had the same criticisms: she spent too much time at the party and not enough time managing it.

[www.bizbash.com]
Reply

Astigmatism was starred Astigmatism was unstarred

Little Time Bomb
10:53 AM

@Astigmatism: I get that and I'm cool with that. It's more the glee that certain people seem to take in her mistake.
Reply

Little Time Bomb was starred Little Time Bomb was unstarred

Flackette Goes Retro
10:24 AM

In reply to Blame For White House Crashers Settles On Social Secretary
I always assumed that part of the job of the social secretary was to be at events, clipboard in hand, making sure everything went as planned - including checking off the guest list. I mean, I have planned large events as part of my job, and I spent the entire time on my feet, checking on everyone and troubleshooting. There is nothing inherently wrong with her sitting down to enjoy the party, as long as she had plenty of staff covering the bases - but apparently she didn't. I mean, bottom line, she was in charge of the event, and something went wrong. It may not be her fault alone, but it is certainly her job to be proactive in ensuring it doesn't happen again. Perhaps some see a race or class component, but to me it just seems like a clear-cut case of "You are the social secretary, so you're on-duty at social events."
Reply

cate3710
10:31 AM

@Flackette Goes Retro: I feel like that is a legitimate criticism. I just hate the tone taken in the excerpts featured above - there's so much focus on her clothes, and the "East Wing clique" comment really rubs me the wrong way. It makes it much more about Rogers as a person rather than about the job and it's duties.
Reply

cate3710 was starred cate3710 was unstarred

PilgrimSoul
10:09 AM

In reply to Blame For White House Crashers Settles On Social Secretary
Man, the hullabaloo about this is so fucking tone deaf. Was a mistake made? Yes. Did anyone die? No. Was anyone physically or emotionally injured? No. Let's move on.
Reply

PilgrimSoul was starred PilgrimSoul was unstarred

bluebears
10:17 AM

@PilgrimSoul: I hardly think this was the first snafu of this sort to occur in the last 50 odd years.
Reply

bluebears was starred bluebears was unstarred

NotChoinski
10:36 AM

@PilgrimSoul: I think its more than that. According to Roxanne Roberts, Social Secreteries should not invite themselves to the event they are supposed to be running (except, perhaps, a final event at the end of a one's career). Considering this was the first major event - and larger in scope than usual State dinners - there was no excuse for not being on the job.
Reply

NotChoinski was starred NotChoinski was unstarred

AmbivalentAlumna
10:48 AM

@PilgrimSoul: I agree. Maybe it's naive but I don't see why this should even be a big deal. Some fame craving jackasses got in somewhere they didn't belong, it happens all the time.
Reply

Red-headed bookworm promoted this comment AmbivalentAlumna was starred AmbivalentAlumna was unstarred

Red-headed bookworm
11:10 AM

@AmbivalentAlumna: I think it's a big deal because one expects that White Security would be better. If they can get in, someone who has violent reasons for wanting in could get into the dinner. I think the fact that they had cameras with them probably made the security lax with them. I don't think it was Desiree Rogers' fault, at least not from what I've heard. I place more blame on the people checking the list of attendees. If they weren't on the list, the first person should never have allowed them in.
Reply

lizkdc001
09:51 AM

In reply to Blame For White House Crashers Settles On Social Secretary
Pff, the Desiree Rogers thing is fueled by two things

Republicans have weird class/race issues about Democrats being allowed to be in the big house at all.

Yeah, the fact that Ms Rogers is an elegant black woman probably fuels it even more, but remember how many kerfuffles they started or tried to start with the Clinton's staff? The idea that the wrong people actually can win the vote and are allowed to move in and--touch stuff
freaks them out.

Claiming that a Democratic administration is doing wrong by the Secret Service (who carry guns and work in law enforcement, so must be "conservatives" who are being screwed by feckless liberals) is another favorite fantasy. In reality, the SS is made up of long-term careerists who take their work seriously, serve through numerous administrations, and don't give shit about politics* (* family member is one).

Rogers is right to sit tight. If she was out and about right now, she's be raked over the coals for that. The conservative gutter types will slobber and rage for a while, hoping to get her fired. Hopefully, she'll stand fast.
Reply

formergr promoted this comment lizkdc001 was starred lizkdc001 was unstarred

CurtCole
09:48 AM

In reply to Blame For White House Crashers Settles On Social Secretary
I don't think she needs to be fired, after all we let President Bush learn on the job for eight years.
Reply

CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

GeorgeFayne
09:56 AM

@CurtCole: And that certainly went swimmingly for us as a nation.

(NB: I don't actually have an axe to grind with Ms. Rogers, but that was too easy to pass up.)
Reply

GeorgeFayne was starred GeorgeFayne was unstarred

femme-bot
09:57 AM

@CurtCole: Wait, he is able to "learn"? And he learnt on the job?
...
Like how to read?
Reply

femme-bot was starred femme-bot was unstarred

CurtCole
10:04 AM

@femme-bot: I don't know about full-on reading, but he eventually learned how to hold the book.
Reply

CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

formergr
10:06 AM

@CurtCole: Ah, that picture will never get old. And how cool for that little girl to have a story to tell for the rest of her life--about having to try and keep a straight face reading in front of the press while trying to pretend the President isn't sitting next to you holding an upside book.
Reply

formergr was starred formergr was unstarred

femme-bot
10:07 AM

@CurtCole: D'aww! The little girl is teaching him how!!
Reply

femme-bot was starred femme-bot was unstarred

GeorgeFayne
10:17 AM

@CurtCole: That picture makes me want to stab his stupid face.

Man, I am cranky this morning.
Reply

GeorgeFayne was starred GeorgeFayne was unstarred

CurtCole
10:52 AM

@GeorgeFayne: We like it when you are cantankerous. And by "we" I mean the royal "we," of course.
Reply

CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

la.donna.pietra
09:42 AM

In reply to Blame For White House Crashers Settles On Social Secretary
Not that I bear any love for Condi Rice, but there's a definite similarity between the criticism of her fancy boots when it became obvious that the Iraq war was not going as planned and Ms. Rogers' perceived sartorial excess.
Reply

la.donna.pietra was starred la.donna.pietra was unstarred

cate3710
09:48 AM

@la.donna.pietra: Because clearly women can't dress fantastically AND do their jobs at the same time.
Reply

cate3710 was starred cate3710 was unstarred

Alys Brangwin has a huge talent
09:56 AM

@cate3710: Well if they dress well, it's distracting them from their real jobs. Men don't have this problem, ladies!
Reply

femme-bot
10:01 AM

@cate3710: Yup. There's this whole idea that fashion = frivolous. Men's sartorial choices aren't picked apart nearly as much.
Also, we're damned if we do, damned if we don't. Look at the people who judge Hillary for not dressing nice enough (back in her pantsuits days). We can't be dowdy, we can't be chic. It's just their way of telling women to stay home.
Reply

femme-bot was starred femme-bot was unstarred

OverratedUnderwhelmed
10:12 AM

@femme-bot: And when you stay home, dress your men in some damn Thom Browne or even Zegna! I defy anyone to name me a chic male politico. They all seem to wear the same ill-fitting sack of a suit always.
Reply

femme-bot promoted this comment

formergr
09:40 AM

In reply to Blame For White House Crashers Settles On Social Secretary
I read the Post article this morning, and while it clarified a lot of the night's events, it also made it *really* clear that Cathy Hargraves is Bitter McBitterson...I thought they gave her statements on how it's "supposed" to work, and what Rogers should have done a little too much weight, given that Rogers is responsible for the loss of her job. Not exactly an unbiased view of how social events should run at the White House.

I also thought it was fascinating that the Salahis suddenly claimed a family medical emergency just when it was time to go in to dinner (and presumed assigned seats and tables) and asked to be rushed out of the White House. At which point they had drinks at the Hay-Adams Hotel across the park, and then called their limo driver after an hour or so and said they were still at dinner at the White House, and could he pick them up soon. And they walked back to the White House driveway (past security) from the hotel to be picked up.

But you know, they still claim it was a misunderstanding and they thought all along they were invited.
Reply

formergr was starred formergr was unstarred

Maritsa
09:49 AM

@formergr: It's pretty disconcerting that given how Hargraves has a huge axe to grind, her words are being taken as gospel.
Reply

Maritsa was starred Maritsa was unstarred

formergr
09:51 AM

@Maritsa: Yes! Exactly, that really disturbed me. For some balance, I'd love to hear from whoever served as Clinton's social secretary, and how things were done back then, and should have been done this time.
Reply

formergr was starred formergr was unstarred

brendastarlet is on it
03/02/09

In reply to Open House: What Desiree Rogers Brings To America
My request: open up Pennsylvania Avenue. We got through 42 presidents without it being a problem. Please, please, please.
Reply

ceejeemcbeegee is not here
03/02/09

@brendastarlet is on it: But we've never had a President like Obama.
Reply

HuckleberryFriend
03/02/09

In reply to Open House: What Desiree Rogers Brings To America
The White House is starting to sound like my fantasy world. Art, video games, and cooking? SOLD.
Reply

HuckleberryFriend was starred

cellophane
03/02/09

In reply to Open House: What Desiree Rogers Brings To America
So the white house social secretary plans all of the events and parties, organizes video game contests, and is curator of the art collection?

...Where do I apply for this position?
Reply

cellophane was starred cellophane was unstarred

hfree
03/02/09

@cellophane: She's not the curator, but she works with the curator. The curator is one of those ongoing positions, like chef and steward, that stays with the house from administration to administration.

Also, the president can request paintings from the National Gallery! I would go for the da Vinci or a Vermeer just to fuck with them, but I'm sure Obama will stick to something more American.
Reply

hfree was starred hfree was unstarred

brendastarlet is on it
03/02/09

@hfree: I'd love to see some Jacob Lawrence hanging in the WH, near some photos by Gordon Parks.
Reply

HokeyPokey
03/02/09

In reply to Open House: What Desiree Rogers Brings To America
Ms. Rogers, I want an invitation to one of the White House dinners. Give me a date/time - I'll be there.
Reply

HokeyPokey was starred HokeyPokey was unstarred

shorty63136
03/02/09

@HokeyPokey: Seconded. We will even carpool to save teh energies.
Reply

shorty63136 was starred shorty63136 was unstarred

kelsium
03/02/09

In reply to Open House: What Desiree Rogers Brings To America
I am so completely on board with updating the White House art collection. I think that being perceptive to things like that are going to be SO important in ensuring the success of this "openness" policy. Major kudos!
Reply

kelsium was starred kelsium was unstarred

kelsium
03/02/09

In reply to Open House: What Desiree Rogers Brings To America
Dear Ms. Rogers,

Here I am being direct! INVITE ME TO THE WHITE HOUSE! (Please?)

Love,

Kelsium
Reply

kelsium was starred kelsium was unstarred

brendastarlet is on it
03/02/09

@kelsium: Write her a note. I was invited to the WH during the Clinton years, and it was a blast. Giant sunflowers on blue tablecloths, great food and that big house in the background of all the photos.
Reply

Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion

#whitehousesocialsecretary

Jezebel

SUBSCRIBE TO Jezebel

Blame For White House Crashers Settles On Social Secretary

Open House: What Desiree Rogers Brings To America

New White House Social Secretary Is Well-Educated, Dressed

Login

Reset Password

Register

Submit Your Comment