Potomac Flacks

JOB OF THE WEEK - Manager of Media Relations at The Tax Foundation

The Tax Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Washington devoted to researching tax and fiscal policy, is looking to fill the position, Manager of Media Relations. Prefer: Working experience at a television news operation. Other broadcast or print media experience desirable, as well as experience promoting the work of think tank scholars to the media. Credentials: B.A. expected, but strong writing skills and persuasive delivery essential.  Salary: competitive and commensurate with experience.  Please send resume to ahern@taxfoundation.org with ‘media job’ in the subject line.

Tucker Carlson Lets Loose with Senate Flacks

MSNBC’s Tucker Carlson had many opinions to share during a talk last week with Senate flacks as part of a Senate Press Secretaries Association speaker series in the Russell Senate Office Building.

Carlson began with how unvetted Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is:

“Obama’s the kind of guy you sit with on a flight from Dulles to LAX and you have a few glasses of red wine. You have a great semi-drunk five hours across the country. But you don’t know anything about the guy. He could be the escaped state mental patient.”

His thoughts on Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.): “You are a drunk, boorish house guest. Get the hell out of here.”

And Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.): “I can tell you that McCain doesn’t know why he got it. I like the guy. He never yelled at me.” (The Hill)

Watkins Watch! Peter sighted on the Streets of D.C.

We're not sure if it's the annual fly-in for the many clients of Watkins Global Strategies or if it's to attend the annual White House Correspondent's Dinner, but a certain PF Tipster (hint: not Pedro) reports seeing the esteemed Peter Watkins on the streets of Washington D.C.  Peter, who served as uber-spokesman (Northeast and West Coast) for the White House Office of Media Affairs, Deputy Press Secretary for the First Lady, and as Press Assistant to the President, is now the President of Watkin's Global Strategies, a strategic communications firm based in Utah. (PF Tipster)

Tony Snow Discharged from Spokane Hospital

Former White House press secretary Tony Snow was discharged from a Spokane hospital where he had been admitted for an undisclosed illness.  Sacred Heart Medical Center spokeswoman Pat Servine said Snow was released Thursday morning. Patient privacy rules prevented her from giving details about his illness, she said. Snow was admitted to the hospital after falling ill and canceling some appearances Tuesday at Eastern Washington University.  We're glad you're feeling better TS!  Hang in there. (AP)

Rep. Cramer Hires Gibson as Comms Director

Jennie Gibson has been hired as communications director for Rep. Robert E. "Bud" Cramer, D-Ala.  Gibson replaces Adam Muhlendorf. (CQ's People on the Move)

White House Hires Hatch Press Aide

Jared Whitley has joined the White House communications office as associate director.  Whitley, a Salt Lake City native, has worked on media for Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, as press assistant and as acting press secretary.  In January, Whitley volunteered for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's GOP presidential campaign in Iowa.  Before coming to Washington, Whitley was a newspaper reporter in Utah.  He graduated from the University of Utah in 2003.  Good luck in you new post! (CQ's People on the Move)

Nicolle Wallace to Team McCain

J. Mart at Politico has the scoop again! John McCain's campaign is bringing on a top figure from the Bush-Cheney reelection to help with strategy and communications.  Starting May 1, Nicolle Wallace will serve as a senior adviser to the campaign.  Wallace served as communications director for Bush-Cheney '04 and held the same post in the White House at the start of the president's second term.  She since moved to New York and has been on contract with CBS, offering political analysis for the network.  But now she's cut ties with CBS and will be available to  McCain full-time, participating on the campaign's strategy calls and adding another voice to the campaign's tight-knit inner circle.  Wallace will work closely with McCain adviser Steve Schmidt and communications director Jill Hazelbaker in fashioning the candidate's message and press strategy. (The Politico)

Brown is Hiring

Want to be a press secretary on the Hill? Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Oh.) is hiring. The candidate should be experienced and willing to work in an aggressive, proactive press shop to coordinate media contacts and activities for much of the Senator's home state. In addition to coordinating and helping develop a statewide media strategy, the press secretary will work with the press assistant to manage press contacts in 12 media markets including urban, rural and suburban areas.

Interested applicants should email cover letter, resume and two page writing sample to Human_Resources@brown.senate.gov. No phone calls please. (PF Tipster)

Mills on the Hill: Interview with Mark Corallo

The Hill’s Jim Mills interviews media relations specialist and former DoJ Spokesman Mark Corallo about his career on Capitol Hill and his current work with the media shield bill. Good stuff! To follow what's shakin in Congress and get your Jim Mills fix, check out The Hill's blog.

Longtime Heritage Flack Moves to CATO

Khristine Brookes, who has been with The Heritage Foundation since 1999 and was their Director of Media Relations, has been named Vice President of Communications at CATO, where she will run their government relations, web and tradition media operations.  Matt Streit has been named Acting Director with her departure.  (PF Tipster)