Potomac Flacks

"Senior Administration Official" Returns to WH Briefing!

From Wonkette:

MR. SNOW: Greetings. Welcome to Amman. First, I am joined by my close personal friend, Senior Administration Official, for a background briefing on the President’s dinner with the King of Jordan. So let me introduce to one and all, Senior Administration Official, to give you a readout and then answer your questions.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thank you.

Not even trying anymore. And apparently no one gives a shit, as this this man of intrigue — along with yesterday’s Mystery Twins — made it into this Post story!

We like to think he shouts “everyone look over there!” while pressing a button on his ring that activates his spring-loaded, super-shrinking Senior Administration Official costume. You know, like the Flash. Except slower and with lies.

Thursday People: IL Spokesvet to AARP

• Cecelia Prewett is AARP's new associate director of media relations, a new position. She previously served as senior communications manager for IL Gov. Rod Blagojevich and for Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) (PR Week)

WH Flacks Transform Themselves into "Senior Administration Officials"

It's not too hard to piece together who "senior Administration officials" are when minutes earlier, they went by the name "Tony Snow" and "Dan Bartlett."  Absurd.

Who's Looking for a New Flack?

What does The Note know about vacant (or soon to be vacant) political spokesperson gigs?  Today they invite job seekers to "consider some of these options — only some of which are (still) available, and only some of which (actually) exist":  

* Designated White House strategic leaker.

* Romney for President national campaign press secretary.

* National finance director (regular), national finance director (Internet), and campaign manager for Obama for President.

* Chiefs of staffs to a half baker's dozen of new Democratic Senators.

* Spokesperson for nearly any member of the minority in either chamber.

* Rapid response artist in the newly beefed up House Democratic Caucus shop.

* DSCC Communications Director with the ability to manage/handle/staff easy-going, laid back, non-demanding chairman. (Working knowledge of Joe and Eileen O'Reilly required.)

Boehner Spokesguy Madden Joins Romney's '08 Effort

He was named the second most beautiful person on Capitol Hill.  His colleagues have flipped him off.  He pitched in at the RNC/NRCC during campaign season and man-flirted with Hill reporters.  Now Kevin Madden (left), the well-regarded spokesguy to House Minority Leader John Boehner, is departing to join MA Gov Mitt Romney's '08 communications shop, Roll Call reports.

Madden will be "a spokesman and communications strategist for the Romney campaign," presumably joining Commonwealth PAC Press Secretary (and alleged bad parker) Jared Young, and working in this building in Boston's North End.  Madden flacked previously for Rep. Tom DeLay, the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign, the Justice Department, and Rep. John Sweeney.

Roll Call adds that it is unclear if Boehner will hire a replacement for Madden. Boehner Communications Director Kevin Smith is expected to stay on board in the 110th Congress.

Freshman Senate Flacks: An Update

Right after the election we singled out the campaign spokespeople for incoming Senators who had the inside track to ride their bosses' coattails to the Hill.  Now, an update on recent staffing announcements for the Senate freshman class:

• Jim Webb (VA): Former Mark Warner flack Paul Reagan (who also served as chief of staff to Rep. Jim Moran) was just named Webb's Senate chief of staff.
• Bob Casey (PA): Campaign CD Larry Smar, a former Barbara Boxer staffer, was named to Casey's transition team.
• Bob Corner (TN): Campaign flack Todd Womack is leading Corker's transition team.
• Amy Klobuchar (MN): Campaign spokesguy Bob Hume returned to his gig as St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's flack rather than follow Klobuchar to DC.
• Claire McCaskill (MO): Campaign CD Adrianne Marsh has been named to fill the same role for McCaskill in the Senate.

No word yet on flack appointments for Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Jon Tester (MT), Ben Cardin (MD) or Sherrod Brown (OH)...send us a tip if you know something.

Flack Profile: Jena Longo, Clear Channel

Today we profile Jena Longo, Communications Director for Clear Channel's Government Affairs operation and former flack to The Benator. Clear Channel are the folks that bring you radio, TV and outdoor advertising. Check out previous flack profiles here.

Hometown: New Orleans
How long have you been in your current position? A little over a year
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up? Sports medicine physician.  Once I was old enough to realize I was terrible at math & science, I quickly reevaluated my future goals.
What college did you go to and what was your major? Louisiana State University (LSU)…GEAUX TIGERS!!!  Political Communications major, Political Science minor.
Did you ever work on the Hill?  If so, for whom? Worked for Senator John Breaux of Louisiana, once Senator Breaux announced his intent to retire, I worked for Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska.   
What was your very first job? Lifeguard, yes I was in charge of saving lives…quite a frightening thought.

Hill Staffers Provided New Diversion in Form of Updated Salary Data

The friendly (or is it Friedly?) folks over at LegiStorm -- the online database of congressional staff salaries that crashed soon after launching in September -- tell us that they've just updated their site with the latest House of Representatives salary data, from the second quarter of 2006.

There are 435+ House offices, so we're disinclined to put together a spreadsheet like we did with the Senate press secretary salaries.  But as a public service, we can steer you directly to salary info for new House leaders Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, James Clyburn, Rahm Emanuel, John Boehner, Roy Blunt, Eric Cantor, and Adam Putnam.  Plus all the House committee spokesfolks.

The LegiStorm folks also announced planned improvements for the coming months, including more data from past years, new ways to browse and search data, and new additions to its staff to help get data posted more quickly.

Tuesday People: Ex-Moynihan Flack to Zeno Group

• Michael Waterman, former press secretary to Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, is the Zeno Group's new VP for the healthcare and corporate practice areas.  He was previously communications director for the Mental Health Assn. of New York City (O'Dwyer's).

Ex-Daschle Flack Has "Man Crush" on Obama

Roll Call reports that "Todd Webster (left), the former communications director for then-Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), has a man crush on Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.)."

Webster (who now runs his own PR shop) "sent out a blast e-mail last week announcing that, as 'a fan and admirer' [of Obama] he has created a 'help draft Obama' Web site, at www.runobama.com.

The cynics over at Roll Call say either Webster is "a true believer who wants Obama to be president, or he’s looking for a job."