President Obama’s closest and most powerful political adviser plans to increasingly move Obama out of the Oval Office – and perhaps out of the way?
The latest rumors coming from inside The Beltway tell of top Obama administration adviser Valerie Jarrett, having successfully solidified her power within the Oval Office, giving indications President Obama will be spending even less time at the White House and more time in campaign mode in 2011. It has been repeated often that Obama cares far less for the job of governing than he does campaigning to govern, and it now appears Jarrett is going to give him ample time to do just that.
It is said Jarrett has convinced the president that much of the difficulties that led to Obama’s falling approval numbers among Americans since being elected in 2008 was that the president was not visible enough. Many even within the president’s own party likely feel such a claim is rather absurd given Obama’s seemingly unending television appearances and near non-stop campaigning throughout much of 2009 and 2010, as well as numerous (and costly) trips abroad for both himself and First Lady Michelle Obama, but it would appear Jarrett now wants even less of Obama around the White House in 2011. This past weekend Jarrett told Meet the Press the president intends to be engaging the American people far more in the coming year. In an example of unintended irony, Jarrett disclosed that the president had told her just prior to leaving for vacation in Hawaii this past week that when he gets back from vacation he wants to really figure out how to spend less time in Washington DC.
There also appears to be a disconnect within the Obama West Wing, with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs recently stating there will be few staff leaving the Obama White House in 2011. (An interesting comment given the already significant exodus of staff that took place in 2010, as well as persistent rumors of his own imminent departure in 2011.) Counter to Gibb’s recent assertions, DC Insiders are giving strong indications a significant shift is coming within the administration. Just this week a strong rumor of Hillary Clinton’s departure as from the State Department was bantered about. It has already been confirmed David Axelrod and Robert Gates are making quick exits away from the Obama White House in the coming weeks and months.
Valerie Jarrett then remains the seeming de facto President, particularly if President Obama is intent, as his own words appear to confirm, to campaign rather than govern througout 2011. Jarrett’s now open support for Obama’s absence from the White House would appear to substantiate the claims by certain DC Insiders that she is in fact, the real power within the administration. A related story tells of a meeting between Hillary Clinton and Jarrett earlier in the year in which Jarrett demanded to know of Clinton’s intentions in 2012. What Clinton specifically told Jarrett is not entirely known – but the relationship between the two powerful women has apparently become increasingly wary, with Jarrett constantly reminding President Obama the former First Lady cannot be trusted.
As for the President? He appears content with the Jarrett plan of less hands on governing and more travels outside of Washington DC, leaving the political heavy lifting to those more willing to do so. In effect, America has a president already campaigning for a second term in a job he increasingly appears not to want.
Strange days indeed…
