Rep. Sestak’s staffers keep jumping ship (bad press for PA Democrat)

The Hill ^ | September 04, 2007 | Jonathan E. Kaplan

[Clintonfatigued]

Freshman Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), a retired three-star Navy admiral, has fast developed a reputation for being a temperamental and demanding boss. Thirteen staffers have quit this year, say former aides citing public records.

Sestak’s reputation as a difficult manager, which hounded him in the Navy, has followed him to Congress. The Navy Times reported in 2005 that Sestak was relieved from his last post as deputy chief of Naval operations because of “poor command climate.”

Now, in running his congressional office, Sestak has imported a measure of military toughness; he is battling a “misguided” culture in Washington, said William Walsh, Sestak’s district director.

Aides are expected to work seven days a week, including holidays, often 14 hours each day, going for months without a day off. These are very long hours even by Capitol Hill standards.

After more than nine years on Capitol Hill and only six months as chief of staff, Brian Branton announced on Aug. 17 that he would be leaving Sestak to become vice president for congressional affairs at USA Funds, a nonprofit corporation that guarantees student loans. Sestak also has seen three press secretaries come and go.

In Sestak’s district office in Media, Pa., staffers are expected to work from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., during the week and part of the day on Saturday. One aide manages the office on Sundays, Walsh said.

Some aides have also bristled at their boss’s temper. At a markup in the House Education and Labor Committee this year, Sestak dressed down a legislative assistant in a manner that got the attention of other lawmakers and aides.

[Clintonfatigued]

This is the same Congressman whose staff included a member of CAIR, which has ties to the terrorist group HAMAS. I wonder if that staff member still works for him?

[Natty Bumppo@frontier.net]

Sestak retired as a Rear Admiral. He was fired from his position as a Vice Admiral. (Two stars vice three).

[El Sordo]

Water finds its own level.

He’ll get the staff he deserves.

[Clintonfatigued]

Hopefully, he’ll get the election results he deserves, as well.

[BallyBill]

He also received donations from Hsu or whatever his name is. Saw the list on Malkin’s site.

[poindexter]

Sounds like he’s a practitioner of the Wire Brush method of management.

[Clintonfatigued]

He ought to be toast. All that’s missing is an announced Republican opponent.

By the way, isn’t there a tradition on FR of posting pics of Sleestacks from “Land Of The Lost” whenever a Sestak article is posted?

[fieldmarshaldj]

[popdonnelly]

Clintonista put in to get rid of Weldon.

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

It'll be up to these folks to fire him:

[jazusamo]

I hope his constituents find out about him like his staff is.

[Clintonfatigued]

Very true, but he has to have a Republican challenger, and so far, no one has announced.

[Tribune7]

ping

[Tribune7]

ping

[Tribune7]

ping

[Bulldawg Fan]

Any former military person who is a democrat has a self hate complex.

[Tribune7]

Of the presidents we've had that served in the Navy, the best might have been Ford.

Ponder that.

[USNBandit]

Freshman Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), a retired three-star Navy admiral, has fast developed a reputation for being a temperamental and demanding boss.

"poor command climate" is Navy slang for "he's an a$$hole.

[Clintonfatigued]

Obviously, Sestak was detested by most of his colleagues. And he has gotten quite a bit of bad press this year (ties to the Council on American Islamic Relations, this, and taking money from fugitive Norman Hsu).

[no dems]

Has he tried Zoloft?

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Those folks in the 7th Congressional District got themselves a real beaut. Sounds like Jim Webb with fewer marbles.

[philly-d-kidder]

Bring back Kurt Weldon......Who spoke Russian and Knew Putin personally we need you....

sestak went to the same Catholic high school as the Crooked NBA Referee.....

Sestak is quietly talking about Partial Birth Abortion to even higher age groups ...

a National disgrace....

[Intolerant in NJ]

But Sestak does not attribute staff resignations to problems of his own making...of course not - libs are morally and intellectually superior and always know better than anybody else about everything - anything that goes wrong is never their fault......

[Starwolf]

of course not - libs are morally and intellectually superior and always know better than anybody else about everything - anything that goes wrong is never their fault......

Sestak thought that of himself while still in uniform, it has nothing to do with politics. He went Dem as a flag of convenience, following the Weasly Clark model.

He was about as bad a flaming asshat who ever made flag. When the new CNO came in, his goose was cooked and lots of us rejoiced. He really was that bad.

[USNBandit]

Same thing as his Navy career. Usually once you make flag you can be as nutty as you want. Don't get arrested, don't screw the help and you are good to go.

This guy was so likeable that the CNO fired him within 24 hrs of taking over.

[napscoordinator]

Heck Kennedy might have been more conservative than Ford.

[Mo1]

Can’t say I’m surprised by this news .. the man is a jerk

BTW .. our local paper had a full page ad against him last week .. seems Joey voted to take funds away from the seniors thru Medicare

[Brofholdonow]

My thoughts as well. Wonder if he gave/gives them off for “holidays”

[Gondring]

Any former military person who is a democrat has a self hate complex.

My name is Sgt. Zell Miller,
and I hate myself...
...Bulldawg Fan told me so.

[Gondring]

This is the same Congressman whose staff included a member of CAIR, which has ties to the terrorist group HAMAS. I wonder if that staff member still works for him?

Also, he spoke at a CAIR fundraising banquet, right? Nothing like having a fired admiral with ties to Hamas in a Congressional seat, eh?