Posted on 10/01/2011 7:15:55 PM PDT by justsaynomore
Herman Cain will add a heavyweight to his campaign staff on Monday. Taking over as campaign spokesman will be J.D. Gordon, who served as a Pentagon spokesman from 2005-2009 under Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates. Gordon is a retired Navy commander. He succeeds Ellen Carmichael, a 2009 graduate of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.
So how did CNN report this story? From CNN: Herman Cain communications director resigns. No mention was made of J.D. Gordon, at all.
Reporter Shannon Travis made it sound as if Team Cain was on the rocks:
Its a very amicable departure, Carmichael said. He wished me the best of luck. And I will forever be fond of him and appreciative of this opportunity.
In June, two other staffers left the Cain campaign. CNN asked Carmichael if her and Boustanys departures are a sign of more trouble for Cain.
No comment, she said.
I have served Mister Cain for more than a year, Carmichael added. Weve had ups and downs. Weve had tons of money and very little money. And Ive stuck through some very difficult and some very rewarding times on the campaign. And it was just time for me to go pursue other professional opportunities.
The timing of Carmichaels resignation is sure to raise eyebrows. Cains candidacy is currently generating headlines, having recently won a Florida straw poll, seeing some momentum in some polls and earning some positive reviews for recent debate performances. On Friday, the candidate snagged a spot on NBCs Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
But newspaper reporter-turned-blogger Robert Stacy McCain reported: Ellen Carmichael Out, J.D. Gordon In as Cain Campaign Communications Chief.
Gordon is a big snag for Team Cain as he has been a contributing columnist and commentator to Fox News, The Washington Times, Human Events and Capital Insider. Since leaving the Pentagon, Gordon has been a Senior Fellow and Communications Consultant to several Washington-DC based think tanks, including Atlas Economic Research Foundation, Americas Forum, Atlantic Bridge, Center for Security Policy and the Liberty & Freedom Foundation.
Who would you rather have as a spokesman: a young woman 2 years out of college or a chap who handled questions about Gitmo, Iraq and Afghanistan during the 4 most unpopular years of the War on Terrorism. On the other hand, Ellen Carmichael must have done a pretty good job as part of a team that put a political novice in third in the Republican presidential sweepstakes. Its an upgrade, CNN.
UPDATE: Robert Stacy McCain: Surber throws a couple of shots at Ellen, which is rather unfair. She joined Team Cain early last fall when the candidate was Herman Who? She leaves with the candidate now ranked third and poised the challenge the front-runners. Aint no shame in her game.
Oh I agree wholeheartedly. I do not know the woman but I do know many bright people out of college who can kick my rear professionally.
I have always wondered about the scarcity of successful businessmen represented in the field of Presidential candidates. I haven't researched the numbers, but it seems like lawyers are extremely over-representated, as well as members of the senate or congress and state governors. I can't remember any judges either.
What a GREAT pick! Kudos, Mr. Cain.
I have to wonder if Carmichael was given the choice to stay and work with Gordon? Often an enterprise as it grows needs more experienced folks, so they bring them in, give them a fancier title (and salary), and keep onboard the ones who started with them. Helpful to both. In this case it would give Carmichael some fantastic experience working with someone who’s been at the top of the field. I can’t imagine, tho, that her experience with Cain would hurt as she goes forward.
Thanks for this post- I don’t remember ever seeing this guy on Fox News, but his bio looks great. I’m betting that Cain has plans for this guy above and beyond “campaign spokesman”.
Carmichael did well by Cain and Cain by Carmichael I'd say.
Based on the earlier CNN piece, I wondered if Carmichael and her assistant's departures would adversely effect the campaign. Clearly not.
The question is........ is Obama experienced at anything let alone foreign policy? PLEASE! Ham hocks is now in school learning foreign policy you know the former presidents wife. All of s sudden experience matters when it didnt when this fool was running in 08
Good article. It looks to me like she did a great job getting Herman Cain to where he is. I don’t read anything into her leaving, she’s got a very effective ‘add’ to her resume. And Herman Cain has also added an effective replacement. I see a win-win here.
This is a good thing.
A definite improvement in the team.
FOX reported the story the Same way CNN did,No mention of the New Hire.
All they can talk about now is Christie and Romney. Its Pathetic
Yes. Part of being an effective executive is having the right people for the jobs. This job changed, so the person needed to change.
” - - - I have always wondered about the scarcity of successful businessmen represented in the field of Presidential candidates. - - - - “
You bring up an excellent point. In America, a business is designed to make a profit. If my memory is correct, I remember that the ONLY President of the US to make a profit, that is to say have a National Surplus instead of a National Debt, was President Van Buren.
In America, a business is commonly designed so that the President of a company, or the CEO is directly answerable to the Board of Directors. If the Board is not satisfied with the Pres., or CEO, the Board commonly asks them to resign, or simply votes to fire them.
The result of such a system is that men and women who have a long history of keeping their word as a badge of honor, and understand Economics rule number one: “WHEN YOUR OUTGO EXCEEDS YOUR INCOME, YOUR UPKEEP WILL BE YOUR DOWNFALL.” are attracted to going into the field of Business.
A politician is someone whose word cannot be trusted. Bipartisan examples are: “We want no wider war.” ( LBJ ) and, of course, ( Read my lips, no new taxes.” ( GHWB ).
The cultures of Business and Politics have drifted so far apart, that they are no longer compatible. Hence, the ever-increasing huge increases in punative taxation and regulation as the US Federal Goverment tries to absorb America’s businesses. Each Obama speech about “jobs, jobs, jobs” is really govspeak code for “debt, debt, debt.”
Consider for a moment that as of yesterday the largest business that the world has ever known, The US Federal Government, has been operating without a Budget for 3 years in a row.
“Oh!, how terrible!” You might say. “Why didn’t Congress, the Media, etc. raise a public fuss? “ Well, just look in the mirror: not ONE thread appeared on FR yesterday about the topic.
Okay, so here we are! What businessman in his right mind would even CONSIDER trying to tackle such a monumental social/historical/flawed/business model as the politics (read no word of honor) of the US Federal Government?
It would take an exceptionally brave, confident and intelligent businessman to do so. In my humble, but ALWAYS correct opinion, that man is Herman Cain.
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