Josh Earnest: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know about Jay Carney's Replacement

HEAVY ^ | 05/30/2014 | By Matthew Guariglia

[SeekAndFind]

Josh Earnest is about to inherit the hardest media relations job on the planet.

Earnest, a long-time aide to President Obama, will be the next White House press secretary. He’ll succeed Jay Carney, whose resignation President Obama announced Friday, and be at the podium each day for the White House press briefing.

Here’s what you need to know about Earnest:

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1. He’s Worked for Obama Since His First Campaign

Twitter/@jearnest

Earnest is a trusted aide to Obama, and has worked for the President since Obama’s campaign in the 2008 Iowa caucuses, which Earnest joined in March 2007 as Iowa communications director.

In that role, he led Obama’s messaging in the Hawkeye State as the Illinois senator took Hillary Clinton by surprise and won the caucuses, launching his improbable run to the White House.

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2. His Wife’s Grandfather Invented the Plastic Bottle

(Department of the Treasury)

Earnest married Natalie Wyeth from Oakton, Virginia, in August 2012. The wedding took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in D.C. According to their New York Times wedding announcement, Wyeth is a graduate of the University of Southern California. Her grandfather, Nathanial Wyeth, was an engineer who invented the plastic bottle.

The pair met at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Wyeth was the press secretary for the convention whereas Earnest was the press man for the Obama campaign. She said about meeting him:

There was an immediate interest on both our parts. I thought he was attractive, interesting and had a good sense of humor — I wanted to know more about him and be introduced to him.

Wyeth told the New York Times, that from the couple’s second date, she knew that he “was the person I would spend the rest of my life with.”

According to her Facebook page, Wyeth now works for the Department of the Treasure. Among her “likes” on social media is the anti-hero, Omar Little, from the HBO series, The Wire.

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3. He Had Been Carney’s Top Deputy

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Earnest had served as principal deputy press secretary to Carney, and had filled in numerous times at press briefings. He was also the chief of staff in the White House communications office and a special assistant to the President.

The video above features Earnest giving a press briefing last August. He opened the briefing by apologizing for keeping reporters waiting, adding that he made a “rookie mistake” and almost forgot his glass of water.

4. He’s from Missouri

Earnest was born in Kansas City and played baseball and basketball at the Barstow School, according ton his Wikipedia page. He graduated from Rice University in Houston in 1997 with majors in political science and policy studies.

5. He’ll be Obama’s 3rd Press Secretary

Earnest will be the third man to serve as press secretary under Obama, joining Robert Gibbs and Carney.

[The Antiyuppie]

I hope that job comes with a lifetime guarantee of well-paid employment from very wealthy, young Democrats, because after doing this job for this particular boss, your reputation as a person is certainly ruined.

Which leads to the question - what will Carney do in his next position? Certainly, Kim in North Korea needs a kinder, gentler face forward...Boko Haram needs an image makeover badly...I suppose that some opportunities do exist.

[mikrofon]

To bolster his credibility, ‘Josh’ will shortly be changing his name to Frank N. Earnest ....

[all the best]

Because he wears a suit rather than lumber jack gear?

[JimRed]

7. His tap dancing will rival Shirley Temple and Bill Robinson dancing on that staircase!

I played the video of that performance, now I can't stop smiling!

[DocJhn]

Question 39 on the employment review, Can you lie as well as Jay Carney or Baghdad Bob!

[gigster]

I think that would be Jim Varney.

[depressed in 06]

Can he say “Dude?”

[kiryandil]

6. He’s a rich white guy, showing the White House’s commitment to Diversity.

"The wedding [of His Lordship Earnest & Lady Natalie] took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in D.C."

Apparently, the Arlington Day's Inn must have been booked for that weekend, so their Worships had to go slumming...

[NautiNurse]

So, he is an expert at the art of lying?

King O originally passed over Earnest for Carney as Press Secy.

[Hoodat]

When it comes to lying, Obama and Clinton are mere amateurs compared to this guy.

[mikrofon]

Moochelle "weighs in":

[MrB]

Here’s the key -

he’s willing to do things that even Jay Carney wouldn’t do.

[kiryandil]

he’s willing to do things that even Jay Carney wouldn’t do.

Hope he likes the smell of "poppers"...

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Earnest served as a congressional aide to Marion Berry from 2002-2003...” Yes!...enough said.

[bikerman]

What? Wasn’t Bagdad Bob available??

[gigster]

And, I thought Robert Gibbs was bad.This new guy has alot to
live down to.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

(from the article):"Earnest is a trusted aide to Obama, and has worked for the President since Obama’s campaign in the 2008 Iowa caucuses,
which Earnest joined in March 2007 as Iowa communications director.

Mark :"So, he is an expert at the art of lying?"

Better than that , he is expierienced at the art of DECEPTION !
Who ever heard of Obama's birth certificate prior to 2007 ?
Who ever heard of Obama's College records prior to 2007 ?
WHo ever heard of Obama's voting record prior to 2007 ?
He is the champion of moving relevent questions to irrelevency
To my mind that finesse , that subtlety,.. is more dangerous and required more skill than blatant lying !!
Which means that he is lower than a snake

[1010RD]

The new liar.

[Political Junkie Too]

Were there no African-Americans qualified for the job?

-PJ

[IronJack]

The unchallenged winner of Most Inappropiate Name — a White House press flack named “Earnest.”