As we know, virtually all facets of the Navy SEAL operation to take out Osama bin Laden were flawless. Except for that abandoned (and destroyed) helicopter, but no one was even injured. And except for that morning-after press briefing that featured as much speculation as fact.
And speaking of that fog-of-war media session, what was notable was the sub-par performance of White House press secretary Jay Carney. Fog-of-war meets deer-in-headlights. Carney, who replaced Robert Gibbs a couple of months ago, seems over his head in the early going.
He seems overly scripted, as if he’s not confident in his own paraphrasing. As if he isn’t a true insider with the ultimate access. If so, that’s a problem. Especially with a president having his image continuously scrutinized. The press secretary might not be channeling the president, but he speaks for his Administration.
Ever since Stephen Early, who was the White House press secretary under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the rule of thumb for effectiveness at the PS post has been access, as in unfettered. The position calls for more than an ex-newspaper hack trained as an on-message parrot. It calls for knowledgeable, articulate, fast-on-their-rhetorical feet sorts with insider gravitas.
Carney’s predecessor, Robert Gibbs, had it, although his welcome with the Washington press corps had been waning by the end of his tenure. So did Tony Snow and Ari Fleischer under President George W. Bush. As did Mike McCurry under President Bill Clinton. Same with Marlin Fitzwater under President George H.W. Bush.
What they had in common was packaged credibility. And, yes, it helped to have senses of spontaneity and humor. The self-important, often preening Washington press prefer a working relationship with some professional give and take. They want to feel that they are participants, not just recipients. They respect those who understand their “gotcha” game.
It also helps if the press secretary has some history with the president. Gibbs, for example, had been communications director of Obama’s presidential campaign. And Stephen Early was Roosevelt’s advance man when FDR ran as vice president on the James Cox ticket in 1920.
Carney, a former reporter with the Miami Herald, was a very well-regarded journalist. He became Time magazine’s Washington Bureau chief and was a regular on ABC News’ “This Week With George Stephanopolos.” He later worked as Vice President Joe Biden’s communication’s director, which may have been a double-edged sword.
Maybe Carney, 45, will grow into the job. But frankly there are certain jobs–and ones at the highest levels of government come readily to mind–where hitting the ground running should be a requisite.
And as we all know, there are no retakes on first impressions. Just ask Tim Geithner.