One More Question... (Top Obama speechwriter under fire for "groping" Hillary cutout)

Washington Post ^ | Dec. 5, 2008 | Al Kamen

[cdchik123]

Question No. 58 in the transition team vetting document for the Obama White House asks that applicants: "Please provide the URL address of any websites that feature you in either a personal or professional capacity (e.g. Facebook, My Space, etc.)"

Question No. 63 asks that applicants "please provide any other information ... that could ... be a possible source of embarrassment to you, your family, or the President-Elect."

For a while there this afternoon, President-elect Barack Obama's immensely talented chief speechwriter, 27-year-old Jon Favreau, might have been pondering how to address that question.

That's when some interesting photos of a recent party he attended -- including one where he's dancing with a life-sized cardboard cut-out of secretary of state-designate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and another where he's placed his hand on the cardboard former first lady's chest while a friend is offering her lips a beer -- popped up on Facebook for about two hours. The photos were quickly taken down -- along with every other photo Favreau had of himself on the popular social networking site, save for one profile headshot.

Asked about the photos, Favreau, who was recently appointed director of speechwriting for the White House, declined comment. A transition official said that Favreau had "reached out to Senator Clinton to offer an apology."

[Faith]

Nice to see the adults are in charge now.

[weegee]

His top speechwriter is under 28?

[John123]

Favreau had "reached out to Senator Clinton to offer an apology."

Watch the hands Jon!

[Tijeras_Slim]

Homeboy better stay out of FT. Marcy Park or he won’t see 29.

[avacado]

"His top speechwriter is under 28?"

No wonder Obama's speeches are full of nothing of substance.

[FormerLib]

Check out the comments and hear how the 0bama-nuts are trying to downplay the photo.

Geez, it’s not as if the guy said nice things about Strom Thurmond at his birthday party or anything.

[Antoninus]

This is embarrassing on so many levels.

Personally, I'm embarrassed that our country voted for the nincompoop who hired a guy like this to be his chief speechwriter.

[gridlock]

But it is the Republicans who are disrespectful of and marginalize women, don’tcha know...

[Williams]

Here’s the real outrage in the article:

“Last March, John McCain aide Soren Dayton forwarded an anti-Obama YouTube video to his private Twitter feed linking Obama with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, leading to his suspension from the campaign.”

[aruanan]

Personally, I'm embarrassed that our country voted for the nincompoop who hired a guy like this to be his chief speechwriter.

I know! You'd think he'd have better taste and grope a cut-out of some really good-looking woman.

[Faith]

Personally, I'm embarrassed that our country voted for the nincompoop who hired a guy like this to be his chief speechwriter.

Agree. For all his faults, George Bush brought dignity back to the Presidency. Now we slide back to depths that make the Clintons seem somewhat mature in comparison.

[FrankR]

"Nice to see the adults are in charge now. "

Yep...all the obama crowd wants is to party, uh, excuse me, I meant to say, "Paaahhhhhhtayyyyyyyyy".

This pic is going to be hard to sidestep, with the dude on the right wearing an "Obama Staff" shirt.

I wonder if Bill is going to bequeath the name "slick willie" to Obama, or would that be racist?

[keats5]

It’s on Drudge.

[GVnana]

Always a classy bunch, weren’t they? (sarcasm)

[mewzilla]

Investors are gonna love this.....

[Williams]

The article details a McCain worker’s allegedly offensive youtube posting, but mentions the case of two Edwards bloggers without any specifics - that they posted anti-Catholic blogs.

[Star Traveler]

The article said — A transition official said that Favreau had “reached out to Senator Clinton to offer an apology.”

—

Ummmm..., inquiring minds want to know “where was he reaching?” LOL...

[steelyourfaith]

Al Gore goes for the real thing.