Sandra McElwaine of the The Daily Beast says, “Don’t Cry for Desiree.” Her article proclaims that Desiree was never really the right person for the job. Says McElwaine,
“Let’s face it, she was never right for the job. Traditional White House social secretaries are behind the scenes, detail-oriented worker bees who toil from dawn to dusk polishing guest lists, overseeing menus, and delicately smoothing over last-minute catastrophes. The highly visible and glamorous former corporate executive could never play that role. With her trendy designer clothes and penchant for publicity, she was determined to be a star, and simply too high-profile and too in your face.”
McElwaine’s article also speculates the demise of the Social Secretary.
When the news of her resignation broke Friday, many speculated that a fight between Desiree, presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett (who was still furious over the Indian State Dinner debacle), and Michelle Obama’s chief of staff Susan Sher expedited her departure. The three women were friends and lived in the same Georgetown apartment building. Apparently, they battled over East Wing turf. “I think this is a good time for me to explore opportunities in the corporate world,” Rogers told the Chicago Sun-Times Friday.
Her article ends with a compelling synopsis of the entire spectacle.
It’s hard to tell whose hand wielded the dagger in this particular caper. As a White House reporter reflected, “I think the real reason is that she wasn’t a good fit, not used to being an underling. In Chicago, Desiree was the queen bee—a CEO and social powerhouse—and the Obamas were just that nice young couple from the South Side.”
As outsiders, we may never know how everything truly went down with Desiree stepping down. No matter how you felt about Ms. Rogers, it is still sad to see a seemingly stalwart, professional Black woman cut down from a pivotal appointment in an historic presidential administration. Posted by Bridgette of http://trailblazer-firstlady.blogspot.com. Photo courtesy of Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP Photo
