Would you want to work for Vice President Kamala Harris? No? Nor would I. Nor would Democrats or those otherwise inclined to work for her, apparently, as she continues to burn through staff. The latest flight from Kamala came this past week, as another member of her communications team announced this week he is calling it quits and moving on.
That would be her Communications Director, Jamal Simmons. Mr. Simmons announced that he is done and will be leaving by the first of the year, as Politico reported.
What makes his departure particularly bad is that it’s coming after he joined in January…of this year…meaning he couldn’t even make it a full year on Kamala’s staff…and his whole purpose in being hired was to help her repair her image after her first year in office went less so well and led to much mockery of her.
Breitbart News, added further details on the departure of Mr. Simmons, saying:
Harris’ chief of staff Lorraine Voles told staff in an email announcing Simmons’ departure that she hired him to help “steady the ship” of the vice president’s office and that he agreed to serve in the position for a year, according to the report.
The vice president’s office continues to face high turnover, especially in the communications department.
And while his leaving after such a short time in the office isn’t a great look for Kamala, what makes it worse is that he’s just the latest in a long stream of fleeing staffers. Before him came Kamala’s Chief of Staff, Tina Flournoy, who announced that she was leaving back in April.
Commenting on Tina’s departure at the time, Kamala said “Tina has been a valued advisor and confidant to me and a tremendous leader for the office. From day 1, she led our team during a historic first year as we made progress rebuilding our economy here at home and our alliances around the world. Tina is the consummate public servant and I will continue to rely on her advice, counsel, and friendship.”
Continuing, she went on to add that “Tina has been a critical member of the White House team since day one, working with the President and Vice President to make their partnership effective and help the administration deliver on critical priorities,” President Joe Biden’s Chief of Staff Ron Klain said. “Her experience, wisdom, and hard work have been instrumental to our success on many issues.”
But while Kamala played nice in the statement, Tina’s departure was big news and big problem for Harris, as it meant people started paying even more attention on her “management style,” meaning how difficult she is. The situation was so bat that even The Washington Post commented on it, saying:
Flournoy’s departure is likely to revive career-long questions about Harris’s management style and the high frequency of staff turnover in her offices and on her campaigns. The move comes at a critical moment since the upcoming midterm elections — especially if Democrats suffer losses as expected — could clarify whether President Biden will seek reelection and prompt renewed attention on Harris as an alternative.
Harris aides say the departures are routine and unrelated to any internal strife in the vice president’s operation. Some also suggest that she is facing disproportionate — and at times unfair — criticism because of her role as a powerful woman of color…
Still, the high turnover in Harris’s office stands in stark contrast to the West Wing, where Biden’s inner circle has remained in place throughout his presidency — and much of his decades-long career.
Adding credence to the Washington Post’s insinuations was that just weeks before Tina waved goodbye, Harris’ deputy chief of staff, Michael Fuchs, left too. And shortly before him, in February, Kamala’s speechwriter, Kate Childs Graham, announced she was leaving. Fox News Digital reported on that at the time, saying:
This is far from the first resignation for the vice president’s team. The office has seen a virtual exodus over the course of her first year in office as staffers complain about their workplace morale.
Harris’ communications director Ashley Etienne resigned in November to “pursue other opportunities.” That came after reports of exasperation between Harris’ office and Biden’s amid lagging approval ratings for Harris.
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