Ellen Moran: We hardly knew you (ap photo)
Eyebrows are aloft at the White House over the abrupt departure of Ellen Moran, Obama communications director, for a spot at the Commerce Department. Ellen who, you say? The low-profile West Winger will be chief of staff to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. Politico tracked down the elusive Moran near her office this morning:
“This is a perfect fit for me professionally and personally,” Moran said. “And when I had the opportunity, I jumped at it.”
Asked why she’d leave the White House for a staff job in the cabinet, Moran said: “That’s all I got for you” and walked away.
That’s not much “communication” from Moran. Was there a problem? The new administration is quite a guy’s club, and it was hard to imagine Moran — who came from EMILY’s List and supported Hillary Clinton in the primary — fitting in with the Gibbs/Axelrod/Emanuel triumvirate. And anyway, Gibbs virtually channels Obama — he hardly needs a Dan Bartlettesque communications strategist over him.
In any case, Moran is out. No replacement named, as yet.
