President Obama still thinks Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile is doing a good job, despite the news Monday that she was ousted from her commentator job at CNN for leaking questions to Hillary Clinton, something she has denied doing.
“The president believes that she’s done a fine job stepping in in a very difficult situation to lead the Democratic Party,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said about Brazile taking over the reins from disgraced former chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida.
“Those of us who’ve known Donna a long time know that she is a person of integrity and a person of high character,” Earnest continued. “She’s a true professional who is a tenacious and effective advocate for Democrats … and you know I for one am pretty excited about the fact that we’ve got her on our team.”
Earnest sidestepped whether Brazile should be replaced because she leaked debate questions to nominee Hillary Clinton during her primary battle with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Brazile was a commentator with CNN but the cable network dismissed her after leaked emails indicated she helped the Clinton campaign. CNN didn’t mention its Oct. 14 decision publicly until more that two weeks later, on Oct. 31.
“I don’t think she was a leader on the DNC leadership on the time of the [primary] debates,” Earnest said. “[Y]ou should check with the DNC on this, but that during the primary she was not affiliated with the DNC. OK, all right?”
Brazile has said in television interviews that she never gave away any of the questions to Democratic candidates.
