After months of speaking on behalf of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Howard Wolfson has joined the ranks of talking heads on Fox News.
As many observers have noted, there was a time when Democrats ran from, not to, Fox News, but Wolfson says the network has changed.
“I thought that Fox’s coverage during the primary was comprehensive and fair and evenhanded,” Wolfson told The New York Times. “It’s a huge audience, and it is important to have a strong, progressive voice on the network.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, Wolfson’s career move drew some criticism from contributors to the Times website.
“TRAITOR!!!” posted someone named Joe.
Others argued that Wolfson is, in reality, much like Karl Rove, the former chief political strategist for President Bush, and a Fox contributor as well.
Wolfson and Rove were both represented by Washington lawyer Robert Barnett in their negotiations with Fox, and Rove welcomed Wolfson to the cable network.
“The guy is very smart,” Rove told the Times. “He strikes me as a very able guy and surprisingly pleasant and amiable.”
In the past, others have described Wolfson as sometimes pleasant and amiable and as sometimes fierce.
He has, the Times wrote in 2006, a “take-no prisoners” style and is known for running campaigns that focus on the possible character flaws of his candidate’s opponent.
Wolfson began in Democratic politics working for Jim Jontz, a Congressman from Indiana. He was communications director for Chuck Schumer’s successful first Senatorial campaign in 1998.
He then served as communications director for Clinton’s initial run for the Senate in 2000 and was a strategist for her successful re-election campaign in 2006.
Wolfson began the Clinton presidential campaign as communications director. He later became co-chief strategist with Geoffrey Garin after Mark Penn was moved to a lesser role in April.
Throughout the campaign, Wolfson was a frequent spokesman for Clinton, quick to respond to charges, quick to make the most of victories.
He may be remembered most, however, for the straight-from-the-slopes sweater he wore in January while being interviewed on MSNBC on the evening of Clinton’s victory in the New Hampshire primary.
The garment featured a diamond pattern that may have induced vertigo upon half the viewing audience. Wolfson then donned it for other primary nights, declaring it his “lucky sweater.”
During the primary campaign Wolfson was on leave from his position as a partner in the Grover Park Group, an agency that advises clients on government affairs, campaigns and other issues.
Grover Park’s clients included News Corporation, the owner of Fox News.
Wolfson will return to Grover Park later this year, the Times reported. He will work for Fox in a part-time capacity.
Wolfson’s wife, Terri McCullough, is chief of staff for Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of Representatives.
Click here to sign up for the Muckety Newsletter
0 Comments
There are no comments yet, be the first by filling in the form below.
Leave a Comment