COMM 361-001: Online Journalism

Former Chief of Staff for the First Lady Anita McBride video conferenced with us today, and, boy, has she worked in the White House for quite a while.

McBride said that she never looked back after campaigning in 1980. Between 1987 and 1992, she was the Director of White House Personnel under both President Ronald Reagan and President George H. W. Bush. More recently, though, she was the Chief of Staff for First Lady Laura Bush from 2005 to 2009. Check here for more background information.

Above all, McBride, who is now a professor at American University, discussed in the conference the responsibilities and the life of a First Lady.

She says that being the First Lady of the United States can be “very painful,” but can also, at the same time, “help to humanize” the president. She cites President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife Lady Bird Johnson as a great example of this.

After all, First Ladies, throughout history, never “run shadow governments” behind their husbands. They’re there to help and support them.

On the First Lady she worked with most, McBride said that Laura Bush was “typecast” as a house wife right off the bat. Instead, as most First Ladies should, McBride said that Bush put herself out there to do all the interviews and show genuine interest in the country’s issues and interests.

First Lady Michelle Obama demonstrated this recently with her coverage of bullying in schools across the country.

If the First Lady does that and makes the attempts, McBride calls them a “champion.”

But what happens when a First Lady tries to cover too many issues at once?

“It’s certainly a risk,” McBride said.

She believes that one can “absolutely” lead a normal life as a president, and that knowing our presidents and their wives give us comfort. We can relate to them… or as least think we can.

What surprised me most was when McBride told the class that the First Lady is an unpaid job, but that her staff (which is technically not even her staff but her husband’s) is. What a job to have to not even get paid for!

“I don’t miss getting up at 5 AM,” said McBride, commenting on her job. However, she said that she does miss the camaraderie and the ability “to get terrific things done” each day.

If she was given the choice to work with any First Lady in history, McBride answered either Dolley Madison or Abigail Adams. Both were fantastic hostesses and patriots.

Overall, a very interesting interview and probably one of my favorite parts of COMM 361 thus far!

For more, check this video:

Sen. George Allen

In a C-Span video conference with George Mason University students, former Virginia Governor and former U.S. Senator George Allen discussed what it means to relate the U.S. government to sports. This time, though, he’s stepping up his own game — to be reelected in 2012.

Allen outlined to the class the reasons he believed he lost his 2006 reelection for the Senate to his opponent, Democrat Jim Webb. He stressed that the “digital divide” was a main reason, stating that, without taking advantage of the Internet, he didn’t stand a chance against Webb.

Allen continued into what he learned in the years later. He said that, with knowledge, the United States can compete against other countries — knowledge of the high demand for electricity and ways to conserve it. Creating jobs within the United States will ensure that money will stay in the United States.

“Oil and gas, we have it in this country,” he said.

A strong defense, Allen states in his book “What Washington Can Learn From the World of Sports,” wins championships. In his talk to the class, he compared the United States today to a game that was currently being played. “Common sense” ways to conserve energy were one of his strongpoints in a strong defense for our nation. Specifically, teleworking and utilizing our limited resources were his primary suggestions.

Further, Allen states that in the Middle East, if one wants “a free and just society,” freedom of religion, freedom of expression, private ownership of property and the rule of law must be implemented into society.

“If the French can [recycle nuclear waste], so can Americans,” said Allen, concerning France’s recent technical advancements to reduce and reuse nuclear fuels. He believes that, by using the following steps that the French took, it will help create jobs for Americans as well.

For someone who was, years ago, inspired by Ronald Reagan to get into organized politics, Allen appears to have done his homework. He clearly cares about the Commonwealth of Virginia. As a Representative, a Governor and a Senator, the man is going to stick around for a bit more.