Why is Karine Jean-Pierre being promoted to senior adviser?

 

I read that Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is being promoted to senior advisor and I’m wondering why… and why now?

With a couple of exceptions (Dana Perino and Tony Snow come to mind), I have a special loathing for press secretaries, both on the Left and the Right. These are people who get paid to avoid answering questions (if they can get away with it), and to lie (if they cannot). Some of them are very good at it; KJP is not. Her non-answers are repetitive and clumsy, and her lies are brazen and transparent. She wears her DEI status (black, lesbian, woman) as her greatest accomplishment, seemingly oblivious to just how unimpressive an “accomplishment” that is. She should have been fired several years ago for gross incompetence, but firing a diversity hire is a bad look — live by the sword, DEI by the sword.

So why the promotion? And why now? Is it simply a thrown bone for loyally — if poorly — defending the indefensible for these several years? Does an upgrade from “advisor” to “senior advisor” come with a large pay increase? Is there a boost in perceived status? Is it a doubling-down on the DEI schtick (first black, lesbian, senior advisor — Yay!)

Or, is there something else at play? Does a “senior advisor” have some special kind of immunity — executive privilege, perhaps? — that a mere “advisor” does not? There appears to be a number of areas where Biden, et al., are vulnerable to investigation and prosecution. Is this an effort to shore things up before the end of the term? Or is it a simple “thanks for your loyalty” gesture?

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  1. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    It does seem rather short-sighted, considering that one way or another, she would likely have been out after Jan 20, if not early next month.

    But they would never be allowed to fire or even DEmote her, so the only option was to PROmote her.  Perhaps to an office job where she can’t actually do any real damage.  In the (hopefully) short time remaining.

    • #1
  2. Freeven Member
    Freeven
    @Freeven

    kedavis (View Comment):

    It does seem rather short-sighted, considering that one way or another, she would likely have been out after Jan 20, if not early next month.

    Perhaps. KJP was Harris’ Chief of Staff during her presidential run in 2020. If Harris wins, KJP could find a place in the new administration. I suspect she’d pass on that, however, for a more lucrative position with CNN or MSNBC. In either case, I don’t see what this promotion accomplishes?

    But they would never be allowed to fire or even DEmote her, so the only option was to PROmote her. Perhaps to an office job where she can’t actually do any real damage. In the (hopefully) short time remaining.

    I’m not following. Demotion and promotion are not the only options. They could also have just left her alone to finish out the remainder of Biden’s term. What kind of damage are they looking to prevent, and how does this prevent it? She remains Biden’s press secretary after the promotion.

    • #2
  3. Susan Quinn Member
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    You are probably making a mistake to try to figure out anything that the Biden Administration does. Maybe he sees her like a daughter and wants to reward her efforts–sad though they may be. She’s certainly loyal.

    • #3
  4. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    She probably demanded it to keep standing up there and lying for this corrupt regime.

    • #4
  5. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    Joe had already reached in his bag and given away a brain, a heart, and courage so a BS new title was all he could come up with. 

    • #5
  6. Freeven Member
    Freeven
    @Freeven

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    You are probably making a mistake to try to figure out anything that the Biden Administration does. Maybe he sees her like a daughter and wants to reward her efforts–sad though they may be. She’s certainly loyal.

    I think we are often too dismissive of the actions and intelligence of our opponents.

    • #6
  7. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    Freeven: She should have been fired several years ago for gross incompetence, but firing a diversity hire is a bad look — live by the sword; DEI by the sword.

    On a related note, the New Zealand Navy lost a ship this weekend and some headlines were talking about the lesbian captain. People were asking why this was important and others were replying that if it was a big deal when she was promoted to captain, why shouldn’t it be a big deal when something bad happens as well — live by the sword; DEI by the sword.

    • #7
  8. 9thDistrictNeighbor Member
    9thDistrictNeighbor
    @9thDistrictNeighbor

    I would think it involves some sort of increase in a government pension after she leaves.

    • #8
  9. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Freeven: I read where Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is being promoted to senior advisor and I’m wondering why and why now?

    They’re setting her up to be Kamala’s Chief of Staff . . .

    • #9
  10. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    Stad (View Comment):

    Freeven: I read where Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is being promoted to senior advisor and I’m wondering why and why now?

    They’re setting her up to be Kamala’s Chief of Staff . . .

    The Iranian, Russian and Chinese intel services are relieved they won’t have to get one of their people into that position because this would be even more destructive of US interests. I think the overriding Biden personell policy was to find people with Forest Gump’s limitations but without his basic decency and common sense.

    • #10
  11. Freeven Member
    Freeven
    @Freeven

    Stad (View Comment):

    Freeven: I read where Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is being promoted to senior advisor and I’m wondering why and why now?

    They’re setting her up to be Kamala’s Chief of Staff . . .

    Quite possible. She was Harris’ CoS during her presidential run, and held several positions in the Obama administration. She is loyal, and that goes a long way in politics.

    • #11
  12. Locke On Member
    Locke On
    @LockeOn

    Percussive sublimation

    • #12
  13. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    Locke On (View Comment):

    Percussive sublimation

    The Peter Principle does not apply to sequential, uniform incompetence.

    • #13
  14. Freeven Member
    Freeven
    @Freeven

    Locke On (View Comment):

    Percussive sublimation

    I don’t think that’s what’s going on here. KJP has already exceeded her level of incompetence and continues to be promoted. Biden doesn’t need another senior advisor. He is the lamest of ducks. Rewarding her for her loyalty by padding her resume seems more likely, though I still wonder if there is something about being a senior advisor that somehow protects the administration in a way that mere advisor or press secretary does not.

    • #14
  15. EJHill Staff
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    Freeven: …though I still wonder if there is something about being a senior advisor that somehow protects the administration in a way that mere advisor or press secretary does not.

    No, not really. Executive privilege is for the executive, regardless of where the advice comes from. The president could pull a bum off the streets and whatever conversation they had would be protected. (Unless, of course, they somehow broke the law while meeting.)

    Is it a loyalty reward? A résumé padder? Maybe a bump in pay? Most likely all of the above. 

    Does that work? Ask people such as Mike Benz, who markets himself as a “former Trump State Department appointee.” He was at State from November 24, 2020 to January 20, 2021. With the holidays he was probably lucky to report to the office a good 30 days.

    • #15
  16. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    I wonder if my emailed suggestions and WhiteHouse.gov responses make me a Presidential Advisor or just another name on the Secret Service watchlist.

    • #16
  17. Susan Quinn Member
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    I wonder if my emailed suggestions and WhiteHouse.gov responses make me a Presidential Advisor or just another name on the Secret Service watchlist.

    You always looked pretty suspicious to me…

    • #17
  18. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    Freeven (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    It does seem rather short-sighted, considering that one way or another, she would likely have been out after Jan 20, if not early next month.

    Perhaps. KJP was Harris’ Chief of Staff during her presidential run in 2020. If Harris wins, KJP could find a place in the new administration. I suspect she’d pass on that, however, for a more lucrative position with CNN or MSNBC. In either case, I don’t see what this promotion accomplishes?

    But they would never be allowed to fire or even DEmote her, so the only option was to PROmote her. Perhaps to an office job where she can’t actually do any real damage. In the (hopefully) short time remaining.

    I’m not following. Demotion and promotion are not the only options. They could also have just left her alone to finish out the remainder of Biden’s term. What kind of damage are they looking to prevent, and how does this prevent it? She remains Biden’s press secretary after the promotion.

    So then maybe it’s a payoff? She knows something she should not have overheard or read an email she shouldn’t have read.

    It could be the promotion is cheaper than outright paying her off. This way the tax payers are making the pay off.

    • #18
  19. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    I wonder if my emailed suggestions and WhiteHouse.gov responses make me a Presidential Advisor or just another name on the Secret Service watchlist.

    You always looked pretty suspicious to me…

    Where are the moderators when you really need one to deal with blatantly ad hominem content?!

    • #19
  20. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill (View Comment):

    Freeven (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    It does seem rather short-sighted, considering that one way or another, she would likely have been out after Jan 20, if not early next month.

    Perhaps. KJP was Harris’ Chief of Staff during her presidential run in 2020. If Harris wins, KJP could find a place in the new administration. I suspect she’d pass on that, however, for a more lucrative position with CNN or MSNBC. In either case, I don’t see what this promotion accomplishes?

    But they would never be allowed to fire or even DEmote her, so the only option was to PROmote her. Perhaps to an office job where she can’t actually do any real damage. In the (hopefully) short time remaining.

    I’m not following. Demotion and promotion are not the only options. They could also have just left her alone to finish out the remainder of Biden’s term. What kind of damage are they looking to prevent, and how does this prevent it? She remains Biden’s press secretary after the promotion.

    So then maybe it’s a payoff? She knows something she should not have overheard or read an email she shouldn’t have read.

    It could be the promotion is cheaper than outright paying her off. This way the tax payers are making the pay off.

    But just 3 months at increased regular salary can’t be that much of a payoff.

    • #20
  21. Susan Quinn Member
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Old Bathos (View Comment):
    Where are the moderators when you really need one to deal with blatantly ad hominem content?!

    You just made my day…!

    • #21
  22. Barfly Member
    Barfly
    @Barfly

    I think she’s cute. And she reminds me of a curling match I enjoyed one time. Cute little mophead.

    • #22
  23. Richard O'Shea Coolidge
    Richard O'Shea
    @RichardOShea

    I just assumed she was finally being relieved of her press secretary duties and this was a way to save face.

    • #23
  24. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Guessing that it pumps her pension benefits.

    • #24
  25. Freeven Member
    Freeven
    @Freeven

    Richard O'Shea (View Comment):

    I just assumed she was finally being relieved of her press secretary duties and this was a way to save face.

    I’ve read in a couple of places that she will still be acting as press secretary.

    • #25
  26. Richard O'Shea Coolidge
    Richard O'Shea
    @RichardOShea

    Freeven (View Comment):

    Richard O’Shea (View Comment):

    I just assumed she was finally being relieved of her press secretary duties and this was a way to save face.

    I’ve read in a couple of places that she will still be acting as press secretary.

    She is a poor actor.

    • #26
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