MoDo, Leave My Fav Zulu Queen Alone
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 10:30AM
With my new job that is all about Gitmo all the time, I’ve been ignoring the saga of those gauche party crashers who may or may not be on Bravo’s D.C. edition of Real Housewives. Mostly because they’re the worst kind of fame whores. They’re not even Effie Whites! There’s nothing loveable about them. They’re more like the Balloon Boy clan. Anything for TV time. But what I couldn’t ignore was this blatant takedown of Le Snob’s very bestest Zulu Queen, White House Social Secy. Desiree Rogers by one sometimes witty, almost never pithy, wordy wordsmith – the infamous MoDo.
From Maureen “Are Men Necessary” Dowd:
Instead of standing outside with a clipboard, eyeballing guests as Anne Hathaway did in “The Devil Wears Prada,” Desirée was a guest at the dinner, the center of her own table of guests, just like the president and first lady.
As Michael Isikoff wrote in Newsweek, Rogers sidelined Cathy Hargraves, the East Wing staffer whose job it was to go to the East Gate portico and check off the names of each guest from a printout.
Rogers told Hargraves that the Obama team felt no need for those services because, given the recession, there wouldn’t be many lavish dinners. But even if it’s just two state dinners a year, as the first lady plans, one big mistake is too many.
Also, the rejection of the Bush appointee has unseemly echoes of Hillary Clinton sacking the White House travel office staff, unnecessarily politicizing an office that required old pros.
Rogers also conjured up a White House closing ranks on itself, allowing far too many West Wing staffers, mid-level political aides, press flacks and speechwriters to attend the prestigious premiere state dinner, rather than people more relevant to the Indian guests of honor. The Obama team always talks of making the White House “the People’s House,” so why let it look like the White House Mess?
Ahem. Um. No. The responsibilities to keep out all famewhores falls squarely on the shoulders of the Secret Service that should have been doing its job. It’s not like the prez, being the first man with a permanent tan to get the job isn’t already a huge target. THE LEAST they can do is make sure famewhores don’t crash the party with dirty bombs. Or camera crews. Or venereal diseases. Or whatever those famewhores WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED were bringing to the par-tayyy.
I realize that not everyone loves the Zulu Queen as I do. Yes, she has an ego. Yes, she is impeccably fabulous (even though her state dinner dress left some to be desired). Yes, her ass likes to be the center of attention. But I’m pro-black woman runnin’ thangs, including the incredibly fabulous, egocentric kind. And as I said back in January, I was essentially google stalking any Obama Administration staffer with a clipboard and a Tic-Tac in their mouths. So, TEAM DESIREE!
Reader Comments (47)
That's one big-assed crown. Glenda status, even.
@ Scipio
Yes. The crown is mad ridiculous. I've been waiting for an excuse to use this picture ever since I found it online.
So far, she's not impressing anybody with the job she's been doing. It seems more style than substance.
I'm team Desiree, but I'm also ready to admit that she also has something to do with this. As a manager and a leader you often have to take responsibility when something goes wrong and her team should have been at the gate along side the Secret Service to check names. I'll bet they will be there from now on. I see no problem with Desiree having a seat at the dinner if she felt comfortable with her team managing the logisitics of the event, but she should also be willing to take part of the responsibility if something goes wrong... that's why they pay her the big bucks. She's still a fab chick in my book!
"White House Crashers" still playing in theaters???
Actually, Mr. Wise, I think she is impressing the hell out of people. Open and accessible activities for families and the community surrounding the White House and fabulous social functions all around. I think the folks who EXPECTED them to be off socially are just mad that there hasn't been some major social faux paux that one could plant firmly on the backs of the administration. That said, I DO think she needs/needed a member of her staff at the final check point with the final invite list handing out yays or nays, but by the time her staff is engaged, it should be clear that the 'guest' is weapon free and fully screened.
as for the crwon..that's New Orleans, if you are the kick ass Queen of the kick ass Crew, you get to wear a kick ass crown!
Dear Snob,
I agree with your take on many issues, but I told you months ago that DR is pretty much worthless. With DR its all about her, all the time, when it should be about the First Family. She f-ed up and should resign, no two ways about it. You're only defending her because she's a Sistah. Let her go, becuase I'm sure the Obamas will...soon. Bet.
Where did you find that picture? Please tell me that is either a Halloween costume or a picture from being homecoming queen in college or something.
I love Ms Rogers but I feel she dropped the ball and should resign.
Is it too much to ask that DR do her job and maybe then enjoy the party? I mean when you are the host how often do you really get to enjoy the party, especially when that party is for someone else?
I am pro Black woman in charge, but DR dropped the ball big time. Especially if you let go of Hargraves due to recession & lack of social functions. Someone else needs to step up and handle those responsibilities. Why wouldn't you have someone from the WH Social Staff at the gate checking each name off the list in addition to Secret Service???
You're right, Deval. I have no basis for making that statement regarding Desiree. I think I have a personal bias against her and I apologize for it.
I like Desiree and appreciate a sista having a job like that, but it's time for her to fall back. I don't need to know as much about the FIrst Lady's social secretary as I do the First Lady.
What I am not understanding is this: didn't the SS already have a list to allow the guests in, and the crashers somehow weazled their way past them anyway? What was the criteria for allowing people in the party in the first place? I don't get why some folks are mad the guards didn't have Desiree with them, holding the same list of names they had. And if God forbid something had happened to Obama I wonder if Michelle would have blamed the men with guns paid to protect him, or Desiree because she was not standing there with a list on her little clipboard.
It's a shame the actions of some social climbing trailer park trash has overshadowed an otherwise beautful evening.
i think she's more concerned about bossing people around and "running thangs" than doing a good job.
EVERYONE in President Obama's cabinet needs to be doing their job--including Princess Desiree. A good social secretary makes sure EVERY event runs like clockwork. She doesn't have time to sit down and hold court--especially when it's not her kingdom.
Miss girl--AND the agent that let those media whores get inside--needs to be fired.
I could care less about DR, these people were allowed to walk in and shake hands with the Obama's! We keep this up and we won't have to worry about him being voted out! Heads should roll for Secret Services and every person even vaguely involved.
DR AKA Miss Shug Avery has always kind of irked me..and does anyone else get a kinda punk-assish vibe from Valerie Jarrett? Come on sistas in charge..
I'm team DR, too, Danielle. But Modo's article wasn't nearly as funny as Robin Givahn's
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/01/AR2009120104544.html
But if she has to go, I hope she writes a tell all, cause I'd buy it.
Is it because of DR being from New Orleans the reason we had to suffer through so much Beyonce during the inauguration? lol
I have a bad feeling that Obama is going to throw Desiree under the bus like Van Jones was. This incident should fall squarely on the shoulders of the Secret Service and not on Desiree.
Oh and that dress she wore was hideous! It looked like she had an apron on. WTF? But I think she new it was a bad dress because she refused to face the cameras directly, she was turned to the side. Lol
I love DR too. She needs to go. Managers manage...she didn't manage. She need to be held responsible for her workers/staff/minions
If this thing doesnt die dont soon I expect her to he Van Jones'd quik fast
So much of this brouhaha is sounding like 'that uppity chi-town gal needs to learn her place' from one side, and from the other 'desiree's siddity ass needs to get fired'. I'm not saying a high profile Black woman with a great wardrobe is above reproach, but what exactly do people think she should have done?! I read in another article where someone actually called Rogers "lazy"-'wtf. It's almost like a lot of people could not wait to talk about the nerve of her having a high profile social life pre-WH, and the confidence to accept this position.
Damn You nver shown the ability to be dense but this time I can say you are. No WH function has a guest list that isn;t as fungible as the flu virus. It isn't till the maybe a half hour before the beginning of it that the guest list is final. Desiree knows this as she is promoting the Obama brand. She is he gate keeper to and no one of her staff was there to cnofirm or deny. The SS has played this game to many times to Monday to take action w/o the scorecard
All the siddity complaints about her clothes, glamour, fashion sense(is their anyone who dresses uglier than Michelle?) are just jealous and out to pull knives and see if Ceasar will yell et tu Brutus. It has nothing to do w/ her accomplishing her job.