The sun was starting to set over Century Tower on Monday night as students sat around the University Auditorium box office. Free tickets would be handed out for the to see speaker Jay Carney, a former White House press secretary.
The box office opened at 7 p.m. and together came a collection of political science, journalism and multicultural studies majors. In other words, the only people who knew who Jay Carney is.
As the crowd funneled into the building bags were checked by security and people were reminded that photographs would only be allowed for the first five minutes of the event. Those with backpacks were asked to check their bags and leave them in an adjacent room.
We walked down the steep slope that leads to the first few rows of the auditorium. Center front rows were saved for important university dignitaries, but the rest of the space was free.
Promptly at 8 p.m., there was a quick introduction and then Carney took the stage. Standing behind the lectern, it was almost odd to see large pipes of a long-forgotten organ as Carney’s backdrop instead of the blue and white “The White House—Washington” sign he stood in front of for three and 1/2 years.
Via: Daily Mail
Carney, a distinguished looking 49-year-old, began as a reporter, which how he got his start in the world of politics. After working at the Miami Herald, Carney decided he wanted to trade the warmth and palm trees for the cold and gray of Russia. He left the Herald and, with TIME magazine, Carney headed overseas.
He was 23.
From his experience, he encouraged all journalists, especially those interested in politics, to stray away from going straight to Washington but to, instead, go overseas.
“Washington is very crowded with journalists competing for the same story,” Carney said. “Go tell a big story from a long way away.”
Carney went on to talk about his experience as press secretary for President Obama. When he first interviewed from the job, dressed to the nines, he was surprised when he saw Obama dressed casually in a shirt with no tie. The president went on to ask him why he was so dressed up.
“He said, ‘It’s the weekend,’ and we laughed,” Carney said. “It was always easy with President Obama.”
Carney spoke highly of the president, saying that his lack of early ambition for the White House was the reason he won and retained the presidency for a second term.
Via: High Times
“I can rebut the myth that he’s a misanthrope,” Carney said. “On Air Force One) we would talk family, we’d talk issues, he’d call members of Congress … we’d play cards and watch sports.”
Eventually though, between the constant partisanship and the playing of politics, Carney became cynical about politics.
“It’s really important to not be cynical,” he said. “But despite all the partisanship and … theatrics, I left the White House knowing that politics matters.”
Personally though, Carney received a lot of feedback as the face of information circulation from the White House. As press secretary, Carney said he received a lot of mail and though his secretary filtered most of his mail, some things came through like a ceramic thumbs up for “doing good work in hard circumstances.” It wasn’t always nice however, like the condolences card that simply read “Dear Mr. Carney: So sorry to hear about the loss of your soul.”
Via: Flow 935
“My secretary let that one through,” Carney said. “I don’t know.”
After joking about his recent visit to the White House, reminding staff that it may be a good idea to lock the doors, he left students in the audience with motivation to get out and vote in the upcoming gubernatorial election, which will take place on Nov. 4.
“Not knowing what’s going on in our political community is a privilege of living in a stable democracy,” Carney said. “Don’t take the luxury you have, living in this country, at this time, for granted. I hope you all vote in this midterm election. I don’t care who you vote for. Well, not really.”
Feature photo courtesy of: Cult of Mac
