"Obama speech writer tries to take on history" from MSNBC reports on Jon Favreau, who has written and edited the big speeches of the Barack Obama campaign - and who is now penning the inaugural address for January 20, 2009.
During the campaign, the buzz-cut 27-year-old at the corner table helped write and edit some of the most memorable speeches of any recent presidential candidate. When Obama moves to the White House next month, Favreau will join his staff as the youngest person ever to be selected as chief speechwriter. He helps shape almost every word Obama says, yet the two men have formed a concert so harmonized that Favreau's own voice disappears.
"He looks like he's in college and everybody calls him Favs, so you're like, 'This guy can't be for real, right?' " said Ben Rhodes, another Obama speechwriter. "But it doesn't take long to realize that he's totally synced up with Obama. . . . He has access to everything and everybody. There's a lot weighing on his shoulders."
Jon Favreau is a very talented young guy, he proved this at The College of Holy Cross where he gained his degree. Jon worked on the 2004 John Kerry election campaign and even though he only started monitoring overnight media coverage he quickly climbed din the campaign team.
After the election Jon was approached by Barack Obama to join his senate team and it is clear over the past few years they have worked well together.
There is no doubt for me that Jon will do a great job at the White House.
Posted by: John B Sheffield | December 20, 2008 at 10:25 AM
WHY HASN’T OBAMA FIRED FAVREAU? If Favreau was working in any corporation, and posted pictures of himself gleefully groping the image of a female colleague, he would lose his job. It’s sexual harassment.
The jubilant portrayal of sexual assault by Favreau should immediately result in his removal from his position in the new administration. How would you feel if this was your mother, sister, Michelle Obama, Obama’s daughters or others? It’s just plain wrong.
Obama promised hope and change. I would assume this includes the obvious: sexism, disregard and disrespect will not be tolerated in an Obama administration.
Posted by: Steve J. | January 03, 2009 at 08:54 PM
Favreau’s behavior has been offensive. What is deeply concerning is Favreau's brazen disrespect toward women. I am surprised that Favreau has not removed the picture from his Facebook page (It’s still there.), and even more surprised that he has not been fired. Such disrespect should not be tolerated.
I hope that Obama will find it unacceptable to have as part of his administration’s culture the continuation of an old boys club mentality, where men chuckle, jeer at, disrespect, and degrade women, including the woman who will be your Secretary of State.
Posted by: Jason | January 03, 2009 at 08:56 PM
Favreau’s behavior has broader implications. The Facebook incident is not just about how frat boys in the US see things. This is about how diplomats, national leaders -- and ordinary Middle East citizens see our new Secretary of State and the new President who appointed her but allows his own White House chief of speechwriters to publicly insult her.
Posted by: Concerned citizen | January 03, 2009 at 08:57 PM
If Favreau was working in any corporation, and posted pictures of himself gleefully groping the image of a female colleague, he would lose his job. It’s sexual harassment.
Posted by: Jason C. | January 03, 2009 at 10:21 PM