A new theory from author Ed Klein — who previously penned “The Amateur,” about President Obama’s White House leadership — suggests that senior adviser Valerie B. Jarrett orchestrated the chief executive’s strategies in the government shutdown.
The New York Post reported that Ms. Jarrett held several late-night sessions with Mr. Obama at his residence and from there came the strategy of “no negotiation,” Mr. Klein believes.
She was the “architect” of that approach, Mr. Klein said. “It was during one of those nightly sessions that Jarrett devised the no-negotiating strategy that Obama has employed in his fight with the GOP over the government shutdown. She convinced the president that a government shutdown and default offered a great opportunity to demonize the Republicans and help the Democrats win back a majority in the House of Representatives in 2014.”
Other contributions from Ms. Jarrett, Mr. Klein said, in the New York Post: “Valerie also came with the idea of using the words ’hostage’ and ’ransom’ and ’terrorists’ against the Republicans.”
The Daily Mail said Ms. Jarrett’s nickname is “Night Stalker,” for the very reason that she’s allowed late-night access to the president’s private quarters.
In his 2012 book, Mr. Klein wrote that a similar behind-scenes strategy caught up the Republicans. He wrote: “The Republicans walked into a trap set up by Valerie Jarrett and President Obama. The Republicans are in an untenable position.”
SEE ALSO: House conservatives sabotage Boehner plan to end shutdown
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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