Obama’s ex-campaign finance director to be next White House social secretary

Smoot will replace Desiree Rogers when she steps down next month. Smoot is a big Democratic donor and last served as chief of staff for U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.

“I am humbled and excited to take on the role of White House Social Secretary and support the Obama administration in a different capacity,” Smoot said in a statement. “Over the last year, I have had the honor of building relationships in the international community through my work at USTR, and I am looking forward to implementing this experience at the White House.”

{mosads}Rogers said she stepped down to explore opportunities in the corporate world but she also came under fire last November after Virginia
socialites Michaele and Tareq Salahi crashed the White House’s first
state dinner.

Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee demanded that Rogers testify as to how they gained entry into the event. 

But
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in December that Rogers
would not testify at hearings due to separation of powers. 

Smoot, who served as the 2008 Obama campaign’s finance director, comes aboard with Capitol Hill experience as well, having worked for Democratic Sens. Harry Reid (Nev.), Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.)

“Julianna Smoot brings extraordinary organization and people skills to the role, and sharp attention to detail – all attributes critical to the highly complex responsibilities of the White House Social Secretary,” said Susan Sher, First Lady Michelle Obama’s chief of staff.