Obama hires longtime Dem press aide to handle healthcare communications

Stephanie Cutter, a longtime Democratic press operative,
will start work in early May as special assistant to President Barack Obama for
special projects. She’ll be handling communications on the implementation of
the new law.

“Stephanie is one of the most respected professionals in public affairs and has
an innate understanding of the nexus between policy and communications,” Obama
said in a statement. “She’s also a veteran of the White House, and I’m thrilled
to have her on board in this new role.”

Cutter, a veteran of both the Clinton and Obama White Houses, served this
president at the Treasury Department during his transition, and helped guide
the media message for the successful confirmation of Supreme Court Justice
Sonia Sotomayor.

{mosads}Cutter was also first lady Michelle Obama’s chief of staff during the
presidential campaign, and she has worked on Capitol Hill for Democrats like Sen.
John Kerry (Mass.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and the late Sen.
Edward Kennedy (Mass.).