"Human Scum"

Recently, President Trump's press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, called her boss' critics "human scum." Upon reading that, my initial response was "Wow." Such a comment by a person whose job it is to present their boss and organization in the best possible light is unbelievable. More than that, it runs completely counter to a press secretary's mandate of serving as a bridge builder between that which they represent and those with which they seek to connect. Press secretaries are windows. In Grisham's case, her responsibility is to provide the public with insight into the mindset of President Trump - the nation's top public servant - and do so in a way that is transparent, inviting and, above all, honest.    

By calling his critics "human scum," Grisham did her boss a major and irreparable disservice. While I have no doubt her comment accurately reflects Trump's opinion of those who criticize or second-guess his behavior and decisions, her job is to ensure the "welcome mat" is always open to all citizens, regardless of their current assessment of The White House. I concede that doing that, particularly with a boss such as Trump, is not easy, the reality is bosses are not always at their best and, as a result, sometimes need to be protected from themselves. Grisham failed to do that. She magnified his worst instincts and probably turned a spotlight on hers as well. Shame on him and her.

As one who worked closely with the media and public in a number of capacities, including press secretary, for much of my career, I know how frustrating being a spokesperson can be. You stand in front of a microphone and are have to address questions that are difficult, unfair, at times nasty, awkward, and not ready to be answered. It is, at times, a thankless job because no one else wants to do, including your boss, and one slip-up and suddenly it is your job that is on-the-line. Good press secretaries have integrity. They recognize their job, ideally, rises above the immediate wishes of their boss and speaks to maintaining positive ties with the general public. Sadly, Grisham does not  understand that.