Former WH Spox Josh Earnest Makes Debut As NBC, MSNBC Political Analyst

Barack Obama and Donald Trump Obama administration's final press briefing, Washington DC, USA - 17 Jan 2017 United States President Barack Obama shakes hands with White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest during his l... Barack Obama and Donald Trump Obama administration's final press briefing, Washington DC, USA - 17 Jan 2017 United States President Barack Obama shakes hands with White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest during his last briefing for the administration at the White House (Rex Features via AP Images) MORE LESS

Former White House press secretary Josh Earnest made his start as an NBC political analyst on Monday, appearing on “Today” and MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

Earnest, who served as press secretary from 2014 to 2017, was deputy press secretary and principal deputy press secretary under his two predecessors in the Obama administration, Robert Gibbs and Jay Carney.

“With his wealth of experience and insight, Josh will be a great addition to our roster of contributors and will be an asset for our two networks as we continue to cover the White House, Congress and politics beyond the Beltway,” NBC News president Noah Oppenheim said in a staff memo obtained by the Hollywood Reporter and Axios.

In his debut on “Today” Monday, Earnest said the Republican Party’s surprising failure to replace Obamacare with its own legislation was the result of years of rigid partisanship.

“The one unifying principle of congressional Republicans over the last 10 years has been instinctive, reflective opposition to everything related to President Obama,” he said. “That’s why it was easy for them to vote to repeal Obamacare. But when it came to replacing it; when it came to building a coalition to actually do something proactive and positive for the country, there’s no consensus in the Republican Party.”

“As long as you’re unwilling to work with Democrats to try to find some common ground, we’re going to be stuck in the mud here,” he added.

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  1. Be still my heart!

    This is going to be awesome.

  2. He should be a refreshing, assertive and enjoyable voice for liberal-kind. I’m happy for him.

  3. Three words: Smart, Witty, Urbane

    Three more words: Dee, Lish, Us!

  4. We love you Josh, good luck.

  5. I think that’s supposed to be “reflexive opposition” not “reflective opposition”.

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