In the last few days I have heard Patrick Gaspard referred to numerous times (in the press, on WNYC, in casual conversation) as the Karl Rove of Obama's White House. He is, apparently, behind the decision to give Governor Patterson the heave ho.

Karl Rove was was Senior Advisor and  Deputy Chief of Staff for former President Bush. He was considered the policy maker behind the scenes of that administration.

And what a mess this Paterson thing has become. News that the White House interfered with the New York governor race has created a sticky situation for the Obama administration.

It's too bad it wasn't handled in a more delicate manner.

Still, it's interesting to see that Gaspard is such a powerful force in the White House.

A former resident of Park Slope and PS 321 parent, Patrick Gaspard is the Director of the Office of Political Affairs for the Obama administration. A Haitian-American, Gaspard was also on his transition team after the election. During the presidential campaign, Gaspard was Obama's National Political Director.

Gaspard was the executive vice president for politics and legislation for the 199SEIU United Healthcare Workers, the largest local union in
America.

His job at the union was to help coordinate political activity on behalf of 300,000 members. Gaspard worked for Howard Dean's presidential campaign and Jesse Jackson's 1988 presidential bid and for numerous other congressional candidates and campaigns.