Chris Van Hollen’s wife demoralizing his office (dear white staffer)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The office I used to work for has been called out on that account and it's all true. I laughed out loud when I read it because it's like "yes, this has been going on for two decades, all of it!" Good for these kids, finding a way to speak out. And as a lifelong Dem who worked in Dem politics for years, I am GLAD that it's mostly Dem offices getting called out. Because it is a joke how abusiive a lot f these offices are while they hold themselves out as a friend to working people. A lot of them have an explicit attitude of "well staffers don't count because you're just ambitious snots like I was." Senior people on the Hill tend to be extremely jaded and there is an attitude that you have to abuse young staff because that's what you went through. It's messed up.

Anyway, shine on crazy Hill diamonds. Air all the family secrets! I hope it changes something. But wow am I glad I don't have anything to do with that world anymore.

The whole political ecosystem of DC is built on a pyramid of abusive behavior. The bottom of that pyramid are the unpaid interns. You will find similar abusive cultures in other industries, such as publishing, that heavily utilize unpaid internships. Ending unpaid internships would probably put a significant dent into improving these workplaces.

Most staffers think they are special snowflakes, are eager beavers, who think they are bound to become the next president or cabinet secretary. They deserve to be put in their place a bit.

You have no idea what you are talking about if you are comparing a special assistant to the president with a low level Hill staffer.

Most low level staffers are just trying to start their careers because they are interested in government/public policy/politics and get treated pretty poorly, especially since no one is elected to Congress because they are a good manager (and rarely are chiefs of staff picked by a member of Congress because they are a good manager)

Case in point: TJ Ducklo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The office I used to work for has been called out on that account and it's all true. I laughed out loud when I read it because it's like "yes, this has been going on for two decades, all of it!" Good for these kids, finding a way to speak out. And as a lifelong Dem who worked in Dem politics for years, I am GLAD that it's mostly Dem offices getting called out. Because it is a joke how abusiive a lot f these offices are while they hold themselves out as a friend to working people. A lot of them have an explicit attitude of "well staffers don't count because you're just ambitious snots like I was." Senior people on the Hill tend to be extremely jaded and there is an attitude that you have to abuse young staff because that's what you went through. It's messed up.

Anyway, shine on crazy Hill diamonds. Air all the family secrets! I hope it changes something. But wow am I glad I don't have anything to do with that world anymore.

The whole political ecosystem of DC is built on a pyramid of abusive behavior. The bottom of that pyramid are the unpaid interns. You will find similar abusive cultures in other industries, such as publishing, that heavily utilize unpaid internships. Ending unpaid internships would probably put a significant dent into improving these workplaces.

Most staffers think they are special snowflakes, are eager beavers, who think they are bound to become the next president or cabinet secretary. They deserve to be put in their place a bit.

You have no idea what you are talking about if you are comparing a special assistant to the president with a low level Hill staffer.

Most low level staffers are just trying to start their careers because they are interested in government/public policy/politics and get treated pretty poorly, especially since no one is elected to Congress because they are a good manager (and rarely are chiefs of staff picked by a member of Congress because they are a good manager)

Case in point: TJ Ducklo

Most staffers I've met are little strivers who are looking for their big break - and would screw their member in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds insufferable.


Voters elected him. Not her.

Well, when you voted him in, you get two for one.

That’s what Hillary Clinton said

This story is giving me vibes of the wife of another southern democrat, not Hilary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of Chris Van Hollen’s wife, Katherine Wilkins, before. Per this bio of her that I found online, it sounds like she legitimately has something to offer Senator Van Holler’s office:

“She holds a master’s degrees frоm thе John F. Kennedy School оf Government аt Harvard University аnd a BS frоm Cornell…Mrs. Van Hollen is a nonresident аѕѕосiаtе in thе Middle Eаѕt Program аt thе Carnegie Endowment. Shе joined Carnegie аftеr fivе years аѕ a vice president оf AMIDEAST, аn American nonprofit organization engaged in education, training, аnd capacity building in thе Middle Eаѕt аnd North Africa, whеrе ѕhе wаѕ engaged in promoting higher-education initiatives in thе Middle Eаѕt аnd partnerships bеtwееn thе United States аnd thе region tо expand educational quality аnd entrepreneurship training.

Shе served аѕ president оf thе World Affairs Council оf Washington, DC, frоm 2004 tо 2007, whеrе ѕhе spearheaded regional educational initiatives tо enhance student аnd citizen education оn foreign policy issues. Prior tо that, Wilkens held senior positions in thе U.S. government fоr оvеr a decade, including аѕ senior adviser fоr Caspian energy issues аt thе U.S. Department оf Energy аnd staff director аnd professional staff member оf thе House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee оn Europe аnd thе Middle Eаѕt undеr thе leadership оf thеn chairman Lee H. Hamilton.

She began hеr career аѕ a State Department analyst аnd specialist оn Turkey аnd thе Eastern Mediterranean. Shе hаѕ bееn аn international affairs fellow аt thе Council оn Foreign Relations, a Presidential Management Fellow, аnd a member оf thе Board оf Directors оf Meridian International Center.”

So, yes and no. A lot of the positions she's held more recently are somewhat titular in nature, and are more of "work when you feel like it on special projects" than what most of us would consider a real job.

[Anonymous]

Montgomery County Council needs to start one of these.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The office I used to work for has been called out on that account and it's all true. I laughed out loud when I read it because it's like "yes, this has been going on for two decades, all of it!" Good for these kids, finding a way to speak out. And as a lifelong Dem who worked in Dem politics for years, I am GLAD that it's mostly Dem offices getting called out. Because it is a joke how abusiive a lot f these offices are while they hold themselves out as a friend to working people. A lot of them have an explicit attitude of "well staffers don't count because you're just ambitious snots like I was." Senior people on the Hill tend to be extremely jaded and there is an attitude that you have to abuse young staff because that's what you went through. It's messed up.

Anyway, shine on crazy Hill diamonds. Air all the family secrets! I hope it changes something. But wow am I glad I don't have anything to do with that world anymore.

The whole political ecosystem of DC is built on a pyramid of abusive behavior. The bottom of that pyramid are the unpaid interns. You will find similar abusive cultures in other industries, such as publishing, that heavily utilize unpaid internships. Ending unpaid internships would probably put a significant dent into improving these workplaces.

This. Don't care which side of the aisle they're on, but this kind of behavior has been overlooked forever. And it's wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The office I used to work for has been called out on that account and it's all true. I laughed out loud when I read it because it's like "yes, this has been going on for two decades, all of it!" Good for these kids, finding a way to speak out. And as a lifelong Dem who worked in Dem politics for years, I am GLAD that it's mostly Dem offices getting called out. Because it is a joke how abusiive a lot f these offices are while they hold themselves out as a friend to working people. A lot of them have an explicit attitude of "well staffers don't count because you're just ambitious snots like I was." Senior people on the Hill tend to be extremely jaded and there is an attitude that you have to abuse young staff because that's what you went through. It's messed up.

Anyway, shine on crazy Hill diamonds. Air all the family secrets! I hope it changes something. But wow am I glad I don't have anything to do with that world anymore.

The whole political ecosystem of DC is built on a pyramid of abusive behavior. The bottom of that pyramid are the unpaid interns. You will find similar abusive cultures in other industries, such as publishing, that heavily utilize unpaid internships. Ending unpaid internships would probably put a significant dent into improving these workplaces.

Most staffers think they are special snowflakes, are eager beavers, who think they are bound to become the next president or cabinet secretary. They deserve to be put in their place a bit.

You have no idea what you are talking about if you are comparing a special assistant to the president with a low level Hill staffer.

Most low level staffers are just trying to start their careers because they are interested in government/public policy/politics and get treated pretty poorly, especially since no one is elected to Congress because they are a good manager (and rarely are chiefs of staff picked by a member of Congress because they are a good manager)

Case in point: TJ Ducklo

Most staffers I've met are little strivers who are looking for their big break - and would screw their member in a heartbeat.

Not my experience at all, but if you treat everyone like they are out to screw you you shouldn’t be surprised at how they react.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If this is true, I hope he figures out which staffer is slandering his wife online and fires him or her. Very bad judgment.

I hope he also asks himself if the complainers have a legit point.

The complainer should bring it up with the chief of staff or Chris himself. They shouldn’t be posting on social media. That shows incredibly poor judgment. What else what they leaked to the press? One of the number one traits of a good hill staffer is discretion and judgment. If someone is posting negative things about their member on social media, they need to go get another job.

and putting up with endless amounts of abuse and unreasonable working conditions. His wife shouldn't be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She used to park in the handicap space at Grace Episcopal Day School (the old lower school on GA Ave) and it pissed us all off so much. It's a really bad look of entitlement and "I'm too important to park a few spaces away". Kids were in after care so the lot was basically empty.

I don’t know her, but it’s entirely possible she has an invisible physical disability. Please keep that in mind when you judge people parking in disabled spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's with titling it "dear WHITE staffer?"

That's pretty cringe in and of itself.

and racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's with titling it "dear WHITE staffer?"

That's pretty cringe in and of itself.

and racist.

No, not really.

There are far too many cis-gender whites (and particularly males) in leadership positions at every level of the party.

That needs to end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If this is true, I hope he figures out which staffer is slandering his wife online and fires him or her. Very bad judgment.

I hope he also asks himself if the complainers have a legit point.

The complainer should bring it up with the chief of staff or Chris himself. They shouldn’t be posting on social media. That shows incredibly poor judgment. What else what they leaked to the press? One of the number one traits of a good hill staffer is discretion and judgment. If someone is posting negative things about their member on social media, they need to go get another job.

Have you worked in a congressional office before? Especially in the Senate, you do NOT bring up office politics with the Senator. Maybe the CoS but it depends on who they are. I know a number of them who would roll their eyes at a complaint like this and tell you to suck it up.

As a former Hill staffer, I am cheering these people on. These office are rampant with abuse and misconduct. It's really hard to make anyone accountable and people are generally afraid to say anything because it's such a clubby place and unless you are ready to leave politics altogether, it's hard to speak up. Even if you are leaving, the contacts are valuable and you might not want to give them up. But accountability and sunshine are desperately needed.

Same same same. And in my case, in addition to an abusive member, it was the COS who was the worst abuser - tell me who I was supposed to go talk to for help please. I left the Hill after that one awful job, but I really came away thinking that Congress is filled with little dictators who really get used to the idea that they can say and do anything to their staff, because it's their name on the door. (Which is what our MOC used to shout at us whenever he was in a bad mood and felt like we weren't being deferential enough.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like she took her playbook from Hillary Clinton.

YES!!! Thank you for being the only other person who remembers that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of Chris Van Hollen’s wife, Katherine Wilkins, before. Per this bio of her that I found online, it sounds like she legitimately has something to offer Senator Van Holler’s office:

“She holds a master’s degrees frоm thе John F. Kennedy School оf Government аt Harvard University аnd a BS frоm Cornell…Mrs. Van Hollen is a nonresident аѕѕосiаtе in thе Middle Eаѕt Program аt thе Carnegie Endowment. Shе joined Carnegie аftеr fivе years аѕ a vice president оf AMIDEAST, аn American nonprofit organization engaged in education, training, аnd capacity building in thе Middle Eаѕt аnd North Africa, whеrе ѕhе wаѕ engaged in promoting higher-education initiatives in thе Middle Eаѕt аnd partnerships bеtwееn thе United States аnd thе region tо expand educational quality аnd entrepreneurship training.

Shе served аѕ president оf thе World Affairs Council оf Washington, DC, frоm 2004 tо 2007, whеrе ѕhе spearheaded regional educational initiatives tо enhance student аnd citizen education оn foreign policy issues. Prior tо that, Wilkens held senior positions in thе U.S. government fоr оvеr a decade, including аѕ senior adviser fоr Caspian energy issues аt thе U.S. Department оf Energy аnd staff director аnd professional staff member оf thе House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee оn Europe аnd thе Middle Eаѕt undеr thе leadership оf thеn chairman Lee H. Hamilton.

She began hеr career аѕ a State Department analyst аnd specialist оn Turkey аnd thе Eastern Mediterranean. Shе hаѕ bееn аn international affairs fellow аt thе Council оn Foreign Relations, a Presidential Management Fellow, аnd a member оf thе Board оf Directors оf Meridian International Center.”

Well, with that CV she should be able to get a job and not interfere with her husband's staff. Or is she like Hillary Clinton with alleged credentials but an inability to get a job that her husband doesn't get for her.

To the PP eviscerating Hil, I think I love you. Keep up the good work!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of Chris Van Hollen’s wife, Katherine Wilkins, before. Per this bio of her that I found online, it sounds like she legitimately has something to offer Senator Van Holler’s office:

“She holds a master’s degrees frоm thе John F. Kennedy School оf Government аt Harvard University аnd a BS frоm Cornell…Mrs. Van Hollen is a nonresident аѕѕосiаtе in thе Middle Eаѕt Program аt thе Carnegie Endowment. Shе joined Carnegie аftеr fivе years аѕ a vice president оf AMIDEAST, аn American nonprofit organization engaged in education, training, аnd capacity building in thе Middle Eаѕt аnd North Africa, whеrе ѕhе wаѕ engaged in promoting higher-education initiatives in thе Middle Eаѕt аnd partnerships bеtwееn thе United States аnd thе region tо expand educational quality аnd entrepreneurship training.

Shе served аѕ president оf thе World Affairs Council оf Washington, DC, frоm 2004 tо 2007, whеrе ѕhе spearheaded regional educational initiatives tо enhance student аnd citizen education оn foreign policy issues. Prior tо that, Wilkens held senior positions in thе U.S. government fоr оvеr a decade, including аѕ senior adviser fоr Caspian energy issues аt thе U.S. Department оf Energy аnd staff director аnd professional staff member оf thе House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee оn Europe аnd thе Middle Eаѕt undеr thе leadership оf thеn chairman Lee H. Hamilton.

She began hеr career аѕ a State Department analyst аnd specialist оn Turkey аnd thе Eastern Mediterranean. Shе hаѕ bееn аn international affairs fellow аt thе Council оn Foreign Relations, a Presidential Management Fellow, аnd a member оf thе Board оf Directors оf Meridian International Center.”

Well, with that CV she should be able to get a job and not interfere with her husband's staff. Or is she like Hillary Clinton with alleged credentials but an inability to get a job that her husband doesn't get for her.

VanHollen’s wife’s credentials are not relevant here, because:

- no one elected her. Ever.

Why is she entitled to belittle the staff, terrorize people without recourse, and destroy office morale?