Victoria Clarke Stepping Down!

[wx247]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke, the U.S. Defense Department's most visible woman, is leaving her post at the end of the week, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced Monday.

In a short statement, Rumsfeld said Clarke would "be sorely missed."

"Torie Clarke is a gifted communicator," he said. "During her remarkable two years of service in the Department of Defense, she has developed countless new methods to tell the story of our fighting forces and bring their courage, dedication and professionalism into sharp focus for all Americans."

Clarke, citing personal reasons for her resignation, said working for the U.S. military "has been a true honor."

"I depart sadly because this has been the best professional experience of my life," she said.

Clarke did not indicate what her next steps would be.

Lawrence DiRita, special assistant to Rumsfeld, will assume Clarke's duties until a permanent replacement is confirmed, according to the defense secretary.

Before becoming assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, Clarke was the general manager of the Washington office of Hill & Knowlton, a global public relations and marketing firm.

Her career as a political spokeswoman began when she graduated from George Washington University with a bachelor's degree and became a press assistant to then-Vice President George Bush in 1982.

Clarke was a press secretary for U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, an assistant U.S. trade representative and press secretary for the re-election campaign of President Bush in 1992.

[David]

It seems everyone is leaving the White House. Is there intellegence we don't know?

[ColdFront77]

David, it isn't that these individuals stepping down at the same time means there is a problem. Oftentimes, the Presidents cabinet and other people in politics step down from their post because they are "tired" for lack of a better word with their job they have had in these apparent cases two to three years.

[mf_dolphin]

Sometime they also step down because they have a higher paying job waiting on them once they leave. You can't blame someone for caching in!

[ColdFront77]

Good point, Marshall. However, I believe it is Donald Rumsfeld who took a pay cut from his previous job... to be the Secretary of Defense.

[mf_dolphin]

For some prestige or duty to country comes before dollars. It's an easier decision for people like Mr Rumsfeld who are very secure financially.

[ColdFront77]

I agree. They all have their reasons, in fact I heard that Clarke said she is stepping down for personal reasons.

[streetsoldier]

I have no problem with Torie, Ari, or anyone else leaving the Administration after the past two years. Wartime pressure takes a LOT out of a person, be they soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen or (especially) highly-placed civilian officials.

Clarke, like Fleischer before her, has family and personal concerns to address that have been necessarily neglected due to the job demanded of her. She has done exemplary service, and will be missed.

[wx247]

I agree. This administration seems to have kept a lot of people on board than some administrations I have read about. Reagan comes to mind as one that seemed like a revolving door at times...