DCentric

Screen capture from Washington Post video

When I told a good friend of mine about my new job blogging for WAMU, he gave me one piece of advice: read Bill Turque. Turque is an education reporter at the Washington Post and my friend is made out of integrity, honesty and puppy dog tails, so I took his endorsement very seriously. He wasn’t wrong. So now you know why there is much love for Mr. Turque on DCentric (that link in the first sentence will leave you filled with respect for him too, seriously).

Last night, Turque reported on the Meeting with a capital “M” between Mayoral primary winner Vince Gray and DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee, which focused on education issues vs. whether Rhee would stay or leave:

Gray said the two will likely meet again within the next couple of weeks, a message reinforced by Gray advisers, who emphasized that the meeting was never intended to resolve the issue of Rhee’s tenure. Gray won the Democratic primary Sept. 14 but still faces, at least nominally, a general election vote Nov. 2.

“This was always supposed to be just a first meeting to discuss where school reform goes from here,” said Mo Elleithee, a senior Gray campaign strategist. “But he’s been pretty clear: On his end, he’s not making any decisions until after the election.”

When I watched a video of the press conference, I noticed this exact same thing:

Perhaps most striking was how the news conference’s two principal players carried themselves as they stepped in front of the cameras. While Gray, apparently relaxed, strode directly to the bank of microphones, Rhee looked grim and subdued as she withdrew to a far corner, deferring virtually all comment to Gray.

As Gray continued to speak, she slipped back into the corridor fronting his fifth-floor office and rushed to the elevators. She was pursued by reporters but would not answer questions.

It was a dramatic contrast to the chancellor’s last public appearance.

Yes, it was. Some of you might recall it– it’s when Rhee called Gray’s win “devastating” for D.C.’s kids. Though she later “clarified” what she meant, one person I spoke to, who heard her say the original soundbite, disputed the backtracking. No matter– the uncomfortable look on her face and her body language after this first meeting with the man who will be Mayor is striking, but to be expected when the boss/candidate for whom one has campaigned vociferously…loses.