Political Punch
Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper

« Previous | Main | Next »

Another Familiar Face Joins the Administration

October 22, 2009 3:27 PM

Travers ABC News’ Karen Travers reports: Outwit, Outlast, Outplay – that motto served Yul Kwon well when he won “Survivor: Cook Islands” in 2006.

And it may come in handy for Kwon in Washington as he settles into a new position as the deputy chief of the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.

In Washington, Kwon may be just another government worker but the American television-viewing public may remember him from his Survivor victory, his wedding that was featured on the TV Guide Channel, or his stint as a co-host of Discovery’s “Shark Week.”

But Kwon’s experience in front of the camera is not what led him to work at the nation’s regulatory agency for television and other media.

The 34-year old from California graduated from Stanford and earned his law degree from Yale Law School. He is no stranger to Washington, having worked as a policy aide on science and technology issues for Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn), as well as McKinsey & Company and Google.

The Washington Post first reported the news of Kwon’s new Inside the Beltway position. He told the newspaper he went on the reality show to “have a platform for the issues I care about” like minority involvement in politics. He said his new job would entail outreach to the American public on “why telecom issues are relevant to their lives.”

Another Obama administration staffer better known for his work onscreen than on policy is actor Kal Penn, star of the Harold and Kumar movies and recently “House.”  Penn is now known as Kalpen Modi, staff member in the White House’s Office of Public Engagement.


-Karen Travers

October 22, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (11)

User Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Is there not one democrat left in the entire country? Real democrats would never allow this much government control into their lives. What's happened to the party of freedom and free speech? You have allowed yourselves to be taken over by the far left extremists. Sad that they don't even recognize it. They have become blinded by their partisanship and hate.By the time they figure out how they were manipulated, it will be to late.

Posted by: Indy | Oct 26, 2009 5:13:46 PM

Anyone out there who thought voting for Carter 2.0 oh I mean Obama was a good idea better get there head check. This man is leading us down the road to socialist society. If you don't think so your wrong, a goverment run health care plan is a socialist idea, the healthcare is sooooo great in canada and sweden and england, wow you don't have to wait on any health care there do you? If our healthcar and america is so evil why does everyone come here? We you redistrute money that is a socialist act. So Liberals dems lend me your ears you are a SOCIALIST because you back socialist values! get a clue will you. oh and by the way any of you liberals would like to debate i'm all for it, 2nd amendment, global warming. whatever.

Posted by: Steve | Oct 25, 2009 6:18:47 PM

It would almost be funny if it wasn't so sad that we have another 'minority' calling for more racial and ethnic division in this country. In California, Asian-Americans are already being shut out of top colleges because there are just too many of 'them' doing well.

The Democrats have practically destroyed lower income black communities with an upside down reward system that concentrates on blaming skin color and causing class warfare rather than recreating American ideals that made this country the greatest nation that ever graced this earth.

The sad thing is that Obama personifies this kind of upside down thinking. If we want to know the results of his thinking, look at the results of the communities he has organized.

There has been another type of community organizing that has actually worked. The Chamber of Commerce has built communities from the ground up in every town and city across this great land. It is true grass roots organizing. It creates jobs without placing debt on any child or grandchild. It organizes the community to build from the ground up rather than to collect signatures to shake down others. Obama has complained that the Chamber has spent half a billion dollars lobbying. The truth is the Chamber has paid half a billion dollars in shake down money to be left alone by the thugs in Washington who continue to turn common sense on it's head.

Now Yul Kwon can come on board to turn the Asian-American 'community' into a helpless victim in need of government protection from the evil blonds.

This country cannot survive this class warfare and racial division much longer. We are already almost over the cliff, if not already gone. The Dems push it, the GOP hides in their ratholes.

Our community organizer in chief can only tear down traditions with his mentality. Jobs will not return as long as business and investment is demonized. Those with dollars are either hiding or getting rid of dollars so they are not stuck with a diluted, inflated currency destroyed by government debt. It will not go to seed new business as long as the business climate continues to be attacked by those with lawmaking and taxing powers.

Anyone who cannot see that we are being destroyed from within is not looking very hard.

Posted by: barackem | Oct 24, 2009 3:08:52 PM

Silly GOP gnashing their teeth and wailing about this "famous" person joining the WH. Funny, it was okay for them to worship at the feet of a lousy actor Ronnie Reagan.

Posted by: Josh | Oct 23, 2009 8:27:30 AM

What do they say at the White House employment office.. OK.. you're hired.. make sure to see the pay czar on your way out..

Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | Oct 23, 2009 6:11:08 AM

"What in the heck does the Office of Public Engagement do??"
_____________________________

Have you researched it?

Posted by: billyjessop | Oct 22, 2009 7:25:12 PM

Wasn't there someone named Fred Thompson running for President last year?
BTW, it's Streisand. With an e.

Posted by: Jack | Oct 22, 2009 7:08:30 PM

What in the heck does the Office of Public Engagement do?? Sounds like politically correct double talk to me.
Has anyone else noticed that it is always something questionable going on????

Posted by: mj | Oct 22, 2009 4:41:17 PM


This is a joke right???

Posted by: Scott | Oct 22, 2009 3:58:16 PM

When he hires Barbra Strisand, I will no longer support Obama!! That is my limit.
jenny | Oct 22, 2009 3:42:07 PM

Does she have an ivy league education and a strong resume directly applicable to a position?

In 1990, Bush appointed a muscle bound movie star as chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. That was entirely appropriate and worked out just fine.

Posted by: jhw539 | Oct 22, 2009 3:46:41 PM

When he hires Barbra Strisand, I will no longer support Obama!! That is my limit.

Posted by: jenny | Oct 22, 2009 3:42:07 PM

Post a comment





 

POLITICAL VIDEOS