"dave weil" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 21 Mar 2004 09:32:41 -0800, "ScottW"
wrote:

Was Carville ever an employee of the U.S. government?

He was a contractor.

This would still be a position paid by the government.
Are you sure his compensation didn't come from
the Democratic party or Clinton campaign funds?

I wouldn't be too pleased for our tax dollars to be
funding the role of "political" advisor.

I'm sorry if gave the impression that his
function in the adminstration was equivalent to Matalin's in terms of
being a White House staffer equivalent to, say a GS level position. I
looked over my answer and can see how I gave that impression. I meant
that his function was similar to Matalin's. I didn't mean that he was
a "government employee" as Matalin was for a short time in her career.

I hope this clarifies.

It does, thanks.

I was taking issue to the idea that being a
political operative is somehow not "working in government",

I will always try to distinguish between party employees and
government employees. At times, it is difficult.
I've read of party employees having offices in government
facilities at times.

especially
when you are directly working in an administration for a president
(which Matalin didn't even do, unless you consider Cheney the "real
president", which is certainly a viewpoint that's defensible).

They are all part of the administration. Every administration seems
to have a different breakdown of which segment wields power.
I did find it interesting that Hillary functioned as a government
employee in the Clinton administration without appointment.

Change in tone and rhetoric noted and appreciated.

ScottW