Brian Jones (politician)

Brian Jones is a Republican politician in the United States currently serving as a spokesman for Sarah Palin and one of three leaders of her Alaska-based "truth squad."

Earlier political career

Past jobs include Research Director for the NRCC, senior Communications Advisor to Bush-Cheney ’04, and communications director for the RNC (2005). He was hired as communications director for John McCain's presidential campaign but resigned July 16, 2007. [ [http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/mccain/mccainorga.html McCain team list, GWU] ]

Reporting Jones's departure during the shake-up of the McCain campaign, Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post described him as one of the "loyalists of campaign manager Terry Nelson," who had resigned earlier. [ [http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/07/more_mccain_departures_1.html Washington Post (July 16, 2007)] ]

Role on Palin's "truth squad"

He returned to the presidential campaign in September, 2008, "to help in the effort to bolster Palin." [ [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-091108-palin-media-sep12,0,5091254.story Chicago Tribune (September 11, 2008) "Veterans of Bush team prep Sarah Palin for TV interview"] ]

According to the Anchorage Daily News (September 18, 2008), Jones now leads "a cadre of high-powered operatives" in Alaska, described by John McCain's campaign team as a "truth squad" to field questions about vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. [http://www.adn.com/palin/story/529637.html Anchorage Daily News (September 18, 2008) "Campaign fields Palin questions"] ] (Jones's two co-leaders are Republican lawyers Mark Paoletta and Ed O'Callaghan.) According to the Atlantic Monthly (September 9, 2008), Jones and Paoletta are volunteers while O'Callaghan is on staff. [ [http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/mccain_campaign_stands_up_pali.php Atlantic (September 9, 2008) "McCain Campaign Stands Up Palin Truth-Squadding Team"] ]

According to Yahoo News, Jones, Paoletta, and O'Callaghan are "tasked specifically with responding to the sort of viral attacks that have been popping up about Palin’s background and record in Alaska...The public face for this pushback, though, will be woman Republican politicians, a 'truth squad' team designed to highlight attacks on Palin and draw sympathy to her side." [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/13323 Yahoo News (Sep 10, 2008) "Palin team stocked with Bush veterans"] ]

External links

* [http://www.mercurypublicaffairs.com/team-jonesB.htm Brian Jones bio, Mercury Public Affairs]
* [http://www.wsj.com/article/SB122152654971140245.html Wall Street Journal (September 16, 2008)] : Campaign spokeman Brian Jones defends Palin's actions with Alaska Creamery Board.

References