Student Writing Spotlight
a spokesman on Capitol Hill for a U.S.
slogan of 2008, “Barack Obama was
can be a test of character. He can either
representative. Comfortable with taking
someone I could really believe in. Faced
follow up with the reporter and sternly
risks and seizing an opportunity, he moved
with a large number of options, I decided
point out potential misconceptions in
to Iowa in 2006 to be the communications
to go with my heart.” He took the job as
the article, or choose to respond in a
director for the Presidential campaign of
Obama’s Communications Director in
manner that keeps the conversation
Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. Like Earnest’s
the Iowa caucus campaign—a bet that
amiable between White House staff and
role as an athlete, Vilsack was solid, though
paid off as Obama upset Clinton and won
the media. For normal citizens with
not a frontrunner. He dropped out of the
the state. This ultimately sent Earnest
no grasp of the reality of the political
race for lack of public support. Earnest’s risk, though, paid off. He put himself in the right place at the right
on his path to the White House with
sphere, TV shows like House of Cards or
his candidate, landing him in the White
Scandal often frame the conception of
House Press Secretary’s office.
Washington, D.C.’s corrupt politicians
Being able to navigate the
In this picture: This article originally appeared in the April 2015 issue of the B-Line student newspaper.
path of politics requires constant
record straight. “Those two shows are
readjustment in the ever-changing
very much fictionalized accounts.” The
political landscape of the U.S., a
dark nature of House of Cards is a signifi-
skill he attributes to Barstow. “A
cant departure from his own experience.
Barstow education had taught me
He admits that politics, while occasion-
to expose myself to new argu-
ally frustrating and dysfunctional, gives
ments and experiences,” Earnest
him an opportunity to “influence the
said. He recalls that he was “chal-
public debate and advocate for the kinds
lenged as a high schooler to learn
of values and priorities that I think are
how to think and evaluate ideas
critical to this country.” As White House
and how to be challenged to stay
press secretary, he is “thankful to play
up to the intellectual perspectives
this unique role in shaping the debate
of somebody else.” By the time he
and making those arguments.” American
got to Rice, Josh felt he had a leg
politics form a complex web of connec-
up over his classmates because of
tions to make and jobs to fulfill, and Josh
the importance of knowing how
plays his part each day by talking with
to make a strong argument. Surprisingly, perhaps the most
12
and scandalous events. Earnest sets the
time. With his connection to the current
influential moment of Josh’s time at
Iowa governor during the Iowa caucuses,
Barstow took place not in a classroom,
the press and answering questions in the White House Press Briefing Room. In addition to sports and singing, Earnest served as Honor Council
Earnest was offered jobs by presidential
but on the baseball diamond. He
president and was a member of the
candidates Sen. Barack Obama, Sen.
vividly recalls missing a ground ball in
French club, Waystoids (otherwise
Hillary Clinton and Sen. John Edwards.
the infield. Instead of dwelling over the
known as the ’90s version of Earth Club)
He had a tough choice between multiple
mistake for the remainder of the game,
and Kariessentes.
opportunities. John Edwards was most
he had to move on and focus on the
likely to win Iowa, and Hillary Clinton
next batter. This seemingly insignificant
Barstow green and his roots as a
was ahead in the national polls. But he
experience steeled him for the inevitable
as he demonstrated on March 17, 2015
took a risk and went with his heart and
challenges of talking to an unpredictable
by starting his daily press briefing with a
basketball Knight still run in his blood,
the candidate that resonated with his
and sometimes judgmental press on a
shout out to the Knights state basketball
view of the American dream – Sen. Barack
daily basis. “Dealing with reporters who
title. “I’m wearing my green today not
Obama. Earnest credits Obama’s inspired
write stories about the White House
just to pay tribute to St. Patrick, but also
view of American politics. In the end, true
that aren’t exactly the way that I would
to pay tribute to my alma mater back in
to the candidate’s presidential campaign
have written,” Josh diplomatically admits,
Kansas City.”
THE BARSTOW SCHOOL MAGAZINE