Can You Talk Like A Republican?

If you speak Republican, then the national party wants to talk to you. We heard today that the Republican National Committee's communications director, Lisa Camooso Miller, is leaving to take a post in Alexandria with the National Community Pharmacists Association.

Sources tell us that she'll be VP for public affairs at the organization, where her hours ought to be a whole lot better than at RNC, considering the 24-7 crunch that occurs in a presidential election year. Hers is the second major departure in the GOP PR machine.

Just recently, spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt left to join Rockville-based Emergent BioSolutions, an international biopharmaceutical firm. Insiders did not indicate that there was anything that prompted the departures.

Other GOP communicators say the losses of both are a big blow to the party, which has been licking its wounds since losing control of the House and Senate in 2006.

The RNC isn't expected to take long to fill the positions since it has top communications aides ready to step in and also because several administration spokespeople are looking to move out of government service before the end of the president's second term.

By Paul Bedard