Jeb Bush Taps Out Gay Man to Head 2016 Campaign Communications

Presidential wannabe Jeb Bush announced his plan to name an openly gay man to head his communications team when he mounts a run for the presidency in 2016.

Politico reports that Bush plans to name Tim Miller, executive director of America Rising PAC, as his top communications aide. Miller initially will be a senior adviser to Bush's Right to Rise PAC, and is expected to become communications director if Bush launches his campaign.

"Thanks yall. Thrilled and honored to work for a great person with the right message," Miller Tweeted on February 20. Miller, a former Republican National Committee deputy communications director, is one of the party's most active operatives on Twitter, and is among the most digitally fluent and social-media savvy.

Miller is an aggressive, younger operative who can be expected to inject a pugilistic style into Bush's high command. Miller founded America Rising with Matt Rhoades, former Mitt Romney campaign manager, and Joe Pounder, former RNC research director and now president of America Rising LLC. America Rising, based in Arlington, Va., is the two-year-old GOP opposition-research group that relentlessly spattered Democratic Senate candidates during the last cycle.

Miller worked in Iowa on Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, and was national press secretary of Jon Huntsman's 2012 presidential campaign. Miller has a bachelor's degree from George Washington University's School of Media & Public Affairs.

"Tim is one of the most respected communicators in the nation. His counsel will be critical to Governor Bush as the Right to Rise PAC works to support conservative candidates and conservative causes across the nation in the coming months," said Kristy Campbell, who has been the PAC's chief spokesperson. She will likely be national press secretary of the campaign, or have some senior communications adviser role.

But Joe.My.God's Joe Jervis was skeptical, asking, "How long until he gets the same treatment Richard Grenell got from Mitt Romney?" Jervis referred to the 2012 resignation of Grenell from the Romney campaign, saying, "that he was "hounded from the Romney campaign by anti-gay conservatives."

But Jeremy Hooper at Good As You reports that he thinks Miller will do fine, writing, "Miller is an out gay man. But more than that, he loves to mock conservatives who speak about the ills of marriage equality." Hooper even compiled a list of Miller's humorous Tweets, including that of a child hugging the Easter Bunny, with the sarcastic quip, "On 1 yr. anniversary of Iowa gay marriage ruling, IFPC's [Iowa Family Policy Council] worst fears are realized: Rabbit/Child Lovemaking."