Tuesday, March 21, 2006

First day of Spring 2006. Had phone conversation with Carol Kuntz today and she was concerned that there have been “policy time” briefings with the POTUS regarding pandemic flu involving Sec. Leavitt where she thought that I should definitely have been included. The POTUS asked some questions that Rajeev Vankaaya and Leavitt could not answer that Carol knew for sure that I would have been able to answer. Carol asked whether I was having a problem with HHS. I told her not at all, but I did mention to her my suspicion that HHS is trying to shed all of the light on Leavitt (probably because of his political aspirations) and having him share the spotlight with me or Julie Gerberding is something that makes HHS nervous. We continually see this when press ask for me and HHS diverts them to Leavitt when we ask them for clearance for me. Welcome to Washington!!