Fired by Hillary Then Hired by Obama, Solis Doyle Speaking Out

Patti Solis Doyle, once considered one of Hillary Clinton’s closest confidants before the New York senator fired her from her presidential campaign via e-mail, is trying to get her life — and her reputation — back on track.

Solis Doyle was blamed for part of the failure of Clinton’s presidential campaign. Five months after Clinton fired her, Doyle moved back to her hometown of Chicago to work for Barack Obama as chief of staff to his vice-presidential pick (and is expected to help court Latino voters) and spend time with her close Mexican American family.

But Solis Doyle, who was accused of squandering millions of campaign dollars (which she denies) and not bringing others’ ideas into the fold, still has unanswered questions: Why did Clinton lose so badly and why was she to blame for the dysfunction? Why did so many of her friends turn on her? And why has Hillary herself distanced herself from the woman who worked for her for 17 years — through Whitewater, the Monica Lewinksy scandal (and more) and two Senate races. Clinton even read at Solis Doyle’s wedding.

"It’s really sad and discouraging and revolting at times," Solis Doyle, 42, told The Washington Post. "I have to tell you, I was surprised by the vitriol towards me. I think I’m a good person."

Solis Doyle, who used to be able to freely speak for Clinton, has not spoken to her former friend since February 10. Although a Clinton spokesman said the senator wishes Solis Doyle well, she privately has said she is "disappointed" in her former staffer and regrets putting her closest aide in the top campaign job.

"I put her in a job she was incapable of performing," one Clinton intimate quotes her as saying recently, the Post reports. "I’m out there killing myself … thinking a process exists, and no one said, ‘The emperor has no clothes.’"

Clinton loyalists were kicking and screaming when they heard Solis Doyle was going to work for Obama. The New York Observer has reported that those in the Clinton circle think Solis Doyle is shopping around a book deal and acted as a background source for a harsh Vanity Fair article about Bill Clinton — another reason perhaps Hillary isn’t happy.

Obama’s camp makes no apologies for the hiring.

"She is my friend — I make no bones about it," said Obama senior strategist David Axelrod, who, along with other Obama strategists, calls Solis Doyle a "team player," despite issues Clinton had with her management style. "But we’re not a [charitable organization]. We’re trying to win an election here. She brought a useful skill set."

Solis Doyle says she plans to reach out to Hillary and other Clinton staffers after the election. She’s trying to be confident in saying one day she and Clinton can mend their fences.

"I love Hillary Clinton. She played a huge part of my life for many years … She read at my wedding, she was there for the birth of my children. She is a part of my family."

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