So what we have is a president that has brought this issue before the American people. We now understand that we can't wait. We understand every year we wait it gets $600 billion worse.

When Bush became President Mehlman became director of the White House Office of Political Affairs. Bush and Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2005 to 2007.

Ken Mehlman is responsible for overseeing the firm's global external affairs activities including corporate marketing regulatory affairs and public policy communications and engagement with the firm and portfolio companies' key stakeholders. On August 26 2010 Mehlman came out as gay making him one of the most prominent openly gay figures in the Republican Party. Holocaust Memorial Council.