, Columnist
When a Washington 'Cave Dweller' Steps Into the Light
The flap over an Obama aide shows why the business of government usually stays behind the scenes.
That's just a facade.
Photographer: Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Washington doesn’t work the way people think it does. And when the public gets a peek into the way it does work, there’s a lot of outrage.
Most real power doesn't lie with the senators or cabinet officials or ambassadors. The people who make things happen don't have an office of their own or a room with a view. They're one or two levels down, working the machine from the inside. When they succeed, the public isn’t aware of their existence, much less their influence. These are the "cave dwellers" of Washington.