United Air taps former Obama spokesman for help after PR flops

United Continental Holdings is turning to president Barack Obama’s former White House spokesman as its new chief communications officer, tasked with helping the airline work through the fallout from a series of public relations blunders. Josh Earnest will “play a crucial role on our leadership team as we position our brand and this company for success,” United CE Oscar Munoz said Thursday. The airline job will be Earnest’s first role in business after spending 20 years in politics. He worked for 8 years under Obama and was promoted to White House press secretary in 2014. He also worked in Chicago for Obama’s first presidential campaign. Earnest has been a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC since last year. <br/>