Professional View: White House Intern Molly DeWolf Swenson's Loose Lips on 'American Idol'

Just like millions of other people, I have been watching "American Idol" Season 10, celebrating the successes and cringing at the failures of certain contestants. As a former political/business consultant, I cringed at some of the things said by White House intern and Harvard graduate Molly DeWolf Swenson.

She's a White House Intern

For many years, White House interns were not allowed to publicly state what type of job they had. During the Cold War, it was believed that since interns were usually young and idealistic, they could be a prime target for the enemy. It was also believed that these young people should not open themselves up for ridicule by those who did not like the current administration. While Molly DeWolf Swenson did not break any rules on "American Idol," she encountered an old standard (which I will explain later).

I Love This President

With the enthusiasm that she stated that she "loved" President Obama, she might have turned off some viewers. In a time of great political divide, there are viewers who are sure to take their feelings about the current political atmosphere and apply them to Swenson as she attempts to climb the ladder on "American Idol." As a political consultant, I encouraged people to keep certain feelings like this under wraps when being recorded as to not persuade people against you.

Not Like Bill and Monica

I am sure that many people got a laugh out of Swenson's statement that her love for President Obama should not be compared to Bill and Monica. I cringed.

I am sure that there are many who were watching "American Idol" last night who did not think about the fact that if Molly DeWolf Swenson is a White House intern, she has a good chance of running into Bill Clinton's wife from time to time. Would you want to make a statement like that on national TV if the man's wife was someone who had your boss's ear?

Loose Lips Sink Ships

My father retired from the defense industry in the early 1990s. One of his favorite statements is the old war adage, "Loose lips sink ships." This means that if you hold a prominent position, you need to watch everything you say, as it could be turned against our country. It could also be turned against you as well.

By her remarks on "American Idol," Molly DeWolf Swenson proved to her bosses that she has loose lips. This should be a lesson to everyone how important thinking before speaking really is. It is better to think about future moments than the moment that you are currently in.