The Washingtonienne: Jessica Cutler One Year Later (Wizbang)

Jessica Cutler (Photo courtesy Hyperion)

Jessica Cutler never had grand designs on conquering Washington, DC. She didn't have a career plan devised that would lead her up the ladder of power on Capital Hill, her new home after three years in New York writing about shoes. She figured if she met the right people, it wouldn't matter. As she puts is, "You know what they say, fake it til you make it."

If she got lucky her stint on the Hill might even lead to a glamorous K Street job, which in the eyes of a Hill intern was like making the big leagues. Recently we met for lunch, in the heart of that same K Street corridor, to discuss The Washingtonienne story one year later.

For Jessica, Washington was a stopover - she was a New York girl through and through - on a journey that had yet to be fully charted. Of her choice to move to DC she notes, "If you're too dumb for NY and too ugly for LA, you can always make it in DC."

Capital Hill in the summertime is host to an annual cattle drive of fresh-faced ideologues who trudge into mind-numbingly dull work in Hill offices for what amounts to trinkets and baubles. Success is measured by proximity to power, or at least the stories you can tell about proximity to power. Jessica Cutler didn't quite fit that mold as she had burned through more jobs in a few short years out of school than most people go through in a career. As a Staff Assistant in Ohio Senator Mike DeWine's office Jessica Cutler's proximity to power was nebulous; but her stories would become legendary.

Washington didn't know it yet, but Jessica Cutler was a master storyteller. On May 5, 2004 Jessica anonymously started a weblog, and wrote of her new adventure in the halls of power,

I have a "glamour job" on the Hill. That is, I could not care less about gov or politics, but working for a Senator looks good on my resume. And these marble hallways are such great places for meeting boys and showing off my outfits.

posted by The Washingtonienne at 5:32 PM

And thus Washingtonienne, the blog, was born. Jessica, as The Washingtonienne, would tell her stories of meeting boys (or more precisely men acting like boys), and showing off a lot more than her outfits, for an audience of a couple old friends and a few new Hill confidants.

What eventually would come to be the most scandalous aspect of The Washingtonienne's story is detailed in this post on her desperate financial circumstances:

Most of my living expenses are thankfully subsidized by a few generous older gentlemen. I'm sure I am not the only one who makes money on the side this way: how can anybody live on $25K/year??

If you investigated every Staff Ass on the Hill, I am sure you would find out some freaky shit. No way can anybody live on such a low salary. I am convinced that the Congressional offices are full of dealers and hos.

posted by The Washingtonienne at 4:34 PM

Jessica's tales of life, sex, and love were totally entertaining to her friends, but on May 18, 2004 staid Washington (a town where wearing white after Labor Day is a fashion sin) would learn of Jessica's journal and all hell would break loose for the real life Washingtonienne.

The Washingtonienne And Wonkette

"I was totally blindsided by Wonkette. She's the Justin Timberlake to my Janet Jackson."

The story of how Cutler's blog became tabloid fodder begins with Ana Marie Cox, the editor of Wonkette. Cox was alerted to Jessica's blog, which she had been writing for a few short weeks in total anonymity - her identity known only to a few close friends who were the intended audience. Within a day of being featured on the DC based gossip blog Cutlers chaotic personal life was barred to a world-wide audience, including members of the Hill community who fingered her as the author in no time at all. The rash of publicity and revelations resulted in a Dynasty-style confrontation that lead to Cutler's ouster from DeWine's office.

As her world collapsed around her Cutler acted like she didn't give a damn to anyone who would listen. Friends knew otherwise, noticing that stress-induced lack of appetite was causing weight to melt off her already svelte frame and that she appeared to be on a fast track toward a nervous breakdown.

During the period after the story exploded Cutler and Cox became friends of necessity, as Jessica was still a mystery woman to most of the world. Cutler, out of work, short on cash, and hoping to capitalize on her 15 minutes of fame, needed Cox - if nothing else for what she figured was her maturity and ability to understand Jessica's plight. Since her story was first told at Wonkette requests for Cutler's story initially flowed directly to Cox.

Cox, desperate to make a media name for herself, rode The Washingtonienne story and Jessica's new found infamy hard. Somewhere along the way the media savvy mentor/ingenue relationship soured, though Cutler doesn't say exactly where or why. Perhaps it was fait accompli once Cutler (on her own) secured a book deal with a large advance, something Cox also desperately wanted.

Ask Cutler about the glare of the spotlight in the weeks after the ribald Washingtonienne stories circled the globe and she'll tell you, "I don't really mean half the stuff I say in interviews, especially those I gave last year. I was making it up as I went along. I mean, what was I supposed to do about it? Cry?"

One year later she looks back on her relationship with Cox with more the jaded eye of someone who is already making a living as an author.

"She makes a lot of snide and condescending remarks, that I'm desperate for attention, that I need therapy - which is really the pot calling the kettle black. She wants to make sure everyone knows that she's better than I am, but her blog is pretty boring when she's not talking about me."

"For some reason she thinks it's important for her to disassociate herself from the Washingtonienne thing. She's got to do what she's got to do. But girlfriend does talk some shit."

Jessica Cutler also has something that Cox can only dream of -- positive reviews for her first book, The Washingtonienne: A Novel. Jonathan Yeardly, the Washington Post's book reviewer calls it, "Lively, funny and agreeably in-your-face . . . [Cutler] sticks pins in a lot of deserving targets," and this weekend it gets a positive review in The New York Times Book Review.

More on that in part two of our interview - Monday.

Comments (50)

She's kinda fugly. Did dude... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Q | June 24, 2005 4:36 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

She's kinda fugly. Did dudes really pay for a piece of this?

Posted on June 24, 2005 16:36

Still ugly as sin, I see.</... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by j.d. | June 24, 2005 4:51 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

j.d.:

Still ugly as sin, I see.

Posted on June 24, 2005 16:51

Does this mean the media lo... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Slublog | June 24, 2005 5:30 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Slublog:

Does this mean the media love affair with 'Wonkette' is finally over?

Posted on June 24, 2005 17:30

Based on her stories and Cl... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by Hoodlumman | June 24, 2005 5:55 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Hoodlumman:

Based on her stories and Clinton's track record it's apparent that old guys in Washington will take anything under 30 with long hair.

Woof.

Posted on June 24, 2005 17:55

Hey wasn't "K" one of her l... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by McCain | June 24, 2005 6:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

McCain:

Hey wasn't "K" one of her little bedbunnies?

Posted on June 24, 2005 18:02

So Kevin -How much... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Bill from INDC | June 24, 2005 6:47 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Bill from INDC:

So Kevin -

How much was it? And did she kiss on the mouth?

Posted on June 24, 2005 18:47

Lots of seasoned fiction wr... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Jeff G | June 24, 2005 7:01 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Jeff G:

Lots of seasoned fiction writers out there looking for book deals never thought to take it in the ass from a bunch of frumpy bureaucrats in order to gin up publisher interest.

Damn shortsighted of them, if you ask me. I've started going hanging around the Colorado State House in chaps and nipple clamps.

Posted on June 24, 2005 19:01

[Ed - Some spelling cor... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by LCVRWC | June 24, 2005 7:35 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

LCVRWC:

[Ed - Some spelling corrections in the piece have been fixed]

I like the little re-hash, and I agree: I wouldn't do her with Cousin Oliver's dick.

Posted on June 24, 2005 19:35

Why in the world are we sti... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by Gennie | June 24, 2005 8:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Gennie:

Why in the world are we still discussing her? She makes me ill.

Posted on June 24, 2005 20:29

Ugh. Desparate, creepy old ... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by Sue Dohnim | June 24, 2005 9:08 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Sue Dohnim:

Ugh. Desparate, creepy old men.

Posted on June 24, 2005 21:08

Gee, WaPo gave her a good r... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by michele | June 24, 2005 9:30 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

michele:

Gee, WaPo gave her a good review? You mean the paper that did a FIVE PAGE fluff article on this whore? What a surprise.

Hope she gave you a reach-around, Kevin.

Posted on June 24, 2005 21:30

Geez, that pic of the two o... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by Darleen | June 25, 2005 2:06 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Darleen:

Geez, that pic of the two of 'em..!

I usually see such calculating, flinty-eyed coldness staring at me from a streetwalker's booking photo.

Posted on June 25, 2005 02:06

Ya know, after 5 brewskies ... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by McCain | June 25, 2005 3:03 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Ya know, after 5 brewskies she ain't lookin' too bad, kinda like Samanta's mischevious sister on Bewitched. Maybe that's why she went drinking with the guys so much. After the bars close and all, not bad at all. Granted I wouldn't pay $400 bucks, or share her with six guys, unless of course they each wanted to buy an equal share -- that would be fair. Anyway, just my two cents.

On a more sober point, when will it be acceptable to break the age old taboo of conquest, where guys can similarly talk about their flings?. In initials of course -- that would be discrete. Oh yes, CL was great in her own perverted way, as was JL and RC, not to mention ZZ.

Posted on June 25, 2005 03:03

To quote an equally sleazy ... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by Kim | June 25, 2005 1:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Kim:

To quote an equally sleazy character, "That's not a woman, baby, that's a man, man!"

Posted on June 25, 2005 13:07

Just goes to show how far y... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by McGehee | June 25, 2005 1:22 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

McGehee:

Just goes to show how far you can go in D.C. with a bag over your head, nothing on below the waist, and the moral scruples of a body louse.

Posted on June 25, 2005 13:22

Umm...so then, the reason s... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by Patriccio | June 25, 2005 4:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Patriccio:

Umm...so then, the reason she is notorious is that she like, slept with half of Washington? That's important to me because why???

Posted on June 25, 2005 16:38

What was that? Oh, yeah, t... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by -S- | June 25, 2005 8:24 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

-S-:

What was that? Oh, yeah, the smell of skank.

Posted on June 25, 2005 20:24

At least she was honest abo... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by TrueLiberal | June 26, 2005 12:13 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

TrueLiberal:

At least she was honest about being a Washington whore. What's Kerry and Biden's excuse?

Posted on June 26, 2005 00:13

I'll bet Mommy and Daddy ar... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by joe | June 26, 2005 6:57 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

joe:

I'll bet Mommy and Daddy are proud of her achievements.

Posted on June 26, 2005 18:57

Please do come to my readin... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by Jessica Cutler | June 27, 2005 9:06 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Jessica Cutler:

Please do come to my reading at the Astor Place Barnes & Noble at 7pm, Tuesday 6/28. It's your opportunity to tell me what a skank I am to my fugly face, and to purchase a signed copy of my new novel!

Posted on June 27, 2005 09:06

I wonder what parish they'r... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by cnredd | June 27, 2005 4:54 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

cnredd:

I wonder what parish they're from...

Posted on June 27, 2005 16:54

I can't figure out t... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by humptydumptyeconomy | July 2, 2005 2:21 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

humptydumptyeconomy:

I can't figure out the crticism. Physically, I think she's hot. And what's the big deal of sleeping around? Is extramarital sex a new thing?So she had a blog and wrote a book about it--does anyone believe that this is the most opportunistic thing that occurs in Washington?

I just don't understand why she's become a lightning rod in all this because of some sex and a book.

Posted on July 2, 2005 02:21

I give this girl a lot of c... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by emily | July 2, 2005 3:33 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

emily:

I give this girl a lot of credit i would love to meet her. yeah, jessica, youre really hot, fuck whatever all these other losers say. :)

Posted on July 2, 2005 03:33

So where is Jessica going t... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by Ed | July 9, 2005 7:33 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Ed:

So where is Jessica going to be signing books next? Is there a book tour schedule?

Posted on July 9, 2005 19:33

We all do this sort of thin... (Below threshold)

25. Posted by John | August 15, 2005 8:25 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

John:

We all do this sort of thing, she just writes about it. I think she's cute, why would anyone think otherwise? Secret word "dingleman".

Posted on August 15, 2005 20:25

she looks like old chinese ... (Below threshold)

26. Posted by pizdec | August 21, 2005 12:22 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

pizdec:

she looks like old chinese women from the village.
Get a hoe and go to the field

Posted on August 21, 2005 00:22

I wonder how the Washington... (Below threshold)

27. Posted by Chris @ Deliberate Chaos | August 31, 2005 3:09 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Chris @ Deliberate Chaos:

I wonder how the Washingtonienne made up? I saw one of the Congressional staffers has filed a lawsuit.

If you think about it, why would any Capital Hill staffer pay the Washingtonienne money, when they could head over to Georgetown and pick up better looking women for the cost of a drink or two?

It doesn't make sense to me.

Posted on August 31, 2005 15:09

This girl has got to be one... (Below threshold)

28. Posted by sonneille | September 20, 2005 9:19 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

sonneille:

This girl has got to be one of the lowest of the low. Jessica Cutler gives prostitutes a bad name since most girls who work the streets do so purely for survival. Jessica Cutler simply uses her blog for shock value. But I guess that's what you do "when you're too stupid for NY and too ugly for LA," to use her own logic. The truth hurts Jessica, but those are your own words.

Posted on September 20, 2005 21:19

I was at her last book sign... (Below threshold)

29. Posted by Rock | September 22, 2005 12:57 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Rock:

I was at her last book signing and can vouch that she is indeed hot. Sorry to disappoint the Northern Virginia jarheads above who posted the "fugly" and similar comments. You can keep your plastic Brittney lookalikes.

Posted on September 22, 2005 12:57

You know what girl? You ar... (Below threshold)

30. Posted by Mykia | September 30, 2005 12:50 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Mykia:

You know what girl? You are the shit! All these other fuck-asses talking shit are either mad because they paid somebody like you (men) or mad cause they are doing the same thing and not getting paid for it (women)! I know on a first hand basis what guys are willing to pay just for some attention and a piece of ass, I've met lawyers, doctors, real estate developers, etc. and I just moved here 4 months ago! Maybe I should start a blog!!!anyway, I just wanted to show you some love. I suggest any body who makes a fucked up remark on here get a fucking life, literally!!!!!!!!!!

Posted on September 30, 2005 00:50

She's hot, she's cute, she ... (Below threshold)

31. Posted by Eric Kane | October 6, 2005 4:52 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Eric Kane:

She's hot, she's cute, she knows how to write well and she's honset about. Admit it, you all have your secret perversions, you just don't dare to reveal them. But please spare the rest of us your double standard morals.

I personally would love to meet Jessica, spank her bare behind and have hot steamy sex with her. Just a pity I'm so far away.

Eric, Sweden

Posted on October 6, 2005 16:52

Consider for a moment that ... (Below threshold)

32. Posted by mike cannali | January 1, 2006 5:49 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

mike cannali:

Consider for a moment that Jessica Cutler is a human being with actual feelings. Who is so pure that they can be so judgemental, so perpetually hostile in their perspective?

I do not know the woman, but neither do 99% of her critics. Indeed, if they look inward to examine their own motivations, perhaps they may see something even more "fugly".

Only a week ago 85% of the nation was celebrating the birthday of someone who believed in charity, forgiveness and care for their fellow man. What do you all do the other 364 days of the year?

Posted on January 1, 2006 05:49

fuck these haters...jessica... (Below threshold)

33. Posted by Jennifer | May 29, 2006 10:41 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Jennifer:

fuck these haters...jessica is the shit and people are just mad that she can fuck any of your husbands and make him withdraw cash out of your bank account to pay for it...

Posted on May 29, 2006 22:41

Wow. I finally read this bo... (Below threshold)

34. Posted by Allie | June 6, 2006 9:27 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Allie:

Wow. I finally read this book, and I loved every second of it. It was so honest, and it's obvious that she wasn't doing anything that MANY other people aren't doing as well...she just didn't sugarcoat it. Laughed my ass off, love her. Living in dc, know exactly what she's talking about..write more!

Posted on June 6, 2006 21:27

Read the book and perhaps y... (Below threshold)

35. Posted by M.G | September 4, 2006 2:31 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

M.G:

Read the book and perhaps you will all have a new view on Jessica

Posted on September 4, 2006 02:31

I loved the book, although ... (Below threshold)

36. Posted by Robyn | November 22, 2006 10:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Robyn:

I loved the book, although I only bought it because I heard of her before. The book just honest and it's pretty much what everyone else is doing anyway, so stop with the bitching. I just wish I'd thought of it first. Love ya, Jess. ;) Keep going sister.

Posted on November 22, 2006 22:38

Who are all these dweebly s... (Below threshold)

37. Posted by rd | December 27, 2006 11:13 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

rd:

Who are all these dweebly scumbags bad rapping this hottie? Obviously none of them have had anything recently that their computer mouse didn`t introduce them to.

Posted on December 27, 2006 11:13

We do NOT all do this sort ... (Below threshold)

38. Posted by Kim | December 27, 2006 5:04 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

The Washingtonienne: Jessica Cutler One Year Later

The Washingtonienne And Wonkette

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Comments (50)