BREAKING NEWS: Jay Carney Resigns as Press Secretary

President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance (Friday) to announce his chief spokesman Jay Carney is leaving his post behind the podium, to be replaced next month by Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

Obama called Carney one of his closest advisers and friends at the White House in remarks to the press in the White House briefing room.

“In April, Jay came to me in the Oval Office and said that he was thinking of moving on, and I was not thrilled, to say the least,” he said. “But Jay has had to wrestle with this decision for quite some time.”

… Better to get out of their with what’s left of his soul:

“I will continue to rely on him as a friend and an adviser after he leaves to spend as much of his summer as he can with his kids before he decides what’s next for him,” he added. “Whatever it is, I know he’s going to be outstanding at it.”

Carney, who has served as press secretary for over three years, called holding the job “an honor and a joy for me.”

… The Obama cleaning of the house continues. Who’s next?