Getting inside Obama’s ‘brain’ – CNN.com.

“- Karen Kornbluh is not famous, but her ideas are. As Barack Obama‘s chief policy director, political insiders call her his “brain.”

Karen Kornbluh, Barack Obama’s chief policy director in the Senate, writes extensively about women and families.

“Karen is a big ideas person, but more than that, she’s able to bring a lot of really smart people together and convince them to leave their egos at the door,” remarked The Washington Note blogger Steve Clemons. “She was a key reason why Obama’s message resonated.”

Kornbluh, 45, was the chief architect of the 2008 Democratic platform and the former deputy chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin during the Clinton administration.

She has written extensively about women and families. Her most famous essays “The Mommy Tax,” “The Joy of Flex” and “Families Valued” contend that modern American families are overworked, underpaid and deserve more respect from the federal government.

She has been quoted by many high-profile politicians, from Sen. Joseph Lieberman to former Sen. John Edwards.

Her sons, ages 7 and 11, were impressed that their mother authored the plan that energized an entire party this year. But they really wanted to know one thing: “Is your name going to be on it?” they asked her. Somewhat shy and a self-described “wonk,” she was slightly mortified to see that it was. They thought it was the coolest.”

Kornbluh spoke exclusively to CNN about working with the president-elect.

For the whole post, go to Getting inside Obama’s ‘brain’ – CNN.com.