Black president, black AG, female Sec DHS, female Sec State, black female UN ambassador, latino Sec Commerce, toupée-wearing budget director…that is a very diverse cabinet so far.
With Richardson’s appointment, some are upset that he didn’t get picked for Secretary of State or that Obama didn’t name a Latino until halfway through his cabinet. Other advocacy groups (representing gays, Asians, and others) are pushing for representation in the cabinet as well. But what I think is most notable for Obama’s picks so far, is that he has put an emphasis on qualifications and expertise and has built a diverse, experienced, pragmatic, centrist cabinet. Obama’s focus has not been on theatrically appealing to interest group expectations, like Clinton (a cabinet that looks like America!) and Bush (especially trying to reach out to Hispanic voters with the genius appointment of Alberto Gonzalez…).
Maybe I’m being insensitive, but a lot of the advocacy groups that are pushing for more diversity come off as whining and/or self-serving. Considering the diversity of the cabinet so far, the fact that the President himself is black, and the crisis environment that the new government will be operating in, clinging to the old gripes about diversity seem out of touch. Obama has shown that his focus is getting the best people for the jobs. As evident in the cabinet so far, the best people and diversity aren’t mutually exclusive.
sneaky
