Obama Makes Good On Diversity Pledge

But Some Minority Groups Remain Left Out; Others Feel Shortchanged

(AP)  Barack Obama, soon to be the first black U.S. president, is on the road to making good his pledge to have a Cabinet and White House staff that are among most diverse ever, although some supporters are asking him to go even further.

He added to the minority representation at the top of his administration Wednesday when he named New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Hispanic, as Commerce Secretary.

But some Latinos are grumbling it is not enough after all the support they gave him in the campaign, and gays and Asian-Americans are pushing for some representation in remaining Cabinet announcements. But overall Obama is allaying some early concerns that a black president wouldn't need to put so much importance on diversity of those working under him.

"The question was: Because he's black, how much pressure would he feel to be more traditional with appointments?" said Jamal Simmons, a Democratic Party consultant who worked with the Obama campaign. "The leadership of the campaign in the beginning wasn't very diverse, so there were questions about that. But I don't hear those questions any more."

In Obama's seven Cabinet announcements so far, white men are the minority with two nominations - Timothy Geithner at Treasury and Robert Gates at Defense. Three are women - Janet Napolitano at Homeland Security, Susan Rice as United Nations ambassador and Hillary Rodham Clinton at State.

With Clinton set to replace Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was jokingly asked at an appearance this week whether there will ever be a male secretary of state again. There probably will be "someday," she told her audience of business executives at the Fortune 500 Forum.

The United Nations ambassador is not a Cabinet position under President George W. Bush, but it was under former President Bill Clinton and Obama said it will be in his administration. His nominee, Susan Rice, is black, as is attorney general nominee Eric Holder.

Bush and Clinton also made a point of diversity in their Cabinets when they moved into the White House. Bush's first Cabinet had four women, two Asian-Americans, two blacks and one Hispanic. Clinton, who promised to appoint a Cabinet that "looks like America," had three women, two Hispanics and four blacks when he first took office.

Latino groups applauded the selection of Richardson, although some were disappointed that the Mexican-American governor was not chosen for secretary of state after Obama interviewed him for the job. A reporter from Spanish-language television network Telemundo asked Obama to respond to Hispanics' concerns that there aren't more Latinos advising him and that Richardson got the "consolation prize."

Obama responded that he's only appointed about half the Cabinet so far and when he's done, "I think people are going to say, this is one of the most diverse Cabinets and White House staffs of all time."

Obama transition head John Podesta has been meeting with Hispanic groups and hearing their suggestions for other Latinos who could be considered for high-level administration positions. Democratic officials say Rep. Xavier Becerra of California is the leading contender to be U.S. trade representative.

Latinos are the largest minority group in the country, comprising 15 percent of the U.S. population, and helped Obama win in key battleground states such as New Mexico and Florida.

"I definitely don't think we should characterize it as a consolation prize, but it's not enough," said Brent Wilkes, executive director of League of United Latin American Citizens.

Wilkes said the Richardson pick gets the Obama team on its way to mollifying some of the concerns raised "and if you trust what the transition team is saying, Latino leaders should be pleased" after all nominations are made. "And we do trust them," Wilkes said.

Floyd Mori, chair of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, said with blacks and Hispanics chosen for the Cabinet, "what is missing now is an Asian-American." He said given Obama's upbringing in Hawaii and his understanding of their community, they are optimistic he will appoint at least one. He suggested Illinois veterans affairs director Tammy Duckworth, former Washington Gov. Gary Locke or Rep. Mike Honda of California.

Joe Solmonese, president of the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign, sent a letter to Obama this week asking him to name labor leader Mary Beth Maxwell, a lesbian, as labor secretary. Solmonese said that he did not believe there had been an openly gay Cabinet member before, but he's confident that will change with Obama.

"Not only will we expect it, but we fully believe that it will happen," he added.

An analysis by New York University's Wagner School of Public Service and The Washington Post found that of the 28 White House staffers Obama has appointed so far, 43 percent are women and 29 percent are a racial minority. The analysis examined other areas of diversity - a third have a tie to Obama's hometown of Chicago, half worked on his campaign and two-thirds have advanced degrees.

Obama also promised to have Republicans in his Cabinet, but so far only has one in Gates. He declined to promise any more when asked if that would be it.

Todd Harris, a Republican operative, gave Obama credit for how he is handling appointments.

"He really seems to be reaching out to people that he doesn't need to reach out to politically," said Harris, who worked for Sen. John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign. "He is not filling his administration with a bunch of Illinois cronies and he really is getting people with a diverse set of views. As an American, that's a breath of fresh air."

[bailthisout]

WHAT HAPPENED TO CHANGE? WASHINGTON IS STILL THE SAME.

[mbskoczen]

I play golf with a dude who told me that he was voting for Obama because he would get us out of Irag...

So much for that lie....

Obama voters you got fooled big time..... This guy is Bush''s third term...

[walt1944-2009]

Great Emperor-elect Barack Obama promised that he would get rid of the Bush tax cuts for the rich.

Now he has decided to "amend" that campaign promise and let the tax cuts "expire" in 2010 (if then!).

Obama promised that BIG OIL would get hit with a windfall profits tax, the proceeds of which would go towards making us "green" with alternate fuel sources.

Obama''s transition team announced yesterday that the windfall profits tax has been put on hold!

There are many Neocon Fascist Socialist Nazi Republicans in this country who are smiling because they see Obama imposing the dreaded "3rd term of Great Emperor Bush II" on all of us, and that this is his idea of "change".

Ralph Nader is right! It doesn''t matter who or what you elect to office in Washington, the real power is Corporate and Financial America and the politicians, no matter if they be neocon Fascist Nazi Republican, evil cowardly Whimpo-crat, or something in-between, will ALWAYS listen to them, and not the people who elected them!!!

SIG HEIL, YOU CAN''T GET RID OF ME THAT EASY!!!, BUSH!!!

[badbrown126]

The latest from the Ap.

We love Obama of yes we do
We love Obama of yes we do
We love Obama ..... we do
Obama we love you.

Repeat the chorus!

Most of the decisions Bush made were unavoidable.

Obama will have to make alot of the unavoidable decisions.

Bush will be hated because he has an R next to his name. Plus he no speaky well.

Obama will be loved regardless.

Same decisions. Different coverage.

Case in point.

Bush and Clinton had seven years of great economies.

Bush has a war. The cost of the war was the deficit.

Clinton had no war. Maybe should have ... could have saved some lives but that is debateable. Had a surplus one year ( I believe ... may have been two).

Last year of Bush''s presidency economy tanks. Real estate bubble pops. Lots of blame on boths sides of the aisle. Verdict ... economic idiot.

Last year of Clinton presidency economy tanks. High tech bubble bursts .... 2 trillion dollars vanish ... adjust for inflations about 3.8 trillion.

Verdict .. Clinton is an economic genius.

Bush is an economic dolt.

Reality ... both of them had very little impact on the economies under there administrations.

[irmcvet971]

I wish people would stop saying that we have a Black President elect, we DON"T. He is only about 6% black!!! He is Muslim which is the same people that destroyed our Nation on 9/11. If the people really want to live like that they should have packed up their ignorance and moved there.

Posted by mdmdavis79 at 08:59 AM : Dec 04, 2008


Can you say I AM a LIAR?? Honest if you SAY it you''ll feel better! Lets try it! I''m a LIAR! I could care LESS about how bad things are. I HATE anyone who isn''t like me! I AM a LIAR!! I drive by Obama''s old neighborhood TWICE a Week and I KNOW you are a LIAR. I have KNOWN the man for over 20 years so I KNOW you are a LIAR!!

[irmcvet971]

I''''''''ll bet YOUR ability to reason and define the intent of people around you makes you the Leader of the Pack in your Trailer Court huh? ROFLMAO You are so ridiculous that''''s the ONLY response your post deserves... LOL Go away little person with the very small mind, there''''s work here for the Adults to do... work CREATED by YOU and your "Party"!! LOL
Posted by irmcvet971 at 08:53 AM : Dec 04, 2008
===========

Thanks for revealing the classic DumboCraphead response RusskieVet.

It serves as a reminder of the very best any of you NObama worshipping, neo-Marxist pudsuckers ever has to offer....

Nothing more than a stinky expulsion from between your butt cheeks.

ROTFLMBAO!!!!

Posted by DemsSUK2 at 08:57 AM : Dec 04, 2008

Folks I rest my case!! ROFLMAO 6th grade TOPS!!

[mdmdavis79]

I wish people would stop saying that we have a Black President elect, we DON"T. He is only about 6% black!!! He is Muslim which is the same people that destroyed our Nation on 9/11. If the people really want to live like that they should have packed up their ignorance and moved there.

[irmcvet971]

The majority will simply pay the bill...as always.
Just check the lay of the land during Americas rise to greatness and check it again now during our obvious decline.

Posted by fahr451 at 08:54 AM : Dec 04, 2008

So? YOU liked the TOTAL INCOMPETENCE and TOTAL Disconnect of George W. Bush and the Republican Party? I guess some folks just don''t like Change no matter how bad the present mess is huh?? ROFLMAO

[irmcvet971]

Doesn''''t matter what race they are, we are getting Balkanized, they are all the old insiders where is the change we were all promised during the election campaigning.

Posted by jowand at 10:56 PM : Dec 03, 2008

DUH? LOL The CABINET IS the Change he was talking about.. didn''t you listen? Can''t you READ?? LOL That''s ONE of the promises he made and one he is keeping. That means that what we NOW have is going to change, we are going to have COMPETENT people in our Government, GONE are the Brownies and Gonzo''s, who were so incompetent it took your breath away! No wonder we had to live with the most INCOMPETENT, WORST President in US History... with people like YOU out there it''s amazing we overcame your IGNORANCE THIS time.

[irmcvet971]

I did a lot of thinking about this, and let''''s be honest, what choice did NObama have??

Had he tried to waltz into D.C. and install 100% inexperienced outsiders like himself, can you only imagine what the D.C. insider complex would have done to this guy and his regime??

Nope, Barack NObama is doing exactly what he needs to do for at least long enough to get his feet up under him and his personal power well founded.

Then you just watch what he has planned in the form of CHANGE!!!

Posted by DemsSUK2 at 08:48 AM : Dec 04, 2008


I''ll bet YOUR ability to reason and define the intent of people around you makes you the Leader of the Pack in your Trailer Court huh? ROFLMAO You are so ridiculous that''s the ONLY response your post deserves... LOL Go away little person with the very small mind, there''s work here for the Adults to do... work CREATED by YOU and your "Party"!! LOL

[longtree-2009]

the first job requirement for any position should always be Best Qualified, followed by diversity. in replacing bush incompetents, the number one requirement should be Best Qualified since the nation is in a huge mess. this is no time for trainees or political hacks, since the new administration has got to hit the ground at 200mph to get things done right for the good of we the people. we the people are drowning while the rich and famous, the extremely wealthy just party on.

[billpl-2009]

Hmm....I don''t see any white Mormon polygamists

don''t they count too?

[jowand]

Doesn''t matter what race they are, we are getting Balkanized, they are all the old insiders where is the change we were all promised during the election campaigning.

[hypnotoad72]

Well, if one group got 100%, all the others would complain... check that, they''d ALL still complain.

Isn''t one of President-Elect Obama''s points is that we''re ALL Americans and need to come together? Or does that become inconvenient because one sect is unduly demanding more time and presence?

Even liberal-oriented fictional characters in early 1970s American pop culture (*cough* "Mike Stivic" *cough*) stated we have to stop labeling people as it''s a form of separation. And these days, labeling people gets about as granular as possible and forgetting we might all ultimately be Americans?