First Black President Facing Diversity Pressures As Well
EmailEven this trailblazing, eumelanin-rich president with the exotic name is facing questions and pressures about how diverse his Cabinet and White House staff will be.
"Nuestro voto ha sido nuestra voz," said Gov. Bill Richardson, D-NM, today after President-elect Obama introduced him as his nominee for Commerce Secretary."Esta eleccion ha demonstrado nuestra fuerza y nuestra unidad." (Translation: "Our vote has been our voice. This election has demonstrated our strength and our unity.")
Added Richardson in English, "It will be a great honor, to serve once again, a president, who recognizes that America’s diverse heritage is its greatest strength."
But the announcement of the President-elect’s first Latino candidate for his Cabinet — coming on the same day as reports that Mr. Obama has asked the son of Mexican immigrants, Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., to be U.S. Trade Representative — was not enough for some.
After the announcement, Telemundo’s Vicente Serrano asked the President-elect what he thought about media reports that Richardson being named Secretary of Commerce is "somehow the consolation prize for Latinos and Hispanic politicians and groups that are calling Latinos to be included in your Cabinet, since many were expecting or hoping that Bill Richardson was going to be Secretary of State."
"Well," replied the President-elect, "Commerce Secretary is a pretty good job."
Mr. Obama suggested that "the notion that somehow the Commerce Secretary is not going to be central to everything we do is fundamentally mistaken" since Richardson would be a member of his "economic team that is going to be dealing with the most significant issue that America faces right now, and that is how do we put people back to work and rejuvenate the economy?"
Moreover, Obama insisted that Richardson had been tapped "because he is the best person for that job," having served as a governor, congressman, United Nations Ambassador, and as a Secretary of Energy.
But the question touched on the delicate diversity dance that presidents face. Even this president.
Just yesterday, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus sent a letter to the Obama’s Transition Team providing 14 possible Hispanic candidates for the remaining Cabinet slots.
"With respect to Latino Cabinet members, I’ve appointed about half of my Cabinet so far," Mr. Obama said today. "And I think that when people look back and see the entire slate, what they will say is — not only in terms of my Cabinet, but in terms of — but in terms of my White House staff — I think people are going to say, this is one of the most diverse Cabinets and White House staffs of all time. But more importantly, they’re going to say these are all people of outstanding qualifications and excellence."
As of now, however, Mr. Obama has not appointed any Asian-Americans, Native Americans, disabled Americans or openly gay or lesbian Americans to his Cabinet.
And yes, there are groups paying attention.
The Brookings Institution’s Presidential Appointee Initiative reports that of the roughly 500 Senate-confirmed appointees President Bill Clinton made in his first round, 30 percent were women, 14 percent were African-American, 6 percent were Latino and 3 percent were Asian-American.
President George W. Bush’s first round of appointees were 23 percent women, 9 percent black, 8 percent Latino and 7 percent Asian-American.
Mr. Obama has also been under some pressure to fill some Cabinet positions with Republicans, as he pledged to do during the campaign, though it’s unclear whether he counts Defense Secretary Robert Gates, whom Mr. Obama has asked to stay on. Gates is a registered independent.
"I didn’t check his voter registration," Obama replied Monday after a reporter asked him if Gates "meets the requirement" necessary to fill the GOP quota. "Secretary Gates meets the qualification of being an outstanding current Secretary of Defense and somebody who is doing everything he can every single day to make sure that our troops are properly equipped and trained and organized in order to succeed at their missions and that their families are cared for."
(Gates himself told reporters Tuesday, "I felt, when I was at CIA, that as a professional intelligence officer, like a military officer, I should be apolitical, and so I didn’t register with a party. I consider myself a Republican. Until yesterday, all of my senior appointments have been under Republican presidents.")
There is one group of Americans that Richardson no longer belongs to, who are as yet unrepresented in the Obama Cabinet: hirsute Americans. Mr. Richardson has, after all, shaved his post-campaign beard. (Attorney General nominee Eric Holder does have a moustache, it should be noted.)
"I think it was a mistake for him to get rid of it," Obama joked today after a reporter asked the Commerce Secretary nominee what had happened to his formerly fuzzy face. "I thought that whole Western rugged look was really working for him. For some reason, maybe because it was scratchy when he kissed his wife, he was forced to get rid of it. But we’re deeply disappointed with the loss of the beard."
– jpt
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Concerned in OH;
The bar is very low right now. There were other choices and we opted for an unknown quantity. We truly deserve, exactly what we get.
Posted by: independent | December 3, 2008, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
Nobody deserves anything based on anything except qualifications. People cry too much about race and gender when they want something they do not deserve. This country is better served when the best person for that job is in place. NO EXCEPTION! GIVE ME BECAUSE I AM…..
Posted by: nookly23 | December 3, 2008, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
Diversity is a good thing. Richardson is my govenor out here in NM, and we like him for the most part. If I didn’t vote 3rd party, I would have gone with Obama because of diversity, and because he doesn’t want to drop the bomb first and talk later, but rather talk first.
Posted by: Huh | December 3, 2008, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
We need leaders that are Qualified for the job and tasks at hand.
We do not need people just to fill a quota. Filling positions to fill quota’s is discriminating against those who are qualified for the job.
All Elected officials no matter what position or nationality or sex or religion are to be looking out for the best interest of Every Single American, not just special groups.
Posted by: seah | December 3, 2008, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
seah – I totally agree, however diversity is inclusionary, and Obama is just as qualified as McCain and vise-versa. Surely he is more intelligent than the dude in the White House currently. Man, I am going to miss those Bushisms.
Posted by: Huh | December 3, 2008, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
Without the beard, and with the name “Richardson” it is not obvious that Richardson is Latino. I guess I’ll believe it because everyone else says so.
Posted by: tina | December 3, 2008, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
Concerned in OH,
I hope PEBO will not listen to such advice.
I undersand the need for diversity and balance but appointments should not be based solely on skin texture, race and gender.
PEBO shouuld appoint people with the competence to perform excellently where they are appointed.
We do not want any more Heck-of-a-job-Brownies.
Look at what is still rotting on the Texas coast months after the hurricaine struck.
I don’t care if Texans gave us Bush, because they don’t deserve what they are getting. President Bush had no reason to appoint incompetents just because they were his political chronies.
The American people deserve better. So far PEBO is not doing badly.
Posted by: Steve_NJ | December 3, 2008, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm
I feel sorry for our Pres. elect Obama. It is not easy to please each group, party, gender, race, etc. etc.
We should all understand, whoever is chosen, is the one right for the job.
Posted by: FM | December 3, 2008, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm
Obama will renege on his promise to place qualified Republicans in key positions. Obama would rather fill these positions with whom ever he feels is polititically expedient for him. There is no change with Obama just the same old Washington nonsense
Posted by: Valerie Tarantolo | December 3, 2008, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
Valerie Tarantolo,
Qualified Repubs or Dems, I care a hoot.
All we need are COMPETENT Americans occupying the positions.
I am sck and tired of this Repub/Dem politics.
The election is over.
Time to govern Okay!!!!
Posted by: Steve_NJ | December 3, 2008, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
jUST gIVE hIM a chance
MR OBAMA
How Graceful God is blessing you to be
the first African American President of the USA.
On NOV -4-2008 A Historical moment was made we will remember this for the rest of our lives.
I Thank God for his BLESSING that he has INSTILL with in you.
A BRILLIANT leader is who you will always be.
Bring AMITY to every country in the world.
Be REALISM to all the people of the USA.
Determined to AMELIORATE and make the United States stronger.
A COURAGEOUS husband and Farther is who you are.
You have proven to have much KNOWLEDGE to lead our country
You are OBLIGATED to UNITE the UNITED STATES as ONE.
You are so Blessed.
You have ACCOMPLISHED a DREAM that all Americans DREAM of that is being the FIRST ELECTED AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT THAT IS ABOUT UNITY.
MAGNIFICENT
ADINFINITUM
I Thank GOD to all the HIP HOP ARTIST, S Entertainers, RADIOSTATION, AND all of the OBAMA supporters who helped make this change possible.
SPECIAL Thanks’ to YOUNG JEEZY who release his CD SEP -2-2008 called RECESSION and on his CD he has a single called MYPRESIDENT IS BLACK (FEAT) NAS
He had already Predicted that the PRESIDENT WOULD BE BLACK MUCH LOVE FOR HIM.
To all those people that seem to be so unhappy that MR BARACK IS THE PRSIDENT OF THE USA
I would like to say may GOD BLESS them to with much LOVE.
ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE
Because we are
AGGRANDIZE
MILITARISM
ELATE
REALISM
INDIVIDULISM
CAUTIOUS
AMBITIOUS
Natural
COURAGEOUS
INSPIRATIONAL
TREMENDOUS
IMPRESSIVE
ZILLION
EXTRAODINARY
NATIONALISM
And That Will Never Change GOD Bless America
Posted by: brigitte norris | December 3, 2008, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
I believe there are plenty of qualified minorities that would give this administration the “Rainbow Effect”!!!
That’s what America have become, Diversified!!!
Posted by: sisterdearest09 | December 3, 2008, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
Umm.. Jake, how would you or anyone know if Obama has appointed gays to his
administration?
Posted by: Teresa | December 3, 2008, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
Obama is picking the best people. Everyone, right, left, and center, brown, black, white, red, or yellow will find something to cheer and something to lament because he is a person who chooses on the basis of complex criteria. He chooses people who will bring the debate into the White House. He has already appointed 2 Republicans to high positions, for those of you who spend most of your time on AM Radio or with Fox.
We are in the worst time in our country – brought on by a 3rd generation rich kid and Darth Vader. So, give the man a chance – we all desperately need him to succeed and to be the most important, successful leader this country has ever known.
Did you know there are 10 Native Americans on his transition team? This is historic. Where is this news? Hopefully, ABC was just waiting to get it on the air!
Posted by: Mom | December 3, 2008, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
Shouldn’t we all be more concerned about Mr. Obama hiring people based on who will be the most effective at successfully performing their job?
Posted by: Patricia N. | December 3, 2008, 7:10 pm 7:10 pm
Tina: Richardson’s father is English and his mother is Mexican.
Posted by: t42 | December 3, 2008, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
President Obama is going to place people of color who are qualified. Is that too hard to understand that people of color are qualified also-it’s 2008. The future is diverse with qualified people in it. There hasn’t been an administration yet who filled its cabinet posts with the most qualified-not everyone wants the appointment so you go to the next and then the next-we don’t know who all his first choices were. I do know he wanted Warren Buffet on his economic dream team but apparently he didn’t bite.
Posted by: t42 | December 3, 2008, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm
Richardson will do so much good for all Americans plus the Hispanic Americans. Richardson is a plus because he’s not biased. (No, I’m not Hispanic!)
I see his appointment to commerce as the most important job this country needs now. Commerce is what drives the economy! We need to undo the Clinton/Bush NAFTA mess and Richardson can do that.
Posted by: Common Sense | December 3, 2008, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
Steve_NJ,
Right on! “We do not want any more Heck-of-a-job-Brownies.”
We also don’t need anybody that thinks that having a Mexican family member to point to as a fact of how supposedly open-minded they are to the brown people is a significant accomplishment. People that can do the job come in ALL colors!
Obama’s coalition is truly a rainbow of talent. We’ll all be better served just knowing that we’re not limited to the genetic who’s-whos.
Yes, we can be great again!
Posted by: Common Sense | December 3, 2008, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
In discussing the selection of Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary, i am suprised that no one has “Balanced Mr. Richardson’s skill sets with the requirements of the post!!
Look, This guy is a “RINGER” for this job.
1. There is a significant tie between economic recovery and energy supply, source and cost. He was a DOE chief.
2. Our financial crunch is an international issue, we have to have a secretary of Commerce with international experience to restore confidence in our financial system. He was a Diplomat.
3. As CFO of the USA CEO experience is a double plus. He’s a sitting Governor!
Again He is a “Ringer”
Posted by: d weaver | December 4, 2008, 1:14 am 1:14 am
I have expressed to friends that every day after the November 4 election results has been like Christmas for the hopeful. Day after day and week after week we have witnessed the brillant and compassionate President Elect Obama at work.
Never in the history of the world has a leader of a major country assembled a cabinet filled with superior intelligence, quality and diversity. America is finally being represented by its people– ALL of us!
Richardson is the perfect person for the Commerce post.
One sad comment regarding a consolation prize is a minor ignorance.
Yes we can!
It must be noted that
Posted by: clarity | December 4, 2008, 1:51 am 1:51 am
Oh brother. When are we going to finally get rid of this diversity nonsense? Lets just pick the best person for the job okay?
Posted by: dlc | December 4, 2008, 2:15 am 2:15 am
The whole issue of Robert Gates staying on as Defense Secretary smells too much to fit into the category of a “team of rivals”; Gates openly promoted Bush’s war policies and Bush’s wars.
But, throughout the primaries, Obama persistently claimed that anyone who supported Bush’s war policies and Bush’s war in Iraq LACKED GOOD JUDGMENT. So, Obama’s decision to keep on at Defense a man who openly and vocally opposed Obama’s Iraq withdrawal plan and advocated everything Obama opposed smacks of either: (1) insanity, or (2) crass dishonesty about what he (Obama) is “for” or “against.”
Posted by: sORyE | December 4, 2008, 4:48 am 4:48 am
You would think that the person with the BEST QUALIFICATIONS would be appointed to lead our country. NOT based on color of their skin. Wasn’t Obama supposed to be above that ?? I guess Affirmative Action
applies to Gov. as well. So how many Asians has he appointed? How many gays, transgender?
Posted by: CW | December 4, 2008, 6:39 am 6:39 am
As Asian Pacific American, I feel disappointed, portraited, and misrepresented by Obama’s pre election diversity approach. After his election, he plays the mainstrain & his community game. Not appointing us for top and more appointments needed for the support he asked for. I knew it, you can trust these people. We all aware of it. Well, next 4 years, he should be voted off. Good luck.
Posted by: API | December 4, 2008, 9:48 am 9:48 am
Why Obama appointed Ms. Rice as United Nation ambassador? Clearly strategic planned out to benefit and support donation to African nations. Why his top positions filled w/ White but not Asian, Hispanic,Indian American, or others. He wants to play the mainstream game while he talk about urban problem and ignore other minorities while asked for our supports. Using his half sister to link API community’s vote. Now haven’t heard anything about his sister. We knew we couldn’t trust this guy from start. We gave him chance, now you know what. He is tricky. He shouldn’t have desire it.
.
Posted by: Pacific Rim | December 4, 2008, 10:00 am 10:00 am
Independent
I am not so sure the American people “got what they deserve”. The media clearly swayed the election how it wanted. Those in the liberal elite media feel that they alone know what is best for the “average dumb American peasant”, and so they abandoned all principles to elect BO. They cut and pasted interviews (removing the good and airing the bad), gave Barry 3 TIMES MORE POSITIVE coverage than McCain, and completely protected Biden. If Palin winked, stuttered or stumbled it was blasted on every news station for days.
When Biden said one of his wildly innacurate, often RIDICULOUS, statements one would have to do independent research to hear about it.
This all sounds like Germany 1933. Have you heard of the fairness doctrine?
Posted by: liberalshateAmerica | December 4, 2008, 10:06 am 10:06 am
Affirmative action has done nothing but harm the black community. Blacks were on the rise in nearly every catergory- literacy, homeownership, education, ect.. and then BAM!! the counter-culture of the 60′s hit.
The anything goes, let your pants hang down, free love, mentallity, did NOTHING but shove entitlements down blacks’ throats and killed their incentives to better themselves.
Obama apparently never got the memo about that fact, he was too busy listening to rev wright say “### #### America” for the last 20 years to get it.
Change is a comin!!
Posted by: liberalshateAmerica | December 4, 2008, 10:14 am 10:14 am
Obama played the Race card, now he has it. He is not living the promise he told the audiences. Not appointing ethnic minorities from different groups except his and the mainstream just to play Barbie’s game. Hey, we aware of it. He just bias and misleading.
Asian American desire top position. At least one or more slots. We need to vote him out now
Posted by: AAA | December 4, 2008, 10:21 am 10:21 am
Obama fooled America, ethnic minorities, the media, and now he used our support to benefit his community and himself.
Posted by: Monitor | December 4, 2008, 10:30 am 10:30 am
I am so glad that our country is back to judging someone by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character.
Thank you BO, your Change is just what this country needed. The republican, Martin Luther King, would be so proud.
Posted by: dave | December 4, 2008, 11:45 am 11:45 am
Obama probably figures that most of the gay community considers Janet Napolitano to be one of their own. She may not be out of the closet, but we Arizonans are very aware of her lifestyle choices. Every year, her voice seems to get even deeper and her acne gets worse. People discuss whether she is on some kind of hormone therapy, because of the deepening voice and worsening acne. Janet surrounds herself with women who look and dress like her(i.e., women who dress like Ellen Degeneres). If the gay community wants someone who is openly gay on Obama’s team, maybe they should out Janet. That might finally convince her to be honest about who she is.
Posted by: Joan in AZ | December 4, 2008, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
This isn’t fair! Why are there no hermaphrodites or polygamists on Obama’s team?
Is THIS what he calls “diversity”?
Posted by: Joan in AZ | December 4, 2008, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
Let’s dismiss the idea that MLK was a republican. At the time he was of voting age, he did not have the right to vote due to republican and democrat legislation in the south. Repbulicans Claim lincoln freed the slaves but forget to mention that we blacks actually started using the right to vote as citizens and elected persons from their community to state office, the reublicans got on both knees for the democrats in power to undo the level playing field.
Contrary to popular belief a diverese hire doesn’t mean they are unqulified. In most cases they are over-qualified. They are usally the top of their class in everything. (see Obama’s education).
Posted by: datdude92 | December 4, 2008, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
Jake Tapper should also be criticizing ABC News for its same lack of “Asian-Americans, Native Americans, disabled Americans or openly gay or lesbian Americans” in their tv newspeople. ABC clearly wants to broadcast to these people and make money off of them. Where is ABC’s diversity???
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
Posted by: theod | December 4, 2008, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
Why is it we put so much more pressure on this African American President to ensure he fills the Cabinet and White House with racial and cultural diversity when we have not held his previous counterparts under such pressure? Is it acceptable for a white President to not be bothered about racial harmony, while African-American Presidents (and any of any other race) must, with their whole focus, color every aspect of their Presidential staff? I think we miss the whole picture…the aim should be as President Obama continues to state – to select the right person for the right job – not about race, gender nor political affiliation. President Obama has consistently demonstrated his ability to make very worthy decisions. Give him a break. Rome was not built in a day!
Posted by: JJ | December 4, 2008, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
Obama, right person for the right job? Why you didn’t talk about when you proposed us for election? You discussed on diversity yourself for selection. Well, you are too young, inexperience, you think you have experience. Talk about right person, Clinton has more experience than you but why you asked people to select you because whom you are. Non-African minority groups came together to break the record to elect you, in hope you said what you have to do. People in this country had pressure to elect you as minority. Not because you qualified for the job.
Posted by: N | December 4, 2008, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
President Obama is the elected President now. He can make selections that are the best from all races in this country. That is all I care about. Fill the positions with qualified and capable people who are not yes people, but who are able to work together for this country. We have had the worst president and the worst administration with Bush. Now, President Obama will show everyone how you should be the President of the United States.
Posted by: Vicki | December 4, 2008, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
As an Asian-American I could care less if there is an Asian representation in the WH. My only hope is that he selects people who are the best based on their SKILLS and not their racial profile. So far he is doing a great job on this front.
Posted by: Andrew | December 5, 2008, 10:01 am 10:01 am
Wow, what a bunch of bigots in 2008.
Of all times, these commentators should be ashamed of themselves and ABC News for making this segment.
Race should not be a factor in electing cabinet members, only experience.
Posted by: Disgusted in CA | December 5, 2008, 6:27 pm 6:27 pm