A days ago, NOW (National Organization for Women) started expressing their displeasure that more women weren’t being mentioned as prospective cabinet members in the Obama administration. Keep in mind this was just days after he was elected President and when then was nothing more than pure speculation as to who his appointees would eventually be. (Earlier in the year, the NY Chapter of NOW said that Ted Kennedy endorsed Obama for President simply because he didn’t want a woman to be President. Nice.)
Meanwhile, President-elect Obama is expected to name Hillary Clinton Secretary of State, Janet Napolitano Secretary of Homeland Security, and offered the Secretary of Commerce Position to Penny Pritzker. If NOW actually takes credit for these appointments, claiming they put pressure on Obama to add women to his cabinet, they’ll continue to lose credibility. There are many injustices that women, in America and around the world, have to suffer on a daily basis. Crying wolf only makes things worse for them.
Filed under: National Politics | Tagged: Barack Obama, hillary clinton, Janet Napolitano, NOW, Penny Pritzker, Ted Kennedy
I think that sometimes people are getting a bit too much concerned with Political Correctness instead of actual talent and substance. I am satisfied with the diversity that Obama has so far put up in his cabinet and I am glad that he seems to be choosing people based on qualifications instead of tokenism.
That being said, I do not want Senator Clinton as Secretary of State. I believe she is too hawkish and too abrasive. We need a concilatator at this time as our main Diplomat. I would prefer Governor Richardson or Senator Kerry.
Kerry’s taking over as Chair of the Foriegn Relations Committee. I thought Bill Richardson was the strongest candidate for State and Hillary would be a great pick for Attorney General or HHS. Reportedly Richardson will be named Commerce Secretary. Interesting.
Disappointing to hear that Senate Dems weren’t willing to give Clinton a greater role in the upcoming Congress. Seniority is important, but it isn’t everything. Oh well, the Senates loss is Foggy Bottoms gain.