And for the women?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP Here, forgot to add that the idea that this is acceptable on the heels of Hillary's historic defeat makes me ill. These men have not had their "click" when it comes to women's issues.

Earlier, the complaint was that the cabinet excluded blacks, Jews, and women. Anyone who believes that will be the case is delusional. It now appears that interest in blacks and Jews has been dropped. Bush's cabinet also included a Muslim and none of you have showed any concern that Obama's wouldn't.

Obviously, Obama will have a diverse cabinet that will include blacks, Jews, and women. Sadly, it probably won't include a Muslim or openly homosexual person of any race or gender.

Jeff - I have great respect for your opinion, but it is not obvious at ALL to me that he will have a diverse cabinet. I watched his people very closely during the campaign and he was SURROUNDED by white wonky males. What makes you think that he will appoint a diverse cabinet? He doesn't have to - he's the first black American President.

[Anonymous]

JSteele- I started the complaining about a lack of women. I did not start the "blacks, jews, and women" complaint. I expect there will be plenty of Jews, a disproportionate number of blacks, and nowhere near 50% women.

[Anonymous]

I think this is a premature argument for several reasons --

(1) The first appointment Obama has made was a Jewish person. Maybe it's not technically a Cabinet position, but it's a lot more important than many/most Cabinet positions.

(2) The Cabinet has not been appointed yet. So far there is only speculation. The fact that no women or minorities are being considered might be more telling about the speculators than about Obama himself.

(3) The Cabinet is not the only way that Obama can demonstrate his faith in women and minorities and his commitment to them. He will be appointing federal judges and probably at least a Supreme Court justice or two.

(4) We have no reason to believe that Obama isn't tuned in to the concerns of women or minorities. His wife is impressive and accomplished and professional; he has two daughters; he himself is a minority... why give him so little credit?

(5) Sometimes a white man is the best person for a job. Many times he won't be, of course, but sometimes he will. Depends on the man, depends on the job.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
Jeff - I have great respect for your opinion, but it is not obvious at ALL to me that he will have a diverse cabinet. I watched his people very closely during the campaign and he was SURROUNDED by white wonky males. What makes you think that he will appoint a diverse cabinet? He doesn't have to - he's the first black American President.

We will just have to wait and see. I just wouldn't put much credence in speculative lists.

As for the post saying the proportion of women will not be 50%, that may be correct. Again, we will have to wait and see. But, the suggestion that there would be no women is obviously off base.

[Anonymous]

We are not the only women watching:

http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2008/11/sexist-larry-summers-is-leading.html

[Anonymous]

There is a difference between being in tune with the needs of women and having an Administration that develops women in leadership. I demand the later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a difference between being in tune with the needs of women and having an Administration that develops women in leadership. I demand the later.

PP - Put your name on his list! Well said!

[Anonymous]

The perception that only white men were advising and/or representing Obama is flat out wrong. No one has mentioned her name yet, but Susan Rice - an African American woman - is one of Obama's senior-most foreign policy advisors and will undoubtedly have a big job in the new administration. There are others, including some of the senators mentioned above, as well as women who are part of his economic team, congressional staff, etc.

But more to the point, as a strident feminist I resent the implication that the only people who can represent my interests and concerns are women. I want "payback" as a PP said - but I want it in the form of competent officials and good governance. Demographics mean very little beyond the photo-op: if you don't appreciate why, just look at our foreign policy for the past 8 years. Condoleezza Rice was totally unqualified to manage the interagency process during the first term of the Bush Administration, and did a supremely lousy job at the NSC (worst ever by most academic assessments.) That surely doesn't help women, or African Americans -- or most importantly, it didn't help our country and our security. In the end, I care about good policies - particularly on what are often described as women's issues, like choice or childcare - and I don't care a bit about the gender/color/hairstyle of the person who makes them happen.

[Anonymous]

Well, Richardson seems to be on the top of the list for what I would consider to be Susan Rice's job. So, what the hell? She would be the obvious choice - but the people that are getting payback are not us.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chief of Staff is not a cabinet post - look at the list of cabinet likelies - you'll see what I mean.

Any such list is pure speculation. I would wait for the real list.

I am with Jeff, lets wait for the real list. Obama has shown that he makes good decisions so lets wait and see. BTW, I am a black woman and I am more concerned with the policies that will be put in place than I am about the "diversity" of the cabinet.

[Anonymous]

You need both. Obama is a smart politician and he will understand the need not only to support progress on women's issues but appoint women to visible, high ranking positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need both. Obama is a smart politician and he will understand the need not only to support progress on women's issues but appoint women to visible, high ranking positions.

YES, YES, YES.

[Anonymous]

I think the issue here is diversity in the pipeline for leadership. Do the PP's who claim they only care about policies *not* care that Obama is the first AA President? How could you not think that matters? My daughters deserve that, too. But the men making decisions in the Dem party right now are not being inclusive of women. Look at Madeleine Albright-- having her in power changed women in foreign policy at so many levels. It allowed women in that field to dream big. Same with Carly Fiorina or Meg Whitman. Having women mentors, leaders, and role models at the top of your field makes a huge difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:36 you're right, which is why I so hoped Hillary would stake her claim to the Presidency. She represents the last of the hard-driving feminists-- mothers who worked for professional accomplishment throughout their lives (the I can have it all generation). If they couldn't elect a president, how can my generation, which largely accepts the "I can have it all but not at the same time" mentality do it?

That said, as Obama showed us, it only takes one. One African American in the Senate, and he becomes President! So surely one of the 17 women Senators or 8 women Governors can do it to.

I think Obama needs to feel the pressure to appoint women. There are plenty of women out there with credentials.

Be careful, its is likely this line of thought that got McCain to pick Palin. Obama need to pick the best people for his cabinet and I have faith that he will do so - look at how he staffed his campaign. I think that it is unlikely that they will all be white men, but if that is the way it turns out I will not care one bit as long as they are effective in running this country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:36 you're right, which is why I so hoped Hillary would stake her claim to the Presidency. She represents the last of the hard-driving feminists-- mothers who worked for professional accomplishment throughout their lives (the I can have it all generation). If they couldn't elect a president, how can my generation, which largely accepts the "I can have it all but not at the same time" mentality do it?

That said, as Obama showed us, it only takes one. One African American in the Senate, and he becomes President! So surely one of the 17 women Senators or 8 women Governors can do it to.

I think Obama needs to feel the pressure to appoint women. There are plenty of women out there with credentials.

Be careful, its is likely this line of thought that got McCain to pick Palin. Obama need to pick the best people for his cabinet and I have faith that he will do so - look at how he staffed his campaign. I think that it is unlikely that they will all be white men, but if that is the way it turns out I will not care one bit as long as they are effective in running this country.

I will care tremendously. Recycling the same old set of white boys is not gonna do it for me. Not at all. The women came out for him in this election, as they probably did for Palin as well (in some sad sort of screwy way), and CHANGE needs to treat this issue as well. Just because Bush and Clinton already had women in their cabinets does not mean that Obama is excused.