Gay White Mother of Black Adopted Son: That Qualifies You for The One®’s Cabinet?
How many boxes would this tick, when it comes to “paying back” the special interest groups who helped Obama get elected? Let’s see…
✓Females
✓Homosexuals
✓Unionists
✓Blacks
Union Activist Mary Beth Maxwell on List for Labor Secretary
“For the rainbow cabinet of the nation’s first African American president, Mary Beth Maxwell is the perfect labor secretary you’ve probably never heard of: a gay woman, community organizer and labor leader with an adopted* African American son.”
What’s your guess she drives a Prius with a “Land Rights for Gay Whales!” bumper sticker?
-via Ace & NewsBusters
December 4, 2008, 8:16 pm at 8:16 pm
I can’t help thinking that many of Obama’s choices are going to be token picks to appease groups that boosted the numbers for him.
There’s definitely going to be some interesting calls.
December 4, 2008, 11:46 pm at 11:46 pm
As many pundits have pointed out, it’s not Obama’s highest level appointees we have to worry about – those will almost all be moderately centrist to avoid confirmation fiascos – but the middle and lower level choices, who will cause much damage by slipping under the radar for the most part.
December 5, 2008, 12:03 am at 12:03 am
For me, I couldn’t care less whether she’s gay, whether she’s female, whether she’s got an adopted black child – none of that would especially worry me on its own.
What I do worry about is if she is (which she sounds like, from all the special interest groups who are spruiking for her)
…a feminist activist
…a “gay rights” activist
…a union activist
…a race activist
From the first sentence of that Washington Wire piece I quote, we know NOTHING about any qualifications – simply that she’s “perfect” because she’s “a gay woman, community organizer and labor leader with an adopted African American son.”
Heck, Condi Rice is an African American and a female and for all anyone knows, she’s a lesbian as well – but she was no “tick-a-box” appointee, she was just the best person for the job and never, ever did the “identity politics” thing.
December 5, 2008, 3:23 pm at 3:23 pm
Mary Beth Maxwell for labor secretary. I hope she does well. Personally I hope all the minority cabinet choices do well for the sake of the country. I would personally like to see the day that people’s prejudices don’t block any opportunity for anyone. Sometimes we need the first something to pave the road for everyone else. The first woman, the first black, the first gay, etc , but where is the second, third, etc? That is because the average doesn’t give a damn anymore the first made it a lot easier for others to do the job. Colin Powell was the first black Secretary of State. When Condi became Sec. of State, not many cared about her being black or female it because it has been done before. People stopped thinking about the silly s**t like race, gender, etc., and finally looked her background in the field and that is what mattered.
The Dems have to appease to many groups, so we are going to see many folks appointed not solely on their qualifications, but to make the factions happy (Repubs. as well, i.e. the Christian conservatives, Economic conservatives, bla-blah). I have read the article. It is somewhat odd to see what makes her qualified. For example, I am a education activist, I like porn, and I adopt animals should that make me the first Perverted Sec. of Education. Gross but LOL.
December 5, 2008, 6:54 pm at 6:54 pm
O/T Uncanny, Mack. I teach ESL, am partial (very) to porn and both family cats (old folks back in Oz) were/are strays – the second one I picked up myself.
On topic/
It seems the Left have a different set of values when it comes to judging merit and identity.
December 5, 2008, 8:04 pm at 8:04 pm
True indeed Bing. The left like to over emphasize the difference thing a lot.
I personally lived in poor communities and worked in jobs which I’ve seen how leftist programs failed on people.
I am glad to be on board to plug some good ole American conservatism to so international folks.
December 6, 2008, 5:39 pm at 5:39 pm
Good comments, Mack. But please, when it comes to ‘good ole American conservatism’…
Conservatism is conservatism, and the US does not own that or other ideals.
It’s just frustrating sometimes when I’m told I’m, er, ‘fellating’ the US just because I support your country and believe in ideals which are prominent in your country.
Anyway, wasn’t the idea of Capitalism first put down on paper by a Scottish guy?