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Obama on the road to making good on diversity pledge
The president-elect is bringing together a diverse group in his Cabinet, including the selection of Bill Richardson, and the White House. But minority groups want him to do more.
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Barack Obama is on the road to making good on his pledge to have a Cabinet and White House staff that are among the most diverse. But some supporters are asking him to go further.
Despite Bill Richardson's selection as commerce secretary, some Latinos are grumbling that it is not enough after all the support they gave Obama in the campaign. And gays and Asian-Americans are pushing for some representation in the remaining Cabinet announcements.
But overall Obama is allaying some early concerns that a black president wouldn't need to put so much importance on the diversity of those working under him.
LATINO REACTION
Latino groups applauded the selection of Richardson, although some were disappointed that the Mexican-American was not chosen for secretary of state. But Obama transition head John Podesta has been meeting with Hispanic groups and hearing their suggestions for other Latinos who could be considered for top posts. Democratic officials say Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., is the leading contender to be U.S. trade representative.
THE BREAKDOWN
In Obama's Cabinet announcements so far, there are just two white men -- Timothy Geithner at Treasury and Robert Gates at Defense. (Gates is also a Republican.) Three are women -- Janet Napolitano at homeland security, Susan Rice as United Nations ambassador and Hillary Rodham Clinton at state. Two are black -- Rice and attorney general nominee Eric Holder. And now, with Richardson, one is Hispanic.
Bush and Clinton also had diverse Cabinets. Bush's first Cabinet had four women, two Asian-Americans, two blacks and one Hispanic. Clinton's had three women, two Hispanics and four blacks.
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. It also found a third have a tie to Obama's hometown of Chicago and two-thirds have advanced degrees.
Todd Harris, who worked for Sen. John McCain's 2000 campaign, lauded Obama's appointments. "He really seems to be reaching out to people that he doesn't need to reach out to politically. ... He really is getting people with a diverse set of views. As an American, that's a breath of fresh air."
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