12/03/2008
A Lesbian for Secretary of Labor?
The WSJ reports:
"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. And this founding executive director of American Rights at Work is about to get the full-court press....Some labor leaders from both the AFL-CIO and Change to Win, a splinter union group led by the Service Employees International Union, back her as a consensus choice, citing her efforts on behalf of legislation to allow unionization at workplaces with the signing of cards, not secret balloting."
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Campaign is apparently amending its endorsement of Linda Sanchez last week:
"Today, the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign will release a letter to President-elect Barack Obama strongly backing her. The catch: The group last week backed Rep. Linda Sanchez for the post. 'You would have received our letter in support of Representative Sánchez’s candidacy for Secretary of Labor last week,' HRC President Joe Solmonese writes, asking for a mulligan. 'While we remain supportive of Representative Sánchez’s candidacy, it has come to our attention that Mary Beth Maxwell is also being considered for this crucial position. Given Ms. Maxwell’s long history of leadership on labor issues, HRC is pleased to also endorse Mary Beth Maxwell for Secretary of Labor.'"
Also strong contenders for the job, however, are Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, both bigger names than Maxwell.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 11:43 AM EST by Andy in Barack Obama, News | Permalink
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Don't forget that closeted lezbot Janet Napolitano for homeland security! It's a new America!
Posted by: dudu | Dec 3, 2008 11:56:56 AM
My only concern with so many of these wonderful appointments is that they are mostly elected officials who must be replaced, potentially re-elected, and those positions over time might fall into Repuglicans hands.
Posted by: carter | Dec 3, 2008 12:24:44 PM
So far, the only party change will be in Arizona, where the GOP Lt. Governor will take over for Napolitano. And she would've term limited in 2010 anyway.
All the other elected members of the administration so far are in safe Democratic seats that will likely remain Democratic (Clinton, Emanuel, Becerra, Richardson, Biden, and of course, Obama himself).
Posted by: John in CA | Dec 3, 2008 12:42:58 PM
This would be wonderful. I was hoping that President Obama would have one or two OPENLY gay members of his cabinet. It would send a powerful message to those who have not yet heard it, "Gay Americans are a reality. They can't continue to be 2nd class Americans."
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Dec 3, 2008 1:13:30 PM
A new America? Condy Rice? Oh that's right, she doesn't count, Republican president.
So when are you gays going to start vandalizing, picketing and boycotting black, hispanic and Muslim churches and businesses?
Posted by: Gays are cowards | Dec 3, 2008 1:45:29 PM
1) Ms. Rice is not known to be a lesbian.
2) Vandalizing? Nope. No proof in that.
Of course you’re not getting it. Racist fascist hate-mongers like you never will.
Posted by: Jonah Goldberg is a fascist. | Dec 3, 2008 2:46:23 PM
1) I guess Liberace wasn't "known" to be gay then either.
2) Yes it true, and you know it. So when are you picketing your local mosque?
3) Silly gay, you still think you can silence any critic of gays by shouting "RACIST FASCIST". Even black people have started to learn crying RACIST just gets them eye rolls now.
Posted by: Gays are cowards | Dec 3, 2008 7:33:22 PM
Is there anything Joe Solmonese and his HRC can't fuck up royally?
Posted by: 24play | Dec 3, 2008 8:16:33 PM