By Cathy Areu
The Washington Post reported that the news of Hilda Solis' resignation as Secretary of Labor brought "praise for her from Democrats and labor leaders." One of those happy labor leaders was AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (who I have interviewed for the Washington Post, in addition to interviewing Secretary Solis, by the way). He praised her for bringing "urgent change" to a department that needed someone who talked the talk and walked the walk. Democrats are also happy that she's stepping down as Labor Secretary because now she'll be able to run for a seat on Los Angeles' powerful Board of Supervisors. Yippee?
That may all sound great to Democratic strategists, politicians, union leaders, and other know-it-alls living inside the Beltway, but what message does her resignation send to America? Hilda Solis is, was, the one and only Latina Cabinet member in the Obama Administration. And she's one of the few women in a coveted Cabinet spot. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is leaving too. And don't get me started on Lisa Jackson's resignation from the Environmental Protection Agency.
So, now, with Obama's second term rolling around, we're seeing all of that wonderful diversity that excited women and Hispanics nationwide just disappear, one Cabinet nomination speech after another. This week's celebration at the White House was over the White House Chief of Staff, Jacob "Jack" Lew's, announcement as his choice for Secretary of the Treasury. According to the President, Lew has bad handwriting (a joke, of course), so Lew will need to work on that before he gets to sign our dollar bills. The crowd roared. What a funny President we have.
Focus, press pool! Forget the handwriting! Think! "What about Rosa "Rosie" Rios, our current Treasurer?" She's a smart cookie (Harvard grad, if you will) who has a pretty impressive resume. Hey, what about her? She's already in the building, impressing the world with her financial skills. As a matter of fact, she's added more responsibilities to the position of Treasurer than the last 5 Treasurers behind her. "I'm the first Treasurer in many, many years to have direct oversight over the Bureau of Engraving and the U.S. Mint," was one example Rios gave me when I interviewed her recently. That's a big job right there.
OK, I know it's not customary to nominate a Treasurer to become the Secretary of Treasury, but why not? That's how it works in the business world. It's called a promotion. And, Obama just named his Chief of Staff to be considered for the Treasury position, so there you have it. He's already promoting from within!
Maybe it's because I'm a woman, or maybe it's because I'm Hispanic, or maybe it's because I bought into all of that "diversity" mumbo jumbo Obama was selling during his two presidential campaigns – but I think we need more diversity in our Cabinet. But, alas, first came John Kerry for Secretary or State. Then Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary. I began to wonder, where are the women? Where are the Hispanics? Where are Obama's fellow African Americans?
Here's a fact for you (are you sitting down?): White men are the minority in this country. Yep, women make up more than 50 percent of the population. And as for diversity in ethnicity and race, well, heck, by 2042, non-Hispanic whites (men and women) will be the minority.
So why is our new Cabinet looking so darn pale ... and manly? It's not looking like average America, I'll tell you that. But, to this, the Obama communications department (I'm sorry, I mean, the official White House press office) has its answer. It will happily tell us that there are already many women and "diverse" individuals in high places in this Administration, even though they're not exactly in the Cabinet. To that I say, "Give us Rosie Rios!" And let Jack Lew work on his signature for some other job.