California Congressman Joe Baca, leader of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has sent President-elect Obama a letter demanding he select more latinos for his cabinet. Obama has already announced New Mexico governor Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary, but that just isn't enough for Joe.
According to an article by Bloomberg's Hans Nichols published on Yahoo News this morning, Baca warned that Obama's legislative agenda could be jeopardized if the president-elect doesn't nominate additional Hispanics. "If it's just one, he's going to have to answer to a lot of the issues that come before us," Baca was quoted as saying.
Wow, we have a democratic congressman threatening a democratic President with what amounts to legislative extortion - now there's an example of the subtle use of power.
In the Bloomberg/Yahoo article, Baca came under criticism from another California congressional representative and former Hispanic caucus member, Linda Sanchez. She said that for her, "... it's not a numbers game."
It is entirely understandable that a group representing the largest and fastest growing demographic in the US - latinos, would want a proportional voice in the cabinet, but the importance of getting that voice doesn't justify hamstringing the new President before he even gets in office.
Recommending is one thing, and welcome, demanding and threatening is another, and is not.
This first term, Obama needs freedom to choose the most practical team he can put together to manage the economic crisis, and no one - not even for laudable reasons, should compromise his freedom of choice through political threats.
To read the full article as seen in Yahoo, click here.
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