A Cabinet by Any Other Color

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been pretty critical of President-Elect Obama’s Cabinet picks.  Perhaps I’ve been a little unjustly critical, but time will tell how justified I was in my criticsm. But one thing is certain: with the balance of blacks, latinos, and women in Obama’s crew, diversity was never the issue with the picks; unless, of course, you’re a member of the Congressional Black Causus. By their estimation, President-Elect Obama didn’t paint the White House black enough:

Some members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) are disappointed President-elect Obama did not appoint more African-Americans to his Cabinet.

Obama tapped four blacks for Cabinet posts, including Eric Holder. If confirmed, Holder will be the first African-American attorney general.

But Obama passed over black candidates in selecting Cabinet nominees for positions central to setting policy for urban America, such as the departments of Education, Labor, and Housing and Urban Development.

Hispanic Americans, by contrast, have been nominated for three Cabinet positions, and politicians from that constituency have hailed Obama’s nominations.

“Did the African-American community probably expect more appointees at that level? Probably so,” said Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), an early Obama supporter who has expressed an interest in filling Obama’s vacant Senate seat.

Davis said he was pleased with Obama’s Cabinet, but confirmed that there is some angst within the CBC.

“On balance, I’d say a great deal of thought went into the shaping of this Cabinet,” Davis told The Hill. “And he ended up with a real rainbow. But some people, sure, thought there should be a bit more color in it.”

Another senior member of the CBC who requested anonymity said more pointedly that Obama “isn’t doing enough for the black folks.”

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t, it seems.

From my perspective, the CBC has long been considered irrelevant. In direct result, I have all but ignored their antics as of late. But this story takes the cake. In their zealous efforts to point out the absense of black people in Obama’s cabinet, they conveniently forget that this is one of the most diverse Presidential teams to date. Looking at some of the faces in Obama’s crowd, you would think the old white male in Washington was extinct. Besides that, Obama is in the position to even select a cabinet in the first place because a diverse group of people saw fit to support him. His picks are a clear reflection of that. Yet somehow, the CBC lost sight of that.

With friends like these, who needs Republicans?

- ACL

History of Another Kind

0-16.

Obama, be damned. The Lions are the ones who truly made history. Wooo Hooo! Yeah, Detroit!

Now, this is an event I truly don’t mind commemorating. I know just where to start. Too bad they’re out of XXL.

- ACL

The Golden Age of Obama

Sadly, what you’re looking at is not a Photoshopped image. Indeed, this is the actual Obama Coney Island restaurant, located at 3919 Clio Road; Flint, Michigan. Where to begin?

Undoubtedly, the evening of November 4 represented the beginning of the historic presidential stint of Barack Obama. At that same time, I was sure it would also signify the end of the commercialization of his election.

I was mistaken.

From apparel to commemorative coins (limited edition, of course), to plates,  to haircuts; Obama merchandise has become a regular cottage industry. Even my dear mother – bless her heart - is trying to get in the act by selling framed photos of our good President-Elect and his wife. So I suppose it was only a matter of time that an Obama-theme restaurant would open.

There are a few directions I can in with this post. I could discuss how the good President-Elect hasn’t been sworn in yet, but has still been annointed as the solution to the world’s problems. I can mention how his tenure is already off to an arguably sour note with some of his not-so-change oriented cabinet choices. But there appears to be a bigger issue brewing. With the rash of Obama-prenuers and Oba-consumers out there, I’m left to wonder: is our President-Elect becoming the political golden calf?

Most of my black readers (and perhaps some white readers) can attest to seeing numerou prophetic and revolutionary figures in history receiving status as icons. Ghandi, Che Guevara, MLK, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, and JFK are among those who have been bestowed with a certain level of nobility and immortalized popularity. But of those who celebrate their lives, how many know more about these figures than what is recorded in history or celebrated through popular culture? How many are familiar with the extent to which these icons were actually excoriated during their lifetimes? How often are these figures’ complexities, beliefs, and shortcomings cited in regular discourse?

Will people offer fair critique of Obama’s performance as President or will they get so caught up in mawkish adoration that performance won’t matter?

We have already seen what happens when an electorate is so into a President that his antics go unchecked. Will it happen again? Now, I’m certainly not comparing Obama’s policies to those of President Bush. But I am comparing the levels of devotion. Don’t be deceived by Bush’s dismal ratings. At one point, he almost three times as popular as he is now. As Obama’s message of “change” is met head on with the realities of Washington, will he be brought to task or will he receive the pardon of all pardons?

As I’ve said numerous times before, the general electorate is politcally out of the loop. I’ve devoted several posts during this political season specifically criticizing the ignorance, close-mindedness, and blind support people freely gave McCain and Palin. But we shouldn’t let many Obama supporters off the hook. Case in point:

[Warning: Explicit Language]

Now, you all know that my teeth are stained from the gallons of Obama Kool Aid I drank during the election. I make no bones about that. But at the same time, how do we keep ourselves from falling victim to the classic demagogy that has come to define politicians since forever? After the coins, t-shirts paintings, and coneys are all bought and paid for, what happens is Obama doesn’t deliver on his end?

- ACL

Holiday Leave

In the interest of brevity, I’ll keep this simple. This will most likely be my only post this week. I’m going to be taking the few days off from The Unmitigated Word.

For the remainder of the week, I’ll be in Florida for Christmas with the fam (or, should I say Florid-ahhhh!). I don’t think I’ll have the time to do any posting. Besides, I don’t think I would anyway. This being my vacation and all, I plan to devote it to nothing but family, fun, and good weather.

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a few of my previous posts about the holiday season:

Taking the Christ out of Christmas

A Little Holiday Fun

Aww! More Underware?!

Please allow me to take a moment to wish you all a spirit-filled and relaxing Christmas. Wherever you are and whatever you do, be safe, be blessed, and be a blessing to someone else.

So until next time, I’ll see y’all on the flip side.

In Christ,

- ACL

The Reward for Failure

Riddle me this: when did it become standard practice to reward failure?

The economy has fallen into pieces. Millions of Americans are out of work. Millions more have lost their homes. Businesses are failing. The only businesses deemed important enough by our dear Congress are being awarded saved with our tax dollars for failing. You’d think that at some point our intrepid Congress would put some control on spending to help offset some of the financial woes we’re facing.

If that’s what you would’ve thought, you’d be wrong.

Rather than controlling spending, our friends in Congress have secretly voted to given themselves $4700 raises. This, while they criticized (but, somehow still saved) CEOs for giving themselves bonuses as their companies went belly up. As long as money is being distributed, why not get a little for themselves, right?

Congressional raises will cost the American taxpayer $2.5 million. Compared to the massive debt this country is in, $2.5 mill is small potatoes. No argument there. But this represents a much bigger issue here. While their fellow countrymen are starving in the streets, Congress is ordering crème brûlée on top of their already comfortable lifestyles. Worse yet, it’s all being done on our dime.

Wow…? Yeah, I think “wow” covers it.

- ACL

Not Far From the Tree

As you probably know, if (or when) Hillary Clinton’s nomination as President-Elect Obama’s Secretary of State is confirmed, a vacant seat in the US Senate will be up for grabs. Fortunately (or not so fortunately if you’re friends with Blago), the seat is not for sale. But it is likely to get handed over to a person for reasons beyond their qualifications.

As of now, the front-runner for the seat is a Kennedy.

Before I go into my rant, let me first preface by saying that I actually like Caroline Kennedy. And when we compare her to the joke of a VP candidate the Republicans put up this year, it can be said that – by comparison -Kennedy is emminently more qualified. Even though she has never served as an elected official, she certainly has the intellectual curiosity, the motivation, and the passion necessary to serve in a public position.  But is that enough to leap frog her into the U.S. Senate over more experienced candidates?

The ultimate qualm that I have with the consideration of Caroline Kennedy is that it represents more of the same in terms of the political legacies to which we have become subjected. I especially get annoyed when people who cite Affirmative Action as being an unjust system of selection who will then find no problem with allowing legacy to dictate selection.

On the one hand, I should point out that  legacies carry with them certain benefits. In academia for example, alumni are more likely to support a college or university if their children also attend. Thus the “legacy points” afforded to those students during the admission process are justifed. Most institutions who rely heavily on alumni support find themselves in the unenviable position of being strong-armed into admitting alum children. Besides – as the university would argue – continuing certain legacies is central to preserving the culture and the environment of the institution. Its for this reason that during the University of Michigan’s Affirmative Action case, race based selection – not legacy – was called into question.

Politics is no different. When all is said and done, people from affluent and well connected families get the nod, while those equally (or more) qualifed are casually dismissed. All this does is cement the unfortunate reality of race and class preservation (most of the beneficiaries of legacy are white, upper class folks). I’m trying to think optimistically about Caroline Kennedy. But ultimately, I can’t help but see her as another example of how class and last names give an upperhand to people who may not otherwise possess the qualifications. I hope I’m wrong about Kennedy. But I doubt it.

In an ironic twist, New York governor David Patterson (also a legacy beneficiary) will be making the final decision.

I’m not a fan of political dynasties, because I think they perpetuate a certain type of privilege and a set of values and beliefs that are already in place. Kennedy may prove me wrong and I hope she does. But I find it disconcerting the message it sends to those of us without family connections and without the right family name, who also deeply care about the political climate in this country.

- ACL

Pallin’ around with Druggies

Y’all know that I’m not the type to play the guilt by association game. And I certainly don’t want to establish a pattern of digging up old bones. However:

Alaska State Troopers have arrested the mother of Bristol Palin’s boyfriend on drug charges.

Sherry L. Johnston was arrested Thursday after troopers served a search warrant on a Wasilla home. The 42-year-old Johnston has been charged with six felony drug counts.

Troopers did not identify the drug involved in a brief mention on the agency’s Web site.

However, trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said late Friday in a news release that the charges were in connection to the drug OxyContin, a strong prescription painkiller.

Johnston is the mother of 18-year-old Levi Johnston. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP nominee for vice president, announced in September that her 18-year-old daughter, Bristol, was pregnant and Johnston was the father.

Sherry Johnston was released from jail in Palmer on $5,000 bail. She was not scheduled to be immediately arraigned.

Peters said no one else had been charged. Few details could be released Friday because the investigation was ongoing, she said.

Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak said information on the case had not yet been forwarded to his office.

Source

To think, this lady could’ve been sitting front and center in the Rose Garden during  Levi and Bristol’s ‘non-shotgun’, shotgun wedding.

Sucks to be her, I guess.

- ACL