The Associated Press follows up on an issue Facing South and Politico raised this week: the lack of Southerners in Obama's cabinet.
The AP story quotes noted Southern historian Dan Carter:
I'd bet that Obama's politically-sophisticated advisors, like any presidential transition team, thoroughly sifts through the pros and cons of all its cabinet picks -- and I doubt "regional diversity" doesn't just get accidentally left off the list. This doesn't mean the slight was intentional, but to deny it crossed the Obama team's mind is disingenuous.
Benen finds it especially "jarring" that a Republican like Rep. Jack Kingston (GA) would demand Southern representation in the cabinet, what amounts to regional "affirmative action," given the Congressman's opposition to the idea in every other facet of life.
True enough -- but what if the criticism comes from people like Dan Carter and myself who do believe in affirmative action and reflecting the diversity of our country, in everything from job hires to cabinet picks?
Passing over the South isn't an issue of complaining or hurt feelings -- it's a strategic blunder that could come back to haunt the Democrats. Coalition politics means making sure key players have a voice -- and I'd imagine that a region that's home to one-third of the nation's population would qualify as a "key player."
But the real issue is that the South's political clout is growing. After the 2010 Census, the South will gain nine Congressional seats and Electoral College votes. Obama's victories in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia -- good for 55 Electoral College votes, one-third of the South's total -- signal that the South is winnable and important for Democrats.
So Obama's bypassing of the South is a missed opportunity -- a chance for Democrats to signal that they care about the South and understand its political significance. As the South's clout grows, the consequences of that oversight will become more clear.
The AP story quotes noted Southern historian Dan Carter:
Presidents dating back to at least Dwight Eisenhower have had at least one Cabinet secretary from the South. "I'm sure some people will say that despite all the talk of trying to appeal to the South and running a 50-state strategy, (Obama's) certainly not rewarding it," Carter said.Steve Benen at The Washington Monthly doesn't see any point in such "complaining." He takes issue with the AP's assertion that Obama bypassing the South "isn't an accident" -- "how does the AP know that?" Benen demands.
I'd bet that Obama's politically-sophisticated advisors, like any presidential transition team, thoroughly sifts through the pros and cons of all its cabinet picks -- and I doubt "regional diversity" doesn't just get accidentally left off the list. This doesn't mean the slight was intentional, but to deny it crossed the Obama team's mind is disingenuous.
Benen finds it especially "jarring" that a Republican like Rep. Jack Kingston (GA) would demand Southern representation in the cabinet, what amounts to regional "affirmative action," given the Congressman's opposition to the idea in every other facet of life.
True enough -- but what if the criticism comes from people like Dan Carter and myself who do believe in affirmative action and reflecting the diversity of our country, in everything from job hires to cabinet picks?
Passing over the South isn't an issue of complaining or hurt feelings -- it's a strategic blunder that could come back to haunt the Democrats. Coalition politics means making sure key players have a voice -- and I'd imagine that a region that's home to one-third of the nation's population would qualify as a "key player."
But the real issue is that the South's political clout is growing. After the 2010 Census, the South will gain nine Congressional seats and Electoral College votes. Obama's victories in Florida, North Carolina and Virginia -- good for 55 Electoral College votes, one-third of the South's total -- signal that the South is winnable and important for Democrats.
So Obama's bypassing of the South is a missed opportunity -- a chance for Democrats to signal that they care about the South and understand its political significance. As the South's clout grows, the consequences of that oversight will become more clear.
Whether this lack of senior level Southerners is an oversight or a snub is immaterial. Many Southerners may consider it a snub, and they will be coached in that belief by such plantation Republicans as Jack Kingston.
However, many of us are over this South vs. North divide that Republicans seem to use so well by characterizing Democrats as those "Northern liberals." I am a native white Southerner (who has always lived in the South) in my sixth decade and an Obama supporter. The lack of a Southerner in Obama's Cabinet is no deal-breaker for me. I doubt it will be for many who think as I do.
December 22, 2008 9:37 AM | Reply
First of all, I repeat - I trust Obama to choose his cabinet his way - based on qualifications for the job, not based on politics. I am proud of him for steering away from choosing the next leaders of our country based on regional diversity and political play, especially in such trying times.
Second, this concept that the South's clout with its "one-third of the nation's population" and its "55 Electoral College votes" is somehow important is baloney. Do you really think the average voter knows who their cabinet people are much less where they are from?
December 22, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply
Matt Yglesias neatly summed up this issue as follows:
"I hope to never address this issue again, but I can’t help but notice that for an administration that allegedly contains no Southerners, Barack Obama’s administration contains an awful lot of people with significant ties to the south.
The Secretary of State lived in Arkansas for 26 years, including over ten years as First Lady of that state. The Secretary of Defense lived in Texas for seven years, including time spent as president of Texas A&M University. The Press Secretary is from North Carolina. The “climate czar” is from Florida and spent many years working in Florida politics. And the US Trade Representative is from Texas and served as mayor of a major southern city.
But apparently things like “being from the south” or “living in the south” or “working in the south” or “heading major southern institutions” doesn’t count as being a southerner. It’s Trent Lott or bust!" http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2008/12/southern_cabinet.php
I'll leave it at that.
December 22, 2008 1:22 PM | Reply
"Take that! you Confederate bast*rds!" No, I don't think Obama is saying that. I am trying to wrack my mind for the name of a national politician in the South with half a brain. I'm sure it's just my bad. There must be some down there somewhere.
Anyway, y'all have a pleasant holiday experience, y'hear?
December 22, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply
Sam: You might want to have a look at TN Gov. Phil Bredesen. (Oops! He's a NY native; almost forgot.)
December 22, 2008 8:01 PM | Reply
Perhaps this will help Southerners rid themselves of their ironic patriotism, ironic in that they have never understood that they are not really a part of America or the American community.
December 22, 2008 9:40 PM | Reply
Re: Hammersmith: Seriously? If so, you really need to give an explanation of your statement. Otherwise, it's just an opinion.
A somewhat inane one at that.
December 28, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply