I think this is a very good pick. The pick of Obama's that I take issue with is Hillary for SOS. Even Jon Stewart poked fun at that one stating that Obama does not get difficulty points in assessing his Presidency. Good stuff. Overall, I believe that Obama has done a very, very good job filling out his Cabinet.
What was that 210 group that was worried about Obama and his willingness to put Asians in cabinet positions?
We should criminalize Rumsfeld with mothers and widows who lost their children and spouses from service as jurors. You might be joking, but I thought of the same thing...
FrenchBlade, it's more like a Hawaiian connection than anything else. Dana Priest, a Washington Post journalist whose investigative report on the shambled state of VA won her Pulitzer Prize, commented on NPR this afternoon that Shinseki's appointment is not likely going to be as effective as people think.
Wouldn't it make more sense to choose one of the surgeon generals of the armed services over a four star general? Doesn't the VA deal mostly with medical care and psychological well being of vets than other needs? Sure, it's good to have diversity and to have somebody that is smart and a straight talker. It doesn't make him a good administrator of VA benefits, though. Sadly, we have more vets ending up homeless after their service. I don't think this guy can bring about the change needed for them.
If I remember the pledge though it was to appoint qualified people of Asian decent for available posts. That's why I was asking. The hardcore it won't pacify at all. But I do know several folks in the Korean community who have their own long standing beef with Japan, who felt some pride at the appointment of an Asian.
Hmm, I am not aware of any animosity between Japanese Americans and other Asians in the U.S, but you can always count on your boy SamFisher playing the Sinophobic, race-baiting card.
It depends on the beef. I don't think it is out front or affecting business, or anything, but once it gets close to home, that's a different story. I know of two situations where a child of Korean decent was going to marry a person of JApanese decent, and the parents were furious. In one case they did get married anyway, and in the other the engagement was ended.
The position is that of a manager who can get things done efficiently and well, he does not need to be a docotor to do that.
I have no problem with a Japanese American as long as he is good at his job. It would be nice if he picks competent Chinese Americans but Japanese Americans will do just fine for me.