Mary Beth Maxwell, Labor Secretary?

The Wall Street Journal reports on Obama's possible pick for Labor Secretary, Mary Beth Maxwell:

For the rainbow cabinet of the nation's first African American president, Mary Beth Maxwell is the perfect labor secretary you've probably never heard of: a gay woman, community organizer and labor leader with an adopted African American son. And this founding executive director of American Rights at Work is about to get the full-court press.

Maxwell already had the strong backing of former Rep. David Bonior, who despite repeated attempts to get his name removed from consideration continues to be on the short list of potential labor secretaries. Bonior, 63 years old, says it is time for his generation to turn over power to a new generation, and Maxwell, whose labor-backed organization pushes for expanded collective bargaining rights, is his pick.

As Marc Ambinder notes, "Maxwell, who'd be the first openly gay cabinet secretary, is being vetted for the job, along with Jennifer Granholm of Michigan and Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas."

Read Maxwell's blog posts for HuffPost.

Comments

[jkinney]

MB's quest for social justice for American workers springs from Catholic social teaching, not some socialist agenda incubated in D.C. Her mother and father spent their entire careers working for Omaha’s two largest Catholic institutions. She is a “daughter” of Omaha, an intellectual, a tireless worker on behalf of wager-earners, and has the wisdom to navigate both the management and labor agendas of her potential position.

MB, an out lesbian with a black seven-year-old adopted son has more in common with Barrack Obama than anyone else named to his cabinet thus far. They are roughly the same age; they spent their early careers devoted to community organizing; they represent two sides of a single-parent paradox: a white woman raising a black child; and they both bring a curiously measured and thoughtful approach to solving problems.

If you voted for Obama and state MB “doesn’t have the chops,” be careful what you are saying – you might just be disingenuous. There are contrasts in her background, which is at once traditional and non-traditional. However, most should find this refreshing and, again, in line with the entire Obama tour-de-force.

I am a card-carrying member of the MB fan club. I have been married to her sister for 16 years and I am the father of her four nephews. Regardless of what happens, she has our support and we are extremely proud of her.

-John A. Kinney
Omaha

[JohnnyJeter]

Finally, a solid Catholic in the cabinet!

[Okieborn]

I am a Baby Boomer who thinks brains instead of sexual orientation !!!
My God America needs to get off the finger pointing and get down to pulling this great nation out of the quick sand Bush drove us into !!!!
Remember its time for REAL CHANGE NOT JUST WHAT YOU WANT AS CHANGE !!
This would be a good choice !!!!
President Elect Obama , You sir are doing GREAT !!!!!

[steamboat]

Putting her gayness aside, what makes her special? A community organizer----so what ! and head of American Rights at Work-----again, so what ! For a position such as Sec. of Labor, she doesn't have any qualities that makes her stand out.

[polaris12]

It's the first potential nominee that breaks with the establishment mold, but I imagine he will pick Sebelius since she was such an early and strong supporter.

[Avembe]

Yeah!!!! SIBELIUS!!! I don't what the h...Obama is waiting for to give her a big role...she's a key supporter , , talented gov. ,she would be effiicient for nearly any responsability...I really regretted that he didn't choose her as VP but hey...

[Gunga-Din]

Any transvestite will be nominated to Cabinet.?We need diversification

[steamboat]

I prefer the BEST---period, regardless of what the people are...Nobody had a more diverse cabinet then Bush. So what, if they weren't that good---right. Diversity for the sake of diversity is OVERRATED. I prefer the BEST people.

[Existential Punk]

Even if she ends up not being asked, the fact that Obama is vetting her is more encouraging news from a LGBTQ-friendly President-elect! Way to go Obama!

[Cherubim]

If he nominates someone like this with no clout, labor will take a back seat, as usual, i.e. "no change".

[Cherubim]

If he nominates someone like this with on clout, labor will take a back seat, as usual.

[pebbleserv]

Bonior is my pick for Labor Sec., but if she is good enough for him to endorse, she is good enough for me, too.

[blood1]

If she is best qualified for the position - based on merit - not on sexual orientation - then she would be a great choice. If there are more qualified individuals, then hire them.

I do not care if they are Gay, Straight, Purple or Green, we need the best, those that bring Intelligence, Experience and Desire to Serve to Washington...and anyone who would attack anyone on other those grounds should be "outted as a bigot"!

[Smith808]

I totally agree...
so now, can all the gay Arabic, Farsi and Pashto linguists in the military get their jobs back?
In fact, can we reverse the "dishonorable discharges" of all outed gays and lesbians in the military and repeal "don't ask, don't tell?"

I hope no one is impying that people should have to remain in the closet in order to do their jobs well.

[Wiserone]

Well, yeah, first "openly" gay, but she's surely not the first gay person. Janet Reno and Condi Rice come to mind and no one had to be told they were nor did they have to announce it. Sort of like, Anderson Cooper.

[Aabby]

Condi?

[RichManPoorMan2009]

Condi is not gay,,,,,,she likes Great Danes and German Shephers.

[RonNYC]

i'd love to go on a date with anderson.

[montemalone]

Out of the closet, into the cabinet?


(please laugh)

[pashn8npa]

First good laugh I've had today thank you.

[Aabby]

LOLOLOL

[december30]

I just love the way President-elect Obama is putting together his Cabinet. I pray that Ms. Maxwell would be selected as Labor Secy. We as a people should get over a person's sexuality, race, color, origin, short/long hair, short or tall. Who cares anyway? It is time for us to put aside our prejudices and get on about our business. America is in dire need and we should concentrate on helping to get out of the mess we are in. I applaud our President-elect and I applaud Ms. Maxwell.

[btanner]

At least she's not a sitting Governor or Senator who could be replaced by a less than adequate Democrat (assuming their state constitution requires appointment of someone in the same party).

[Agent420]

What a lame comment.

[Clavis]

Sounds like a good choice. Labor for Labor! Plus, she likes the ladies, which should make for some cool White House parties!

[jacqmac]

The second half of your comment is sexist and tasteless. You will probably be shocked to hear that lesbian parties are no different from straight parties and your innuendo leads me to believe that you are probably 14.

[steamboat]

Lighten up ! There was nothing offensive in Clavis's comment. I seen nothing wrong.