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

[theaviator]

She certainly is a fascinating person. And seems absolutely capable. She would also be symbolic for labor AND social issues and make a strong case for progressives.

I'm all for it, go for it.

[truth2008]

Great! Let's not forget Native Americans, we need a diverse government, and native Americans have been looked over in most administration. They were the first Americans.

Go Ms. Maxwell!

[happyboston]

as a fellow native american i have been very happy with how often obama has even acknowledged the fact that we still exist. it's a rare moment.

[WallyGee]

I think we can add Donna Shalala & Hilary to the list.

[mec57]

WHO CARES? Why does this matter?

[MadamRoma]

Just another bozo brain Hillary hater.

[VOTER]

Careful WallyGee or we might get our Holiday Gift early.....­..........­...

YOU WILL BE GONE!

[EuroHuffPoFan]

Next month the countries of the European Union will submit a motion at the General Meeting of the United Nations . . . . .

- The proposal asks governments worldwide :
- to no longer consider homosexuality a crime . . .
- and to put a end to imprisonment and death penalty for homosexuals.

The Vatican has made clear its opposition . . to the United Nations endorsing a universal declaration to decriminalize homosexuality.


Here are a few of this morning European HEAD LINES . . .

- The Pope Supports The Ayatollahs.

- Catholic Church Against Making Gay Death Penalty Illegal.

- Vatican Supports Sentence for Homosexuality.

- Vatican Opposes Decriminalization of Homosexuality.

- Vatican: Legalising Homosexuality Will Lead To Discrimination.


So . . . . .
If The Vatican had known Obama would possibly pick Mary Beth Maxwell for Labor Secretary . . .

Head Lines Today would say :

Vatican Opposes American PE Barack Obama appointing Criminal to Cabinet ..!
.

[siney]

the vatican has absolutely no room to talk...amo­ng other ungodly things, it has spent generations covering up its priests' sexual abuse crimes, and yet it wants to continue perpetuating the persecution of other human beings based simply on their sexuality.­..hmmmm, what would jesus do?

[mec57]

No one gives a s--t what the old farts in Rome think any longer...e­xcept for The Pope's wise opposition to the Iraq War and capital punishment, his hate-tinged attacks on homosexuality are mired in ancient views...an­d, as you say, with The Church looking the other way as pervs roamed the hallways of its churches, this comes off as a tad hypocritical.

[EuroHuffPoFan]

Agree ..

BTW. Obama would probably suport this Universal Declaration to Decriminalize Homosexuality.

What will Bush do ..?
.

[roshni]

I can't articulate what I feel about the Vatican here......­..

[rckent]

This would be an unbelievably strong pick for Labor Secretary. Nothing against Governors Granholm and Sibelius, but Ms. Maxwell clearly is a superior candidate for advocating on behalf of labor.

[Judyisacutie]

I thought Maria Durazo was going to get the job. Awe shucks.

[Biffmeister]

A Secretary of Labor who would actually represent and act on behalf of the workers of the country. What a novel concept.

[noamjunior]

another step to end descrimination based on gender or sexual preference. Obama is showing himself to be one to appoint people who are qualified, not based on political considerations or public opinion. God bless Huffpo and all those who can post opinions that reflect all political spectrums in a respectful manner

[planetjeffy]

Great, all we need now is a mentally disabled person....­oh we've had one already, W.

[AlisonCarnie]

I am at a loss ... as a Canadian who has lived in this glorious country for over twenty I truly don't get why someone's sexual orientation, religion, or colour for that matter, has to do with anything ... isn't the only thing germane is one's ability to do a job in a successful manner? Integrity, work ethic and brains don't have an exclusive personna, do they? Am I missing something?

[Biffmeister]

Yes, no, and no.
Please understand we've just come off an eight year period of government non-intellectualism if I may coin a phrase. A modern day Dark Ages of sorts. Bush appointed cronies based on loyalty rather than capability.

[Giada]

America's presidential past, (cabinet, advisor's, department heads, staff) have been male, white, over 50, and religious. As short a period of time as 15 years ago Bill Clinton struggled to fill posts with diversity.

We are celebrating a first .... a truly diverse cabinet, with qualified individuals. What's tickles me about this group is they continue to look for who's missing.

My mother labored hard for Civil Rights and Women's Rights .. and for me I labor for Gay Right's ...Equal Rights. I have a gay son who was devasted by Prop 8.

Qualified and diverse :)

[mec57]

Brava to your Mom and TO YOU...my Mother also did the same as your Mom as well as what you are doing, for gay rights, what with her oldest daughter and youngest son (me) being out.

To reflect an America in his cabinet that is not old, white and male is truly a change we can believe in!

[johnnynyc]

Yes, you're missing the fact that America has never been a meritocracy and never will be.

[Tyrione]

I'll fix this for you:

``Yes, you're missing the fact that America, since the passing of America's Founders, America has ceased to being a meritocrac­y.''

[theaviator]

I agree. I also have to say I'm very disappointed at Canada's current Conservative government even though 62% of voters did not vote for them.

Canada has so many parties that the left ends up splitting itself up with the NDP, the Green Party, the Liberals, and the Bloc Québécois (although one Province only votes for the latter). By splitting the vote like this the Conservatives won the most with only 37.8%.

Thinking maybe Canada should form one left-leaning party and merge just like Reform and Consevatives did. And the liberals would win in perpetuity because they are a liberal country, outside of Alberta and maybe Saskatchewan.

[roshni]

Having traveled to Canada many times, let me tell you that you are light years ahead of us in enlightenment. Obama will hopefully change that.

[Ljeff79]

I love that Obama is putting real lefties in policy positions where they can do the most good!

I was psyched for Melody Barnes as the pick for the domestic policy counsel.

Mary Beth sounds like she would be awesome for this job.

Progressives! Yay!

[mec57]

Mary Beth...YOU GO GIRL!

[theaviator]

I agree. Obama is making a case for progress.

Labor and Domestic are areas that have a direct impact on our daily life.

[canucklivinginUSA]

So you guys finally understand his strategy in making his picks. Good for you. I think the same reasoning went for his pick of Commerce Secretary. Bill Richardson will definitely elevated that position to meet the demands of the global economy

[Sylmason]

President-Elect you are a mighty good man.

[Mac18]

So I guess we are all still pretending Janet Reno was straight..­..I mean I don't care either way...but lets not act like this is some groundbreaking new move.

[brynn6]

Understood, but I think that the key here is that she is openly gay and right from the git-go.

[Secure214]

Janet Reno was not openly gay. This woman is. That is the difference.

[mec57]

Thank you...and Janet's personal life is really irrelevant when she does not discuss it.

[roshni]

Janet Reno was a crocodile hunter. Mooselini has nothing on her. Plus Janet was a qualified candidate.

[realityczech4u]

As the article predicted, I've never heard of Ms. Maxwell. She is described as an "activist" and "community organzer" AKA rabblerous­er/trouble­maker. The cabinet members serve at the pleasure of the President and are there to further his agenda and therefore should not have agendas of their own. I saw Gov. Granholm interviewed today and she is very impressive. So is Sibelius. I hope that Maxwell is not chosen just because the sleeps with women instead of men. Let's keep it with who is best qualified for all of these positions, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, etc.

[canucklivinginUSA]

You seem to believe that PE Obama would pick her solely on the basis that she's gay. So far, I believe that he has picked people based on their qualifications, why would he break his pattern? It is the media that is making a big fuss out of that, not the PE

[canucklivinginUSA]

Oh and why did you have to qualify community organizer and activity as rabblerous­er/trouble­maker? Is that what's pops out of your mind when you hear these two words?

[YouDisgustMe]

if she's qualified, great...pu­t her in there