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

[ladycubsfan]

I was kind of hoping my Governor, Kathleen Sebelius, would be chosen, but, hey, I'm for anyone who may cause the Republicans to have mass strokes. I have a feeling this choice would do the trick.
Mary Beth sounds like a very capable woman and that is the only thing that matters.

[cdub1991]

I have to say it. Every time I see Sebelius, My yawn reflex kicks in.

[kotexbarbie]

This is his best appointment so far, but he still doesn't support her right to marry.

[cdub1991]

She's just being vetted. No appointment yet. Your point is noted, however.

[rid021]

Do gays want the right to marry or just the same rights that a married couple gets. I think the word marriage has a religious connotation to it so I dont think its the presidents job to tell people how to practice their religion, its his job to make sure people are getting equal rights under the law.

[siney]

I agree. elected officials & their appointees as well as judges (both elected and appointed) should ensure all citizens receive equal rights, treatment, protections, associated responsibilities, etc., under the law, including ones right to practice a religion of ones choosing.

as it happens, though, the law uses the language "marriage" to describe a civil/contractual relationship - not to be confused, of course, with the other kind of marriage, i.e., the religious sacrament, that you reference.

if gays were allowed to "marry under the law," then they would get the same rights as heteros who are currently allowed to "marry under the law," nevermind those couples who go before their church or temple to "marry before their god" with their civil marriage licenses in hand, mind you -- that's a separate, spiritual/religious issue that has no place when discussing the civil right of marriage issue.

so yes, to answer your question, gays just want the same rights as married heteros get and that is the right to a civil marriage under the law. you know, equal rights.


if maxwell is qualified, she should be appointed.­...

[MomfromTexas]

Maxwell was Deputy Field Director for NARAL. Oh, between labor unions and choice, the GOP is going to freak! Dang, I hope she gets nominated. LOL!

[lovethesinner]

She's perfect. And it's a good sign if Obama picks her, too. It means he's focused on putting America back to work. Really, all of our domestic agenda is helped by creating jobs. If we nationalized health care, the auto companies could compete. If the auto companies build hybrids, people will invest in green technology. If enough money gets in the hands of the middle class, sales go up, recession is held at bay.

I'm thinking Obama is getting ready to make lemonade with the current financial crisis. And when you think about it, could we have ever gotten any of this done without it? As always, necessity is the mother of invention, and adversity is the friend of progress.

GObama!

[Jezreel]

As long as she's qualified to fill the position nothing else matters.

[Tunghoy]

Wow -- a Labor Secretary who doesn't want to trash labor? An ambassador to the UN who doesn't want to withdraw from the UN? A National Security adviser who doesn't compromise security?

What does Obama think he's doing, appointing competent, adult professionals to the cabinet?

After 8 long years, I'm really not used to having a government that doesn't want to subvert itself. This is so cool, I could really get used to this......­...

[cdub1991]

THAT was the change I voted for. I've been more than satisfied so far.

[TrueThis]

Who cares about her personal life that's her business. The question is: Is she qualified for the job.

[Chirp]

Janet Reno was super gay, so I don't know why this would be a big deal. I've never heard of her until this but from a quickie google search she does seem like an interesting, progressive person.

[GrooveGrl4]

FINALLY!

[ramal]

Good! Past time, don't you think????

[laborgrunt]

This would be a GREAT pick for Labor in the Obama government, therefore it won't happen.

[demetra]

Everyone's a critic. Why don't you go over and chat with the bloggers on Fox

[DFutureIsNow]

Thats no fun to them, then they have to realize how much they loss this election.

[Jezreel]

Thanks Demetra, I couldn't have said it better.

[toypiano]

LOL, laborgrunt. I hear that. But I keep hoping he'll get some actual progressives in there. This could be the one!

[113]

nice, sounds like an excellent pick...

next step, obama should appoint the first openly atheist cabinet member

[woodcut]

YES!

[DFutureIsNow]

I'm a catholic and I would like to see that too, wouldn't it be so refreshing to have a true representative government and it not be a controversial thing. I mean this is the 21st century right? Well thats unless you are a republican, then you are still Palin' around with the dinosaurs

[standard]

. . . and put him or her in charge of "faith-based initiatives"! That way, there would be (a) someone with a personal interest in keeping church and state separate helping to harness legitimate voluntary assistance to government by religious groups and to identify and reject illegitimate attempts by such groups to introduce their sectarian theologies into government, and (b) a need for such groups to work face-to-face with a non-theist gatekeeper.

Expand the field of potential candidates to include all agnostics and non-theists and that would be a major leap forward for the kind of NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM envisioned and intended by our country's mixture of conventionally religious, Deist and non-theist Founders just over 230 years ago.

[TruckerJohn]

Great stuff 113, Someone in cabinet who really believes in separation of church and state can only be a good thing. Hopefully these progressive appointments are sending the Religious Right into spasms, we need to sideline these bible nazis.

[brynn6]

If only. I suspect that there already are some, but that's still one closet waiting to be opened in politics.

That doesn't change the fact that I hope Ms. Maxwell is chosen. She has some pretty stiff competition, but she seems like the best fit for the job.

[Smith808]

Hope her parenting/­relationsh­ip rights are recognized in DC or Virginia..­.

[cdub1991]

She has a son.

[Smith808]

an "adopted" son.

[JohnDewey]

I think that's what Smith808 was getting at - she has an adopted son, so Smith808 hopes that DC and/or Virginia legally recognizes her parental rights. As recent events have reminded us, equal rights are not a given in America (Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi, Utah & Michigan).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_adoption

[Danigirl65]

Just watched the video one of the commenters provided - this is one impressive lady.

I feel the other candidates are worthwhile, as well. This pick would make a very strong statement and would prove that we are truly the United States of America!!

[bosshogg]

WOW that would be "change" no one ever would expect....­..........