Obama Appoints Openly-Gay Hochberg To Run Export-Import Bank

A source tells me Fred Hochberg, an openly gay former Clinton Administration official, will be named to head the Export-Import Bank.

Hochberg, who was deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration under Bill Clinton, was a prominent Clinton supporter in the primary, and a is a major donor to both Democratic and gay causes.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[SeanGardner]

He has the qualifications and the background. And, because gays and lesbians are not only a key constituent of the Democratic Party (and participants in this thing called Democracy), why can't they be represented by someone who is openly gay?

Obama has indicated that he wants to run a coalition government. And you do that by embracing the beauty and scope of this country's diversity. Yes, he wants people who are certainly qualified to do the job. But he also wants people who are advancing, improving, and transforming the lives of our country, while visually reflecting this country. Obama's 9,000 plus job hires will embody the differences that make us unique, and, the commonalities that bring us together.

Good move Obama.

[RegularEinstein]

WOW!!! Democrats are ready to appoint an openly gay man to a major position in the administration. Meanwhile the republicans are debating whether a black man should be their party's chairperson? Republicans need to catch up to the rest of the world by oh...50 years!!!!

[lioness39]

This shouldn't be news. Sadly enough, it is.

[patwal]

Forgot to add "apppointments that are likely to last 4-8 years), as opposed to a 3-minute interlude

[patwal]

Which has more weight:

A 3-minute invocation given by a non-controversial minister, but no gays appointed to substantive posts in the administration

or

A 3-minute invocation given by a controversial minister and a growing number of gays appointed to substantive posts in the administration.

(Not that it should matter what their sexual orientation is, just that people are qualified to hold the posts)

[Bulbul]

Explain those glasses, looks like a trend to me . Two of Obama`s appontee have very similar looking frames !
By the way, what`s the title about. Do I need to know about "openly gay" appointee ? Why should it matter...

[eden4barack08]

It matters to the LGBT community, just like Hispanics were demanding Richardson etc.

[GJR227]

What a strange article on HP. Why doesn't HP other appointment articles start with "Openly Straight..." appointed to head HHS????

[rollingdivision]

Why is the left concerned with the sex lives of political appointees?

[Sonny50]

Because the left is so concerned abt our privacy rights.

[harriettubman]

If he's qualified, who cares?

[apysmith]

Thank You!

[truegreen]

Gay, straight, transgender: who cares? He's a person.

[BabsfromKansas]

Better headline

Obama Appoints Well Qualified Hochberg to Run Export-Import Bank"

[Bettysdad]

Why is this tory about this person's sexual orientation.

It's much more important to know what his favorite color socks are.

[BabsfromKansas]

pink

[Sonny50]

LOL

[eden4barack08]

Wow, he worked for Clinton and after that STILL was backing Clinton in the primaries? After what they did to the community with DOMA, DADT etc?
I guess LGBT rights were not so high on his agenda.

[iwantpie]

It's was either vote for Clinton or the other guy - Guess what the other guy is black. I call that racist at its finest within the gay community. Oh well, Prop 8 pass, I guess God doesn't like ugly.

[KDay]

Exactly!! And now they think they can dictate and Obama Presidency.

[Phenlandia]

Neat, but I wish they'd appointed him to something that didn't have such an AC/DC ring to it.
I'm already hearing the jokes in my head, and they're all groaners. ("The export bay IS the import bay"....ugh. I guarantee some late night "comedian" is going to bless us with that within the next week.)

Also, we all know this guy didn't get appointed because he was gay. The point is that many in the GOP still won't hire people who are openly gay, and we're finally seeing a time when sexuality isn't seen as a toxic, disqualifying factor to public service appointments.

[taddles]

We're also seeing an administration where "stupid", "ignorant", "poorly educated", "sycophant" and "zealot" aren't big hitter buzz words on a resume any more.

[Phenlandia]

Don't forget, "Minimally Informed," and "Spectacularly Unqualified!"

[omo]

It takes a gay brain to come up with the tasteless import-export tripe. That would not even occur to someone with a straight brain. What a strange way to think. Just sayin. . .

[Phenlandia]

Yeah, you're right. No straight man has ever told a tasteless, disgusting gay joke. Ever. EVER.

[MissingAmerica]

When will we get past color or sex or sexual preference and learn that it is about qualifications that will best benefit America?

[taddles]

In 11 days.

[Phenlandia]

That's very cute.