Race Relations

Today, Bill Richardson accepted his safety cabinet position, Secretary of Commerce. The Latino community is predictably annoyed that their guy wasn't given State, which went instead to Hillary Clinton. Ironically, Richardson stabbed in Clinton in the back during the primaries, presumably so Obama would see he was ruthless enough to handle State. (If you can betray a Clinton, you can betray a continent.)

The President-elect tried to reassure jumpy Hispanics, saying "the notion that somehow the Commerce Secretary is not going to be central to everything we do is fundamentally mistaken."

Riiight. Say your adioses to Bill Richardson. He will never be heard from again, along with whoever gets HUD, Labor and his former post in the Clinton administration, Energy.

Meanwhile, Chinese-Americans are furious at the Richardson appointment, citing his handling of Wen Ho Lee. Said a prominent California physician, "there was a feeling among many Chinese-Americans, particularly in Silicon Valley, that Bill Richardson did a lot to promote the notion that all Chinese-Americans are potential spies.'' Particularly in Silicon Valley. As if to warn that the Richardson pick is pissing off rich Asians, not the dry cleaners.

Ahem, Hispanics and Asians. How are the rest of us supposed to be post-race if you two won't play along? Can you be happy for us blacks and whites? Obama's election tricked blacks into thinking that whites like them, and whites into thinking that blacks are over that slavery stuff. We're finally able to pretend we're not uncomfortable around each other, after all these years!

Clearly, you Hispanics and Asians need an Obama to call your own. Maybe you should stop arguing and start banging. Now is the time to create your very own Hispasian who can be president in forty-eight years.

But until that day comes, stop raining on our post-racial parade.

Posted by: Laurie Kilmartin and 236.com staff