DIVERSITY

Is the Obama White House Sexist?

Critics say more women are needed in top jobs

Jan 9, 2013 by David Mark

Editor-in-Chief t

Image: AP.

President Barack Obama's second-term Cabinet picks could use a bit more diversity. Make it a lot more, according to concerns raised in The New York Times.

"Mr. Obama has put together a national security team dominated by men, with Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts nominated to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as the secretary of state, Chuck Hagel chosen to be the defense secretary and John O. Brennan nominated as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency," The Times notes, noting the absence of women appointees for top posts.

Not that the Obama administration has been callous about diversity. "About 43 percent of Mr. Obama's appointees have been women, about the same proportion as in the Clinton administration, but up from the roughly one-third appointed by George W. Bush."

But so far women have largely come in for disappointment. "Many Democrats had hoped that Mr. Obama would name Michèle Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense, to the Pentagon post. They had also hoped that he might name Alyssa Mastromonaco or Nancy-Ann M. DeParle, who are top White House aides, to the chief of staff job, or Lael Brainard, an undersecretary at the Treasury Department, as secretary. But speculation about the chief of staff position now rests on Denis McDonough, the deputy national security adviser, and Ronald A. Klain, a former chief of staff to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. For the Treasury position, most expect Mr. Obama to name his current chief of staff, Jacob J. Lew."

Via The New York Times.

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?	Should President Obama’s second term include more women in top-level jobs?

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Jan '13

Mogal

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The ubiquitous glass ceiling strikes again.
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Jan '13

twinertia

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As long as those considered are the best-qualified, I'm pleased.
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Jan '13

2b1ask1

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Let's see...Sexist, Communist, Leftist, Radical, America hating, Terrorist loving etc.....
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Jan '13

Hireman

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Your compasses may be off.
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Jan '13

Food4thoughts

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Nazi, Marxist, Gas Chambers, Satan, Muslim, Hangnail...etc
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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Confused little puppy, this article appeared in the New York Times. Tell me, what do you say when that Newspaper writes things you don't like about republicans?
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Jan '13

thejimbo

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Man, we have lots of sick puppies here PoliticalSpice. ;)
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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@Food4thoughts - "Hangnail ..." Cute.
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Jan '13

Everyman

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As long as they aren't bold-faced liars like Susan Rice or Hillary Clinton, I'm all for it. A fictitious angry mob in Benghazi says no, but who's going to believe them? Right?
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Jan '13

Jeff_Woehrle

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Bravo. Their sex doesn't matter. Integrity does. Both Rice and Clinton are sorry examples.
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Jan '13

thejimbo

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@Jeff_Woehrle The female reporter who wrote that article for the New York Slimes must have a lot of time on her hands, maybe Obama should appoint her as press secretary, can't be any worse than that nitwit Jay Carney.
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Jan '13

Sharpshooter

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They already have a female pulling the strings on both Michele and El Presidente'

Someone telling the President what to do is about as high up the ladder you can go, her daddy would be proud.
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Jan '13

Mogal

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Oh, puleeeeeze.
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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You say things like this and then wonder why people think they limit your access to firearms?
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Jan '13

Sharpshooter

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@PoliticalSpice NOBODY limits my access to firearms, in fact I've been meaning to thank you for my nice new pistol.

Valerie Jarrett... question it all you want. THOSE PEOPLE have acknowledged her Svengali like power over El Presidente'.... sorry you don't like to be faced with hard facts that shake your fantasy land view of the world
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Jan '13

Mogal

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@Sharpshooter -Of course, you have credible proof of this, right?
Links, please?
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Jan '13

Sharpshooter

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@Mogal YES there is sufficient proof that even YOU could find it... Do your own homework, that's how you can become intelligent and informed
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Jan '13

Food4thoughts

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Qualifications, qualifications and qualifications
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Jan '13

JustTheFacts

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Once you go old & white you never go back .... lol!
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Jan '13

WMCOL

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True. Once you go old and white you remain the blight.
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Jan '13

TheJimmy

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Sexy and Hillary should never be paired off together.
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Jan '13

Mogal

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Since when is being sexy a perquisite for Secretary of State?
What a misogynistic remark.
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Jan '13

TheJimmy

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@Mogal
Sorry. I read the title of topic wrong. I thought it said "Is the Obama White House Sexiest?" I just wanted to cite an obvious example of why it isn't the sexiest. My bad. ;)
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Jan '13

Mogal

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@TheJimmy -One word: glasses. ;)
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Jan '13

RobertJHarsh

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HAHAHA! Looks like the ran into a typical trait of a black man...women are #2. Even white guys outrank black women. This is cultural thing among black people. Besides...why must there be a quota of women, minorities, etc in government or any organization. Quotas = unqualified personnel.
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Jan '13

Mogal

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Your wife must be so proud.....
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Jan '13

RobertJHarsh

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@Mogal She actually is proud of me. I am not seeing how your insult did anything to prove my position wrong. Anyone else care to try?
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Jan '13
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Jan '13

Mogal

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@RobertJHarsh -You're actually trying to imply that the WH is permeated by ghetto culture?
Really?
Seems to me it was a bunch of rigid old white men squawking about Susan Rice.
Try again.
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Jan '13

Pack7

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The White House is so corrupt it is hard to define it.
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Jan '13

MadAmerican

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Poor little Hillary dropped the ball on Bengazi. She should serve jail time but Obama has just replaced her. As for the rest I feel he'll start blaming his own selections when the country turns against him for making the deficit and job losses even worse. That's the way he operates-blame someone else.
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Jan '13

woodtick57

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Do you think every SofS should be in jail that has had State dept members killed by terrorist attacks?
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Jan '13

MadAmerican

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@woodtick57 No, but ignoring the request time and time again without any investigation to me is blatant deriliction of duty. If I had done this as a Platoon Seargent in the Army I would be court martialed. As SOS she should fall under similar guidlines. She had their lives in the palm of her hand and did nothing to include not briefing the president.
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Jan '13

woodtick57

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@MadAmerican

how would more security in Tripoli have helped the people in Benghazi?
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Jan '13

woodtick57

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@MadAmerican

the other attacks on US embassies were also preceded by requests from those embassies for more security. again, where were the calls for jail time then?
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Jan '13

AceLuby

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@woodtick57 Don't confuse him with facts... it's only bad when Democrats are in charge, don't you watch Fox?
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Jan '13

tomincali

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what difference does it make? all the nonsense about being diverse is as bad as a/a,how about just looking for the best for the job and leave race gender as well as all other foolishness out of all things.
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Jan '13

RedFloppyShoes

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Of course it is, as it is racist and elitist. If they hired the best people for the job, I would have a totally different opinion, but since they are all ideologues, I don't.
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Jan '13

Buzzfriendly

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The person best able to perform the job should get the job. Unless your applying for a job with the KKK or trying to become religious leader I don't see where race, gender, religion or sexual orientation should be part of the qualifications.
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Jan '13

LikkerdySplit

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who cares?
get the best man for the job, if he happens to be a woman then so be it
naturally there's gonna be more men as leaders
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Jan '13

WMCOL

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Whadda u want him to do? Get some binders full of women? His Cabinet already looks more like America than does America.
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Jan '13

cat2009

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I don't know about sexist but we don't need anymore like Wasserman Shultz or Pelosi.
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Jan '13

Chromalord

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Women are becoming too smart to want to work in politics.
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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Once again the far left shoots themselves. Obama is doing as well in probably the most difficult presidency of my lifetime and the fem nazis are bent out of shape over 43%. Tied for the best in History. Obama (and I'm not that happy with him about it) has let important things go to try and appease his base over and over again. He has taken heat he didn't have to take time and time again. And still, just like with the right wing extremists calling anyone who doesn't please every single thing someone does and calling the RHINOS, the left wing is now calling hi sexist. Wonderful. You know this country needs to line up, left on one side, right on the other side and play one huge game of dodge ball. Last person standing gets to make all the rules for a year and anyone complaining during that year gets water boarded.
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Jan '13

MarkJM

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His Cabinet should include more Qualified Personnel, whether they are woman, man, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, gay, straight, etc....
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Jan '13

woodtick57

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More qualified thatn whom?
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Jan '13

MarkJM

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@woodtick57 Read my post again. I say positions should go to the most qualified person. Qualified, not because they are man, woman, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, gay, straight, etc...Whoever can do the job the best should get the position.
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Should President Obama’s second term include more women in top-level jobs?

Should President Obama’s second term include more women in top-level jobs?