2008.12.20
Lacking Southern charm?
How important is it that Barack Obama has no Southerners in his Cabinet?
About this blog
In her signature plainspoken style, Michigan native Shanna Flowers peels away the layers and gets to the heart of the issues. No pretense. Just straightforward perspective. Shanna writes about local people whose circumstances reflect decisions made as near as City Hall or as far away as the halls of Congress. Other times, she weighs in on a topic because it is incredibly ridiculous. Or heartening. Or fascinating. Read Shanna's column three days a week, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at roanoke.com
Who on Obama's Cabinet has experience as a business executive?
Comment by LRS — December 20, 2008 @ 9:24 pm
During the campaign for President Obama spoke of Southerners “So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.
Obama's next big decision—and its implications, will be to use his full name when he takes the oath of office. By doing what is customary, which means that Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath to Barack Hussein Obama. Washington will send a powerful signal to the world that this is the dawning of a New America.
In the fact that the only president to forswear his full name in the historic ceremony was Jimmy and not James Earl Carter. The informality reinforced the down-to-earth appeal of Carter's candidacy.
Playing up Obama's Christianity and downplaying anything suggestive of his father's Muslim roots was the campaign's MO, and the media went along with it, equating his enemies' use of the word "Hussein" with smear politics.
Obama campaigned as the candidate who could bring the various strains of American life together,
According to data presented at the Pew conference, Obama won 24 percent of their votes, compared with Kerry's 21 percent. Elections are won or lost on these margins, and younger evangelicals in particular are more progressive on issues like gay marriage and the environment than their elders.
Evangelist Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the Inauguration Warren has said extremely ignorant and offensive things about gay people, and the gay community is understandably upset that Obama has given him this prestigious forum.
Symbols are important, and the church Obama chooses, if he singles out any one church, will shed light on how far America has come in transcending its racial past. As many other Southerners have said Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America. Obama should go "wherever is best for his babies, his children." If that's the measure, who can complain?
Even so Obama still contemplate these issues over pick up basketball on Sundays instead of worship in church.
Comment by Static Lines — December 21, 2008 @ 3:01 am
Throw us a bone, better yet a bowl of grits and red eye gravy-- Yea a true Southerner would be nice--All we have now are Clintonites and Chicago Politicos--Oh well, Change we can believe in--
Comment by Randy the Shoe man — December 21, 2008 @ 9:03 am
There was a story on MSNBC somewhat about this: "Obama selects few reformers for Cabinet".
In the article was the following, "If there is a lack of diversity, it is in regional makeup. The only nominees with Southern roots are former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk, named yesterday as trade representative, and Jackson, who grew up in New Orleans before settling in New Jersey."
The author does give a reason from political consultant Gary Pearce, in that most southern Democrats were not avid Obama backers. If that *is* the reason, it does take a little air out of the Obama "hope and change" tires. "Hope and change if you back me"
I haven't looked at the cabinet picks lately, but I wasn't initially impressed. A line-up of the standard Democrats (Clinton, Daschale).
As far as no Southerners? Well, not sure what to say about that yet. It won't matter if his administration doesn't trample "southern values", but that has yet to be seen.
Comment by Ed S. — December 21, 2008 @ 10:53 am
Istill wonder where old Bill will be at the end of all this."sumptin"is up just you wait see.He didnt bare all on the show and tell of where all the money came from just to get hillary a job.Whats that smell in the air?Oh right that is change on the way,change from mine and your pockets to more greed sucking politicans pockets on both sides of the isle.
Comment by charlie — December 21, 2008 @ 8:11 pm
Y'all, diversity may be the ideal. But, there will always to be some group left out. I would hope Barack wouldn't choose people to serve in his cabinet just for the sake of diversity. And, just how long does one need to live in the south to qualify as a southerner? Hilary qualified as a New Yorker to run for the senate. Bet she can just as easily qualify as a southerner from Arkansas. If Barack just tells her which hat to wear, I'm sure she'll oblige. Jus' pass the grits.
Comment by Ms. Goldenwillow — December 21, 2008 @ 9:55 pm
Having a Southerner, a Northerner or any other regionally identified person in the cabinet just for regional diversity, sounds too much like the old way of doing things. I, for one, do like the approach of Pres.-elect Obama: competency, or in simple terms, whether one can actually get something done. Considering the gross incompetency we've endured for the last eight years, it's refreshing to think that something positive may actually get done in the government again.
Comment by Shaun — December 22, 2008 @ 12:12 am
hehehe thats good ms.goldenwillow but it may be that the south saw a chance to send a yankee back north to new york. No offence in the yankee remark Shanna,you can stay "cause we "aint " thru with "youns" just yet.
Comment by charlie — December 22, 2008 @ 8:38 am
One of the theories floating around 'bout the absence of Southerners on Obama's cabinet has to do with Democratic strategy. Specifically, if Obama pulls politicians from those states, he's weakening an already thin bench.
Take Virginia for example: Who would he pull for his cabinet? Kaine's the obvious pick, but he says he doesn't want it, preferring apparently to finish his term and then maybe slide into a college presidency. (VCU is the rumored school.)
He could tap Mark Warner, but then who'd run for that seat without risk of losing it? Same with Webb.
The same goes for other Southern states where there are either few elected officials to choose from, or few suitable replacements available.
Comment by Mason — December 22, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
I'm still waiting for someone to name any member of Obama's Cabinet who has business executive experience. Anyone?
Comment by LRS — December 22, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
Is anyone really surprised by this? Yall voted for him now deal with it and stop complaining.
Editor's note: This is another "Mike" and not our blog regular.--s
Comment by Mike — December 22, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
Were I to have advised him, I would have urged Obama to reach out to the South. It was clear in this election that the South will vote Democratic, given the right conditions. Why would he blow an opportunity to plant some modern liberal roots in Dixie? Why write off a region?
Comment by Jim D — December 22, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
Thanks, Shanna, for clearing up any possible misidentification. In my first grade class were seven "mikes"; as for the thread topic, I can't really form an opinion yet.
Comment by Mike — December 23, 2008 @ 6:06 am
I really don't care where a prospective Cabinet member comes from as long as they can do the job. I'm tired of hearing from all the special-interest groups - no one group is responsible for getting Mr. Obama elected President. It was the coming together of these groups, with all their differences, that made his election possible. So while I am a life-long Democratic voter, and have been proudly called a liberal, I wish the special interests would shush and just be proud of what has been accomplished!
Comment by Lori — December 23, 2008 @ 10:14 am
Lori
Then there is nothing to be said, is there? Today an ex Air American radio personality Leon Anthony said "That's because a politician sold his vote so a contractor can benefit from it isn't illegal nor could possibly harm an community".
As long as rational people can stand up and say Clinton wasn't a womanizer that didn't pay attention to America Security, Then we whom think he should be imprisoned for doing a good job.
I am just glad NAFTA hasn't cost American jobs.
Comment by Static Lines — December 24, 2008 @ 12:42 am
After having a "pretend" southerner in the white house for the past eight years, I would like to see a "real" one. I was born and raised in the south but now live in Philadelphia and have for the past 30 some years. I basically do not want to see a "southerner" as the commander and chief for a long time. The pretend yahoo who is president now gave the south a bad black eye!I believe there are a lot of good southern men who should have a spot in the new administration as long as they are not right wingers! Don't be a bible pounding,gay bashing, closet pedophile, toe tapper, etc., and a true southerner might have a chance at a positon in the Obama administration!
Comment by A Nuffer — December 25, 2008 @ 6:41 am