Will Obama make more history and appoint Mary Beth Maxwell as Labor Secretary?

[ruggerson]

http://www.gaywired.com/Article.cfm?ID=21082



Lesbian Activist Mary Beth Maxwell Short-listed for Position of Labor Secretary

Mary Beth Maxwell could become America's first openly gay cabinet member if chosen to lead the Department of Labor in Barack Obama's administration. Maxwell is the founding executive director of the labor organization American Rights at Work, established in 2003. Before that she was a national field director at Jobs With Justice and the deputy field director of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Michigan congressman David Bonior, who is also on the short list for the cabinet position, said Maxwell should get the job. Bonior, a 63-year-old Democrat, is reportedly reluctant to accept the position, saying such jobs should go to younger leaders, according to The Wall Street Journal.

[Katha]

1. She seems incredibly qualified.

It'd be a great pick for Obama to make.

[ruggerson]

2. more on Mary Beth

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

Mary Beth Maxwell is the founding Executive Director of American Rights at Work, a national advocacy organization launched in 2003 whose mission is to modernize and reform the United States’ labor laws. Maxwell’s work has garnered national news coverage in the pages of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Maxwell is the author of the organization’s inaugural report, Some of Them Are Brave: The Unfulfilled Promise of American Labor Law. She is widely acknowledged
Maxwell is rumored to be a serious candidate for Secretary of Labor in Barack Obama's administration. If confirmed, she would be the first openly gay cabinet secretary.

Career

Maxwell previously served as National Field Director for Jobs with Justice, where she helped quadruple the number of local affiliates, with similar growth in the organization's national staff. As a result, the organization engaged new allies, mobilized support, and built relationships with stakeholders to broaden and strengthen the causes of worker and economic justice.

Prior to Jobs with Justice, she was Deputy Field Director for NARAL Pro-Choice America, directing the pro-choice organization’s electoral, legislative, media and fundraising training programs for local affiliates. She also served as Field Director for the United States Student Association where she designed field programs to organize students in targeted congressional districts to impact higher education policy, and managed a leadership development and grassroots action program, which mobilized thousands of students.

She currently sits on the Board of Directors of American Families United and The Discount Foundation.

Education

Maxwell earned a BA in English, philosophy and political science from Marquette University

[redstate_democrat]

3. Sorry It's not about making history, it's about the qualifications.

We shouldn't even be discussing whether this appointment would be history making. We need the most qualified people at the highest levels. Making history shouldn't be part of the decision. We need someone with like 3 Ph.Ds in labor stuff . She is obviously unqualified because it doesn't say she is the most qualified person regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.

Edit: Just in case :sarcasm:

My jokes are not coming across well today.
:-(

[ruggerson]

5. Right. And Obama's election is not history making either.

One can be the most qualified AND make history.

The two are not mutually exclusive.

[sufrommich]

4. Gay or not, she sounds like she would be a

wonderful Labor Secretary.The right person at just the right time.

[bluedawg12]

6. She is very well qualified, sounds like a great selection.