There’s been a lot of talk about President-elect Obama’s cabinet choices this week. Righties are calling Obama’s choice for Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, a “thug”. And on the other side of things, at least one Latino group is pressuring for another important appointment: that of Secretary of State. They want ex-president candidate and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson to be Condy Rice’s successor:

Hispanic activists are pressing president-elect Barack Obama to appoint New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to serve as secretary of state.

They argue Richardson, a Hispanic who held cabinet-level and foreign policy posts in the Clinton administration, would help Obama deal with Latin American issues, and that the move would show the incoming president’s commitment to including Latinos in his administration.

Those “Hispanic activists” are actually a group called The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, made up of members of MALDEF, LULAC and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, among others.

Let’s see if Obama listens. I do think that Richardson has the international experience necessary for the post. But I wonder if being a cabinet member is enough for someone who aspired to be president just a few scant months ago?

Via / Biz Journals