Gov. Kasich's Cabinet

I just read an article that alluded Governor Kasich was racist and/or sexist and possibly hated gays/lesbians because his cabinet just happens to be made up of all white people, has fewer women than Strickland’s did and has no openly gay members.

“For advocates of diversity in government, the new day that Ohio's new governor promised is looking more like an historical re-enactment.

The members appointed to Republican John Kasich's (KAY'-siks) cabinet so far are all white, a first for the state since the racially tumultuous days of the 1960s.

There are five women on the cabinet. When former Gov. Ted Strickland left office, he had 11 females on his cabinet — including one black woman and Ohio's first openly gay cabinet official.” – Associated Press, Sandusky Register online paper, January 20, 2011: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/columbus/2011/jan/20/kasich-names-first-all-white-cabinet-40-years

I’m not entirely sure why the characteristics of Gov. Kasich’s cabinet member are news worthy. The only thing I can think of is that whoever wrote the article was a Strickland supporter and needs some sort of dirt to throw at Gov. Kasich. Furthermore, what proof does the author have that Gov. Kasich is eager to throw Ohio back into the mid-Twentieth century? None, other than assumptions and innuendo.

Not once did the article list any of the qualifications of Gov. Kasich’s cabinet members, nor did the author offer up potentially more qualified individuals from different races, sexual orientations or genders.

Personally, I’d rather judge Gov. Kasich by his actions as governor, not what the people he appoints to positions look like. I was raised to look beyond a person’s skin color and just see the person. Apparently that’s a lesson that more parents needed to teach their children. Whether a person is black or white has no bearing on how they do their job – that was the basis of affirmative action. Why then, is the make-up of Gov. Kasich’s cabinet such a big deal?

Answer: it’s only a big deal in small minded people’s minds.