Klein gives Dubya a big sloppy one…

If you are going on the basis of skin color or ethnic background, yeah, I would probably have to agree with the conclusion that Bush’s cabinet is the most diverse in history.

But you don’t get in the door unless you are an ideological clone of Bush, and in that sense it is probably one of the least diverse. How much does diversity of ethnic background matter if these folks are not very good representatives of their own ethnic groups and their interests?

They aren’t getting to these posts due to their expertise and achievements either, even if they are Bush clones… two of the only appointees with any real skills or resume (Powell and O’Neill) got destroyed in their jobs, whereas the incompetent Rice gets a promotion and Gutierrez gets an appointment because Bush “likes his story.”

Klein also points out that Bush (and Rove) “don’t [go] about trumpeting the fact,” but don’t let that fool you… they groups they are targeting are hearing them anyway, particularly the Mexicans and the Cubans. The former is one of the fastest-growing voter blocks in the country (and one that is swinging to the right) and the latter is crucial to the RNC’s efforts in Florida.

Would I rather there be diversity of any sort in the cabinet rather than a bunch of white guys? Sure. But don’t act like this façade is somehow the new face of the Republican party…