MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Obama names first Latino in cabinet: Commerce Secretary

Bill Richardson, appointed Secretary of Commerce

US President elect Barack Obama said Wednesday on naming New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, --the only Latino so far who has been named to a cabinet post-- would be an “unyielding advocate” for American business and American jobs as Commerce Secretary

Obama said Richardson, who was UN ambassador and Energy secretary during the Clinton Administration before being twice elected governor, was uniquely suited to be a leading economic diplomat for the US. In response to a question about whether Commerce secretary was a consolation prize for Latino supporters, Obama said the notion that the position was not going to be important in his administration was mistaken. "Commerce secretary is a pretty good job," he said to some laughter from the assembled reporters. "It's a member of my key economic team that is going to be dealing with the most significant issue that America faces right now, and that is: How do we put people back to work and rejuvenate the economy?" Obama said Richardson was the best person for that job, and noted that he had only appointed about half of his cabinet. "I think that when people look back and see the entire slate, what they will say is -- not only in terms of my cabinet, but in terms of ... my White House staff, I think people are going to say, this is one of the most diverse cabinets and White House staffs of all time," he said. "But more importantly, they're going to say these are all people of outstanding qualifications and excellence." In his brief remarks, Richardson, the third former presidential candidate from the 2008 campaign to join Obama's close circle, took issue with the idea that the president-elect was assembling a "team of rivals," saying the word "rival" was "harder edged and less forgiving" than necessary. "In the worlds of diplomacy and commerce, you open markets and minds not with rivalry, but instead with partnership and innovation and hard work," he said. "The unique strengths of the department and its talented public servants make it that natural agency to serve as a programmatic nerve center in America's struggle to rejuvenate our economy. The governor spoke briefly in Spanish. He directed his remarks to the Latino community, saying in part "Our vote has been our voice. This election has demonstrated our strength and our unity".