| | Reporter asks Obama if Commerce post is 'consolation prize for Latinos'
 New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson started out this year as a presidential candidate and was later spoken of as a possible vice presidential nominee or Secretary of State, so his appointment as Secretary of Commerce might seem like something of a comedown. However, President-elect Barack Obama doesn't see it that way.
A reporter asked Obama at Wednesday's news conference announcing the appointment, "What do you think about the articles, like the one today in the New York Times, that say or mention that the announcement of Bill Richardson for Secretary of Commerce are somehow the consolation prize for Latinos and Hispanic politicians and groups that are calling for Latinos to be included in your cabinet?"
"Commerce Secretary is a pretty good job," Obama replied. "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."
"[Richardson] is the best person for that job and is going to be outstanding in helping me strategize," Obama continued. "I think the notion that somehow the Commerce Secretary is not going to be central to everything we do is fundamentally mistaken."
The idea that the Commerce Department position might be seen as a "consolation prize" was raised by Congressional Quarterly when Richardson's name was first mentioned a couple of weeks ago and noted but downplayed last week by La Opinion.
On Tuesday, the Times' Peter Baker suggested, "The commerce slot will be a consolation prize of sorts for Mr. Richardson, who wanted to be secretary of state. ... But Hispanic groups have been lobbying heavily on behalf of Mr. Richardson, who so far would be the only cabinet officer named with a Latino background."
Obama also addressed the question about Richardson being his only Latino cabinet choice, insisting, "People are going to say this is one of the most diverse cabinets and White House staff of all time. ... I'm looking for the best people first and foremost to serve the American people."
Later during the press conference, when another reporter attempted to ask Richardson, "What happened to the beard?" Obama jumped in to answer instead. "I think it was a mistake for him to get rid of it," the president-elect remarked. "I thought that whole Western rugged look was really working for him. ... We're deeply disappointed with the loss of the beard."
This video is from MSNBC's News Live, broadcast Dec. 3, 2008.
Download video via RawReplay.com
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