Tokenism

Tokenism: Formal or superficial compliance with a law, requirement, convention, etc., especially in the hiring of members of a minority group.

In the aftermath of Obama's historic election, you heard people - in the "know" and on the street - talk about it in transcendental and historic terms.  Some people were even wondering if we were indeed moving towards a "post racial" era.

However, it only took a few appointments from the Obama administration to have some Latinos complain about the same old thing.  From that always-reliable source of conventional idiocy, Ruben Navarrete,

I wonder what message it sends that President-elect Obama has apparently passed over Richardson and seems ready to offer the post at State to their former rival, Hillary Clinton. While known the world over from her days as first lady, Clinton doesn't have anywhere near Richardson's level of experience in foreign affairs. Besides, she treated Obama reprehensibly during the primary. Does anyone really think that if she had been elected president that she would be vetting Barack Obama for secretary of state? . . .

This isn't about Richardson, who might be very happy heading for ribbon cuttings in Toledo while Clinton heads for blue-ribbon summits in Tel Aviv. This is about something larger. Richardson is the nation's only Hispanic governor and the most prominent Hispanic elected official in the country. And the way he was treated doesn't say much about Obama's respect for the Hispanic community. Nor does the fact that Obama seems to have filled his top four Cabinet posts – Justice, Treasury, Defense and State – and couldn't find a single Hispanic to put in any of them.

to Latina Lista

President-elect Barack Obama had barely made the announcement to a packed press conference that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was his pick for Cabinet secretary of Commerce when a reporter stood up and asked a question foremost on the minds of most Latino groups — was Richardson’s appointment a “consolation prize” for Latino voters who wanted him named Secretary of State?

Of course, the question was brushed aside with Obama emphasizing, “Commerce secretary is a pretty good job.”

But it wasn’t the high-profile position that would have showcased Richardson’s diplomacy expertise nor the position that several Latino organizations had been actively campaigning for on behalf of the nation’s only Hispanic governor.

to the Coconut Caucus

Secretary of Commerce = Where We Stick Latinos to Say We're Diverse.

and Brown Pride

First, the most prominent Hispanic leader, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, lost the plum secretary of state assignment to New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Last spring, Richardson angered the Clintonistas by backing Obama over Clinton during the heated Democratic Primary contest, only to now see her being offered the top diplomatic post.

among others, many in the Latino community and blogosphere see the lack of Latino appointments - particularly Richardson's non-appointment as Secretary of State - as a snub.

I, for one, don't have any qualms about it.

I really don't care who gets appointed to do what.  I didn't vote for Obama because he was black - or mulato, if you want to be technical about it, - or in spite of it.  Nor did I have an expectation that if Obama was elected his Cabinet would work around Saturday's Sábado Gigante.

I voted for Obama because I believe that he will be able to lead this nation out of this self-inflicted debacle of the last eight years and because I believe he will be better for everyone, not just Latinos.

I only care about results.  If over the next four years, the Obama administration adopts and implements a sensible immigration policy, manages to create a better and fairer economic environment for everyone, helps fund education, combats illiteracy, and establishes or makes significant strides towards universal health coverage, I can deal with not having brown faces on the Cabinet standing right behind Obama's.

Besides, you only need two words to make the case that because a Latino is running the show, things may not be better for Latinos at all:

Alberto Gonzales.

As Maegan la Mala noted,

Apparently no one learned from Alberto Gonzales's time that having a Latino in and of itself doesn't guarantee a damn thing.

I do disagree a bit.  I does guarantee that your tormentor and top torturer may end up looking strangely familiar to you.