Bush Criticized for Lack of "Diversity" in Appointments

House Democrats charge that "President Bush's crop of political appointees includes fewer women and minorities than did President Bill Clinton's at comparable points in their presidencies."

To its credit, the Washington Post points out:

"...Bush has established a record of diversity in his Cabinet. Bush's Cabinet, which includes the vice president and the heads of 15 executive departments, currently has two Hispanics, two African Americans and two Asian Americans. Three departments -- State, Education and Labor --are headed by women, and a fourth, Interior, has an acting secretary who is a woman.

"Before Bush took office, no minority had occupied any of the four highest-profile Cabinet positions -- attorney general and the secretaries of the Defense, State and Treasury departments. Now, Alberto R. Gonzales, a Hispanic, is attorney general. Condoleezza Rice is the first African American woman to be secretary of state; her predecessor, Colin L. Powell, was the first African American named to that post."

(Hat tip: Betsy's Page.)