Obama Gets Do-Over and a New Chance for Women
For Immediate Release
February 3, 2009
Contact: Amy Siskind
(484) 844-2996
NewAgendaPress@yahoo.com
Obama Gets Do-Over and a New Chance for Women
The New Agenda, a non-partisan national women’s rights group, is calling on President Obama to fill recently vacated seats with qualified women. The Secretary of Health and Human Services position is now open due to serious tax issues that derailed Senator Tom Daschle’s nomination. These tax and legal issues are also calling into question Timothy Geithner’s fitness for the Treasury Secretary position.
The New Agenda co-founder Amy Siskind said: “A fraternity of leadership has led our country into an economic crisis of epic proportions. We call on President Obama to pick from the thousands of qualified women to take these two important cabinet positions and deliver on his promise of change.”
The New Agenda also notes that President Obama’s pick for Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner is in a position that puts him in charge of the Internal Revenue Service. The New Agenda questions how a man with this history can have the nation’s confidence to lead the Treasury Department during a time of economic crisis.
The New Agenda urges President Obama to ask Timothy Geithner to resign and instead appoint FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair to take on the role of Treasury Secretary. Sheila Bair has a proven track record and the respect of Wall Street as well as Main Street.
The New Agenda noted that in total, President Obama has picked 22 cabinet positions (including Judd Gregg as Commerce Secretary after Bill Richardson withdrew). Of those first 22 picks, only 5 have been women.
Co-founder Amy Siskind said: “As President Obama selects his 23rd cabinet pick, we encourage him to remember the constituency that overwhelmingly voted him into office – the women of this country. We also encourage President Obama to give serious consideration for the person most qualified to Treasury Secretary, FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair.”
To reinforce the message that there is a rich pool of candidates, The New Agenda released the following list of exemplar candidates for Cabinet positions.
• President of the University of Miami and former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala
• U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut
• Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill
• Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar
• Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius
• Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
• President of the National Business Group on Health Helen Darling
• Former Healthcare Finance Director Nancy Ann Min Deparle
- 30 -
