Dr. Rachel Levine nominated to Assistant Secretary of Health (USA - Transgender)
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https://news.yahoo.com/barrier-breaking-transgender-biden-nominee-174755494.html
Congratulations to Dr. Levine for her nomination to that post, despite extreme transphobic hate from the right (which likely is a topic better discussed in Politics & Debate).
Unable to find what day she will or will not be confirmed for the position.
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@bc22 I was pleased to see her nomination, too -- and while it's political, it's also human rights, LGBTQ and a dozen other areas of interest.
Certainly, with Dr. Levine we know that health issues of particular interest to the LGBTQ community will be addressed at the highest administrative level.
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great, great news!!!
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As I have said about other nominations, I hope that they were chosen because they are the very best for the job, rather than the box(es) they tick.
We need merit, not tokenism.
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Hopefully Pete and Dr. Rachel both come through with flying rainbow colors. At the moment, it may appear that Dr. Rachel may have more education and credentials for her job, and Pete is still handsome.
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I agree that "tokenism" is a bad policy, where individuals are chosen only to meet an invisible quota of race, gender, orientation, etc., and the accompanying belief that they don't possess superior credentials in their chosen field.
Since the thread is about Dr. Levine's nomination, do other readers feel there is something specifically lacking in her education or work experience? What would that be? If there's not a case to be made against her expertise or credentials, then Dr. Levine's nomination no longer needs to labor alongside commentary about, or associations with, tokenism.
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@raphjd
There are many jobs in the Federal Government where the "head" (even cabinet-level head) of the organization really doesn't need to know ANYTHING about the ACTUAL WORKINGS of the agency they're "heading" - the day-to-day WORK of the agency is done by "career" Government employees. These "political appointees" are there to provide direction (goals & points of emphasis) and policy.For example, I'd bet you that Pete Buttigeg couldn't name 5 different bridge construction base materials. But that doesn't mean he can't be a good Transportation Secretary! At that level of leadership, the details of the "job" are NOT what you're hired for - it's the leadership and direction-setting. (Mayor Pete will be deciding to "Fix that Bridge... and that one, too" not "Let's use a polymer concrete wearing surface system instead of rubberized asphalt."
Dr. Rachel Levine, as the Assistant Secretary of Health can provide MUCH NEEDED and VALUABLE guidance on the health needs of the LGBTQ community without having to know the difference between Bikarvy and Dovato.
Is it good that she's a health professional? Absolutely! Is there possibly, anywhere, someone POSSIBLY more qualified? Sure, that's actually probable! But the mix of competence AND personal qualities makes her a ground-breaking and inspiring choice!
Now, with that said, it's also the case that, when you put someone at the top who really is CLUELESS about the department they head (and, to be sure, that is NOT the case with Dr. Levine), real damage can be done. Betsy DeVos. Enough said.
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@flozen said in Dr. Rachel Levine nominated to Assistant Secretary of Health (USA - Transgender):
I agree that "tokenism" is a bad policy, where individuals are chosen only to meet an invisible quota of race, gender, orientation, etc., and the accompanying belief that they don't possess superior credentials in their chosen field.
Since the thread is about Dr. Levine's nomination, do other readers feel there is something specifically lacking in her education or work experience? What would that be? If there's not a case to be made against her expertise or credentials, then Dr. Levine's nomination no longer needs to labor alongside commentary about, or associations with, tokenism.
Biden and Kamala both have a hardcore stance that ticking boxes is the most important thing.
Hell, Kamala was chosen because of her color and vagina. Biden made it clear he would only choose a woman of color. He didn't care that she called him a rapist and racist.
They are all about so-called "equity" and not equality. They are being racist and sexist with their programs, for example of the C-19 help for small businesses.
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Betsy DeVos brought back Due Process that Obama stripped from males in college. Biden will once again strip males of DP to show how "woke" he is.
Besides the blatantly obvious, what special medical needs do trans people have that regular people don't have? Same with gay vs heteros?
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@raphjd
I'm not claiming Betsy DeVos was devoid of good decisions, only that the DIRECTION she gave the Education Department did little-to-nothing to promote actual education - and actually DEVALUED public education.Mind you, I am aware that was her goal as the appointee of Mr. Trump! But my point remains: political appointees don't have to be experts in the fields they are asked to lead! They are appointed to provide direction and leadership to echo the desires and wishes of the President and his Administration.
My point about DeVos was not just that I didn't agree with her positions (I didn't - though I admit to not knowing about the specifics to which you refer), but rather that by being so controversial in her position, she drew added (unwanted) criticism and bad attention to her Department.
Regardless of your political views (even if you agreed with her - and the Administration's - positions), she herself was a disaster for the Department of Education.
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@raphjd The topic is Dr. Levine's nomination, so there I remain.
Because it was used as a criterion for Dr. Levine, I'm amused by the irony of the "best for the job" logic for her. Just look at the previous Administration -- with its staggering number of tense resignations and firings -- and each and every one of those appointees and hires, sooner or later, deemed "really, really, not best for the job at all."
I'm optimistic that with her focused expertise, Dr. Levine won't join the group above.
And again, as this thread concerns Dr. Levine's nomination, I won't engage on politicians (Kamala) or topics (small-business bailouts) unrelated. Have a good one -- I am over and out.
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You won't go into those other topics since they validate concerns that she is a token.
Biden's own words and actions show he loves to tick boxes to look woke.
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Liberal butt hurtedness is what caused most of the "controversy" of DeVos.
The fact that she restored Due Process for male college students pissed off liberals. The same with other things she did.
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@raphjd
Can we dispense with the bi-polar nature of the argument?
Can't she be both qualified AND a token appointment?So, is it really so bad to look at a stack of 700 resumes of highly qualified people and say to yourself: "Hey, there has never, EVER, been an out trans person appointed at this level of government. She's as qualified as the others, plus she'll make history as the first trans person appointed to such a high office! BONUS!"
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Bi-polar?
Until I see otherwise, I will treat her with suspect due to Biden's pandering to wokeness.
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@raphjd
The term "bi-polar" is not only used in mental disorders. It refers to any instance where there is little-to-no middle ground between two opposites.In a mental disease, it means you're UP or you're DOWN but you're nearly never in-between.... It's a terrible condition. I know people who suffer from it.
But in this case, I'm using the term to say that you don't have to look at people (or their records) as either all-good, or all-bad. Donald Trump demeaned and lessened the office of the Presidency in the US - but that doesn't mean he didn't also do good things, too! Betsy DeVos wasn't all bad - and even after doing a brief search, I have no idea what you mean by "restoring due process"...
But back to the point: If you're going to pre-judge Dr. Levine and her appointment because she's trans-gender, well, get in fuckin' line! If you think you'll be the first to make that mistake, you're the latest winner of the "Miss Taken" idiocy pageant! And you won't be the last, either! (Your sash is in the mail... the US mail, so be patient! LOL)
Your attitude amplifies the importance that her appointment has: she will suffer the "slings and arrows" of narrow-minded bigots - and I suspect begrudgingly so - so that future trans people do not.
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You blame me for being suspicious of her appointment and call me a bigot. Of course, that means you are totally and blatantly ignoring the very real fact that that is exactly what Biden is all about.
If Biden didn't constantly bash us over the head with his woke'ism, we wouldn't constantly be thinking about it whenever he does something like this.
Funny how you referred to me as being "bi-polar" and yet you only see the "you're a bigot if you question this" liberal version of the situation.
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@raphjd
Do you even know the definition of bigot?You demonstrate clear prejudice against Dr. Levine on two separate counts:
- She's a Biden appointee
- She's trans
Ok, so technically, that makes you bigoted SQUARED
How are your remarks prejudiced? Well, to start with you claim no knowledge of her credentials other than that she was appointed by Biden and is trans... and for you, that is enough... and that is textbook prejudice. (Look it up!)
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How is calling her appointment into question bigotted?
See, you have that liberal mental issue that if you question a liberal decision, you're an IST or Phobe.
Biden has made it clear he only really cares about portraying himself as "woke". So of course, it's suspect.
I'm glad you said that though since it proves most liberals are bigots considering how they acted over Trump appointees.
