Cronynism, Part II

Conservative heavy, Michelle Malkin, points out that the Bush administration still needs to work out the cob webs in its post-Mike Brown era of hiring. Bush is appointing cutie-pie Julie Myers, a 35-year-old lawyer, to a high level immigration and customs position. Michelle highlights this section of her, ahem, resumé:

Her uncle is Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, the departing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She married [Michael] Chertoff's current chief of staff, John F. Wood, on Saturday.

Michelle offers up Pete Nunez, a former US Attorney in southern California, as an example of someone more eminently qualified for the job.

by Brett Rogers, 9/20/2005 7:41:34 PM
Permalink

Okay, okay, I don't approve of cronyism either, and I have no idea what the woman's qualifications are, but "cutie pie" doesn't help the situation. In fact, it only makes sexism an issue. Whether intended or not, a nomination such as this (if indeed, it is undeserved, I don't honestly know--I need to do more research :->) re-inforces the idea that the only way a woman can get to such heights is by marrying somebody and having a friend in govt. I know you don't believe that to be true, but calling her "cutie pie" makes it worse.

If she was a man, the cronyism wouldn't be any less appalling, but nobody would be calling her "cutie pie". Moron, maybe. Unqualified suffices. And I'd be okay with that. But not "cutie pie". Unless, of course, you want to refer to Mike Brown as "hunky", but that would be both inappropriate and grossly inaccurate. :-)

Posted by Bella, 9/21/2005 10:46:45 AM

My pet term for guys who seem to get in on their looks and networking is "pretty boy." I'm equal opportunity that way. No sexism applies. You know me better than that...

Posted by Brett Rogers (http://www.beatcanvas.com), 9/21/2005 11:55:31 PM

Of course I know you better than that, but I don't recall you calling Mike Brown "Pretty Boy" and very little but cronyism got him his job either. I know you aren't sexist, but that's the message that gets conveyed. I'm not judging...I'm just saying... :-)

Posted by Bella, 9/22/2005 10:44:33 AM

I don't know that he's a pretty boy... looks and networking. And Julie is certainly cute, in a young Katie Couric, raven-haired kind of way.

Posted by Brett Rogers (http://www.beatcanvas.com), 9/22/2005 10:50:53 AM

Oh for Pete's sake. :-) Is the fact that she's cute relevant to anything in the context of her nomination? It would seem her connections are really what got her the job. If you think she's cute, write her a poem. Write a whole post dedicated to the pertness of her nose :-) Just please try not to relate it to her professional career or demean her anymore than a potentially bogus nomination does by attaching precious adjectives to her name. You're better than that. Save the "cutie pie" for the poem. Or the Nose post.

Damn. We can argue about anything, can't we? Of course, I always start it, but.... :-)

Posted by Bella, 9/22/2005 12:07:15 PM