TRUMP’S CABINET PICKS A MIX OF OUTSIDERS AND WASHINGTON INSIDERS

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By Miriam Raftery

November 25, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – President-Elect Donald Trump ran as an outsider, a TV celebrity and business mogul with no political experience, who pledged to shake up the status quo in Washington D.C.  His cabinet appointees thus far reflect a mix of people outside the D.C. beltway as well as seasoned Washington insiders.

But in reaching outside the halls of power to bring in outsiders to fill some key posts, Trump is drawing praise from key supporters but raising concern among critics for choosing some appointees who lack experience in relevant fields.  Other appointees with relevant qualifications have drawn criticisms precisely because of their past actions or temperament.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is slated to become United Nations Ambassador, though she has no foreign policy experience, other than traveling abroad as Governor to promote investment in the state.  An Indian-American, she does add diversity to the Trump cabinet, but if confirmed she may be the least experienced individual to hold the post. She has shown backbone in calling for removal of Confederate flags after a massacre at a black church in her state and holds pro-life and pro-business views.

Betsy DeVos, Trump’s nominee as Education Secretary, has never worked in public education, never taught school, and does not have children who attended public schools.  A major donor to the Trump campaign, she did head conservative groups focused on education reforms including vouchers and charter schools that draw money out of the public school system. Heirs to the Amway fortune, DeVos and her husband also head a foundation that led efforts to oppose gay marriage.

 Dr. Ben Carson, Trump’s opponent during the primary, is Trump’s preferred choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, though he has zero experience in HUD housing issues. Potentially, Carson or others lacking experience could make up for it by choosing experienced staff, but would not be hitting the ground running.

Other nominees and appointees are unquestionably experienced.

Trump chose Retired Lt. General Mike Flynn as his national security advisor, a job that does not require Senate confirmation. Flynn formerly served as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency for two years during the Obama administration, but was fired for what one Pentagon official described as a “disruptive” management style that included shouting at others.   Trump also tapped Fox News analyst Kathleen Troia “KT” McFarland, to serve as deputy national security adviser. She served in various posts under former Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.

Representative Mike Pompeo, Trump’s pick as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), serves on the House Intelligence Committee. A military veteran, he graduated first in his class from West Point and got his law degree at Harvard, where he served on the Law Review.  He’s praised as bright and hard-working even by his critics.  But he’s viewed by many as overtly partisan after his relentless investigations into Benghazi allegations against Hillary Clinton.  He has supported broad surveillance powers and controversial interrogation techniques.

Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, Trump’s pick as Attorney General, once helped prosecute Ku Klux Klan members for murder as a U.S. Attorney but later failed to win Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation for a federal judicial position due to allegations that he had made racial remarks and opposed the Voting Rights Act.

Steve Bannon, Trump’s pick as White House chief of Staff, is perhaps the most controversial appointee.  Bannon took over as publisher of Breitbart media, turning the conservative site into what he described as a mouthpiece for the alt-right, a movement that has its roots in racism and anti-Semitism expanded to also include anti-establishment views.  The founder of the alt-right movement was recently photographed celebrating Trump’s victory with Nazi salutes at a New York restaurant.


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