Tony Snow on Minorities In The White House: ‘Every Group Raise Your Hand, We Want You’
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/07/20/snow-minorities/The National Journal reports that, among the top 20 White House staffers, “there are no African-Americans or Asians…and only one Hispanic.”
Today, following President Bush’s speech to the NAACP, a reporter asked Press Secretary Tony Snow about the lack of diversity in the White House. Snow reponded “You can come aboard and do personnel. You want it?.” Then Snow snapped saracstically, “Let me leave no one behind. Just, every group, raise your hand, we want you.”
Full transcript:
QUESTION: If he is proud of the diversity in his Cabinet, wouldn’t you expect him to improve diversity amongst the White House staff?
SNOW: What the president does is he looks for the best available people.
QUESTION: And they’re all white?
SNOW: I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?
You can come aboard and do personnel. You want it?
QUESTION: I’m asking a question.
SNOW: I know you are, but it’s an argumentative question that also applied to other previous administrations. Would we like more blacks and Hispanics on? Yes, sure.
QUESTION: And Asians?
SNOW: Asians, too, yes, thank you. Let me leave no one behind. Just, every group, raise your hand, we want you.