Qualified

I watched the Inauguration yesterday (it actually just ended as I am writing this) and I was, as I always am, moved by the speeches and the prayers and the music, to feel a little more “American” than on a regular day.

I thought Biden did a great job with is first address to the nation as President of the United States. You could tell toward the end he was getting a little winded and tripped over the last few paragraphs a little, but in the beginning, he was inspiring. I don’t know who came up with his “Un-Civil War” line, but that was a good one.

In the next few days, Biden, Vice President Harris and the rest of the new administration will get down to the business of setting up shop. Among that business will be hundreds of appointments, to cabinet positions, to judicial seats, to ambassador roles. I’m sure it’s an exhausting process, but it’s also an important one.

Something I hope Biden does when making these appointments is focus on merit and quality. I mean, I’m sure he will, but I also mean that I hope he selects the people for these positions based solely on their qualifications and not checking off some progressive-minded check list.

I have absolutely no problem with a female or Muslim or member of the LGBTQ community or Hispanic or person of any minority holding a cabinet position or sitting atop a federal court, but let’s not make it a priority. Let’s put the best person for the job in that role and not worry about making the quota on diversity. This is a time to put our best and brightest to work. Let’s do that!