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Home Front: Culture Wars

White House's Susan Rice: U.S. national security agencies are too white

2016-05-12

[Wash Times] In a White House often accused of being stacked with loyalists, President Obama’s national security adviser said Wednesday there are too many white people in key government posts, endangering national security because they think alike.

Speaking at Florida International University’s commencement, Susan E. Rice, who is black, said a diversified government workforce is more likely to yield "better outcomes" than a predominantly white one.

Referring to criticism that the U.S. national security workforce is "white, male and Yale," Ms. Rice told the graduates, "In the halls of power, in the faces of our national security leaders, America is still not fully reflected."

"By now, we should all know the dangers of ’groupthink,’ where folks who are alike often think alike," she said. "By contrast, groups comprised of different people tend to question one another’s assumptions, draw on divergent perspectives and experiences, and yield better outcomes."

Her comments were reminiscent of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who said in a speech in 2001, before Mr. Obama appointed her to the high court, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life."

Ms. Rice elaborated in her speech on how having more minorities in the national security field would better protect the homeland.

Posted by:Besoeker

#17 Problem is not "white male, yale". White does not matter, love of country does matter and non white families do not value patriotism as widely as white ones do, simple fact. Male because that is who has the most experience in combat and command, females do not. Problem is not white not male, problem is YALE. Elitists. Put state university in there.

Posted by: Pearl Jones3061 2016-05-12 22:30

#16 Since then, the Democrats have continued to reward her despite her all too obvious mediocrity.

You're mistaken. Democrats reward her because of her mediocrity.

Posted by: One Eyed Big Foot1131 2016-05-12 17:12

#15 I seem to recall that the demographic breakdown of the federal workforce is already disproportionately minority represented. Doesn't that give lie to her silly presumption?

Posted by: NoMoreBS 2016-05-12 16:34

#14 Is she suggesting: (1) whites got jobs over more qualified black candidates and that must change (2) that the government should hire extra black candidates despite the need to increase the numbers? (3) Or that we should have less qualified people in jobs as long as the colors are in the correct proportion.

I suspect 3 but I'd love to see someone ask her to sort hat out. I'd also like to see stats on "a diversified government workforce is more likely to yield "better outcomes" than a predominantly white one." which is a liberal truism but I'm not sure it is supported by data.

Posted by: rjschwarz 2016-05-12 15:29

#13 I guess the story of a pitcher which went to the well too often is not a part of US schools curriculum.

That's pretty obscure. Baseball fan?

Posted by: Shipman 2016-05-12 12:13

#12 Sometimes people just can't help revealing themselves. You would think they should know better but they just can't help it.

Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2016-05-12 11:58

#11 In 1995-6 Rice was in a position to capture Bin Laden. She passed on the deal. Since then, the Democrats have continued to reward her despite her all too obvious mediocrity.

Posted by: Dino Borgia3058 2016-05-12 08:17

#10 Considering that 95% of African Americans vote straight democrat I think the common thinking and race stereotype is more of an issue for people like Susan Rice..

Posted by: Airandee 2016-05-12 06:33

#9 I guess the story of a pitcher which went to the well too often is not a part of US schools curriculum.

Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2016-05-12 03:23

#8 She was implying that Colin Powell and Condie Rice performed better than the current self aggrandizing do nothing for anyone push overs. Withdraw & activate Iran is not a difficult policy to execute but it failed. States have interests unfortunately and peace is not at hand in Syris nor anywhere. What were the achievements? Her memoirs are unlikely to sell here nor even Europe. That will be the only downside. Harvard or Princeton appointments are in the wings. Why? Well FP is improved when diverse voices are heard? Really?

Posted by: Phomonter Bumble1518 2016-05-12 02:13

#7 "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life."

Would that involve teaching me how to make better tacos?

Posted by: Raj 2016-05-12 01:58

#6 We tried Affirmative Action Government and ended up with Obama, the worse president in history and, of course, Mrs. Rice herself - the liar of Benghazi.

No thanks. Let's go with merit.

Posted by: CrazyFool 2016-05-12 01:45

#5 YOU, all of YOU in this administration should be thrown in prison.

Not a one of you are worth a shit.

Gallows were made for useless people that abused power like you.

Do you have any idea how many people have died just because you stupid useless assholes breathed and took the place of professionals?

No. And you do not care. But GOD Does and that is all that will matter in the end.

You need to quietly close up shop and find a place to quietly die. Period.
Keep spouting off and I will have to say a bad prayer and you don't want that.

Posted by: newc 2016-05-12 01:19

Absolutely impeccable credentials.

Posted by: Besoeker 2016-05-12 01:07

#3 Susan E. Rice, who is black, said a diversified government workforce is more likely to yield “better outcomes” than a predominantly white one.

Is there any example of this happening at any time or instance?

Posted by: Penguin of the Desert 2016-05-12 00:50

#2 Can anyone spewing this shit just be shot as their stupidity is a danger to themselves and others?

Please?

Posted by: DarthVader 2016-05-12 00:44

#1 Ms. Rice elaborated in her speech on how having more minorities in the national security field would better protect the homeland.

Oh yeah, like you've been doing such a bang-up job on that front yourself, honey - your own performance these past couple of years is a convincing refutation of your own argument. Now fuck off.

Posted by: Raj 2016-05-12 00:27

00:00