Janet Napolitano's security gaffes
Janet Napolitano, Obama's formerly popular pick for Homeland Security boss, tied herself in knots responding to the attempted Christmas Day terrorist attack on an airplane landing at the Detroit airport.
The device of Would-be attacker, Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, did not detonate, prompting Napolitano to conclude that the system worked
, hardly reassuring in the circumstances. In fact it was passengers and cabin crew who saved the day and restrained Abdulmutallab, an islamic extremist.
Abdulmutallab boarded his plane without having been detained by airport security.
On Monday, December 28 Napolitano reversed that statement, saying the system had failed miserably
, an assessment in line with that of the American public.
Unlike former vp hopeful Sarah Palin, Janet Napolitano has not won any beauty contests. Like many single, prominent women who are challenged in the looks department, Napolitano has faced accusations from the likes of Rush Limbaugh that she is a lesbian -- an accusation she denies. She is in focus today for responding badly over accusations that she and her department could do more to protect the United States from terrorist attack.
Janet Napolitano, or Manet as she's called by her Republican critics in Arizona, first caught our eye when she, just like her New Mexico governor colleague Bill Richardson, ticked off the Clintons by endorsing Obama.
Janet Napolitano and Barack Obama, back in the day when Napolitano's endorsement packed a punch
Since that endorsement, Napolitano has campaigned tirelessly for Obama. Along with Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius she has been invaluable to Obama for the knowledge she brings of reaching out to voters in red states.
Napolitano and Obama bonded well. After Obama's election victory she joined his transition team. Most pundits expected she'd get a cabinet post, with attorney general being the job they thought she'd get, though she's equally qualified to head homeland security or education.
As governor of a border state, she has excellent credentials on immigration and security, even though Republican critics say she learned her lessons a little too late. And the disarray of airport security put Napolitano under the spotlight over Christmas when a young Nigerian man tried to blow up a plane as it approached for landing at the Detroit Airport.
Janet Napolitano denies gay rumors
Gov. Napolitano is single and has had to suffer the same rumors that have dogged Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, that she is a lesbian, which would not be too popular in socially conservative Arizona. Attempting to stamp out the gossip, Napolitano has firmly told reporters in her state that she is not gay.
Ms. Napolitano's sexual orientation, whatever it is, gay straight, bi or something else, is her own business and has no bearing whatsoever on her ability to do a great job heading the homeland security department.
Perhaps the most vocal defender of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues in Obama's cabinet is Hillary Clinton, who has openly stated: I am proud that I hired a National Director of LGBT Outreach within a month of announcing my candidacy for President and to have openly gay and lesbian staffers serving at all levels of my campaign... I am proud to have a National LGBT Steering Committee of over 130 that includes openly LGBT elected officials, Board members and opinion leaders... I am proud to have marched in Gay Pride parades as both First Lady and as Senator and to have spoken in front of so many LGBT audiences.
Janet Napolitano surveys the damage done to airline security.
Napolitano is well known for preparing thoroughly for any task, which provides a contrast to her governor colleague Sarah Palin, who attempted to glide through her campaign on charm and looks. The two of them appeared together on Charlie Rose, with Palin answering "energy" to every question and Napolitano giving considerably more detailed and articulate responses.
Palin, after a spell in the spotlight, resumes her work in the backwater that is Alaska, while Napolitano readies herself to take on one of the most important jobs in Obama's cabinet.
Perhaps Gov. Palin will invite Secretary Napolitano to Alaska so that the two of them can look at Russia from Palin's house and assess the homeland security implications of Russian proximity to American soil.
By Rita Chavez