IN THE MIX:Attorney general disappoints

I wonder if recently resigned Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales is as irritating to conservatives as he is to Latinos.

I think he must be an embarrassment to all of us who believe in the structure of our government and the importance of keeping the powers balanced and actions constitutional.

With all the brainy and ethical Republicans out there and with all the brainy and ethical Latinos out there, they couldn’t find one who wouldn’t make decisions that could break the public’s faith in the government?

It is embarrassing to watch Gonzales sit before the Senate and dance around his words in an effort not to be caught in a lie or admit to breaking the law.

Fortunately for conservatives, there are plenty more examples available to make you proud. Not so for Latinos. Minorities are still trying to build representation in Washington so every brown face feels like a victory, even when it’s a sham.

I should have learned my lesson from Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas — what an embarrassment he is. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa comes to mind too. This is a pretty highly respected Latino seeming to be gearing himself up for some kind of run at higher office and then he just throws it all away. Sure, the mistress was cute, but was she worth losing all that respect from people who believed in him?

Of course there are minorities like Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Barack Obama, Loretta and Linda Sanchez and Bill Richardson, who have come to power and proven to be effective and intelligent. I’ve taken issue with a few decisions and comments Rice has made — especially when backing the administration about the war, but she is smart and generally ethical.

But because the list of minorities in higher office is so short, it is a big deal when one makes it to the inner circle. I knew Alberto Gonzales was a George Bush yes-man when he was appointed, but I thought, at least he’s a Latino yes-man. It’s nice to have representation in government of all our country’s people.

Obviously it shouldn’t matter what race someone is. As we vote we should only be concerned about the job they’re doing and whether they are responding to your concerns.

But for some reason it makes a difference to see someone from your ethnic or social background holding that position of power. It says a lot to people, especially children, who need to be reminded of all they can achieve and that some of society’s walls are surmountable.

There’s also a general feeling that someone who comes from your background can better understand your needs and will consider that demographic as real people, not just votes.

It’s easy to disregard people or to lump them all into one neat stereotype when you are not familiar with them. When you don’t know them, it’s harder to think of them as individuals with varying backgrounds and surprisingly similar concerns.

But it seems Gonzales was watching out for only one demographic, the president. Obviously just being a minority doesn’t earn you the automatic respect of your ethnic community.

Gonzales is one big disappointment. We should have known. He was notorious in Texas, when he was a senior advisor to Bush, secretary of state and a Texas Supreme Court Justice, for doing what the governor wanted and not necessarily what was legally or constitutionally sound.

How can we be surprised now when we find he disregards the constitution and the responsibilities of the office of the attorney general to serve his president. I realize it sounds noble to serve your president. But he knows, as everyone in government knows, it’s not the president they are supposed to represent. It’s the people and it’s the constitution.

I hope that from this experience — and a few other recent events — leaders will think twice about who they surround themselves with in office. But I think people in power will continue to reward loyalty over competence and comfortable friends over sharp analysts.

At the very least I hope the friends who are brought on board have the integrity to stand up for what is right for the public. If not, I hope the American people and the press have the strength not to put up with anymore corrupters of the constitution.