In a discussion regarding President Obama’s recent appointment of Loretta Lynch for Attorney General, Harvard professor and Obama confidant Charles Ogletree told MSNBC host Joy Reid it’s about time the Obama administration takes gender equality seriously, saying he hopes it starts “a trend that women will be treated equally with men” when it comes to filling appointments within the administration. Ogletree also noted that it’s “way over time that we have another woman in that position.”
Prof. Charles Ogletree: She’s both fair and tough. I’ve had a chance to deal with her when she was U.S. Attorney in New York. And I think that it’s hard to find someone with her qualifications, her experience and her dedication to getting things right. I didn’t disagree with every decision she made, I disagreed with a lot of them, but i think her ability to handle this job, and finally, as i said on this show before that we need to have a woman in the attorney general’s office, this is a great person to follow Janet Reno. I think she will do a terrific job if confirmed by both Democrats and Republicans.
Joy Reid: As Patrick Leahy, the current head of the judiciary committee said…just because she’s President Obama’s nominee, there’s going to be at least something of a fight over her, we can anticipate. and from your point of view, knowing President Obama as you do, do you believe that this is somebody that he picked in a sense to pick that fight or because she might be able to be easily confirmed?
Ogletree: I don’t think for any of those reasons. I think it really is that she’s the best qualified person. And I think he’s understanding that, and I haven’t agreed with all of his appointments. I think he’s made some good appointments. He’s made some bad appointments. I think he’s been mixed in that respect. But I think here Loretta Lynch is a person that has all the experience you need. She’ll be a tough attorney general. It’s time, way over time, that we have another woman in that position. I hope this will start a trend that women will be treated equally with men when talking about filling appointments in the administration.