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Straight talk is what you expect from Colin Powell, who has always enjoyed a good reputation among African-Americans, despite the abysmal ratings Bush receives. That's why so many were disappointed at Powell's role in pushing the fantasy of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction to the United Nations as a rationale for war. For the first time, it suggested he went against his own convictions in order to please his boss. Previously, Powell was regarded as one of the few members of the Bush administration with the stones to tell the president what he thought. It was widely reported Powell told Bush that if he invaded Iraq, it was tantamount to what he called "The Pottery Barn rule." As in, "You break it, you own it." Well, no one disputes that Iraq is certainly broken today. Now Powell is out, to be replaced by Condoleezza Rice, a black woman so closely linked to Bush's ideology that some speculate they can finish each other's sentences. It's a frightening scenario for those who reasonably expect Bush's senior advisers to offer a diversity of opinion when it comes to matters of war and destruction. That won't happen now. Diversity is a word used often for the Bush administration these days, with some suggesting more blacks should appreciate his appointment of several high-profile minorities to cabinet positions. Not so fast. It seems the Bush administration has never been as diverse as some claim. A Newsday analysis of diversity claims made by Bush at the same UNITY convention where Powell appeared found that Bush's overall record of diversity pales when compared to the standard set by his predecessor, Bill Clinton. An analysis of the roughly 2,800 political posts that form a presidential administration found Bush lacking in significant areas.

Blacks held 7% of administration jobs under Bush, less than half of the 16% they held under Clinton.
Women won 36% of Bush's appointments, noticeably fewer than the 44% of Clinton's. [more]