Obama's black appointments

Barack Obama has proved many of his critics wrong and shown himself to be a quick study.

Last month, the right was calling him a socialist who would ruin the economy. This month they're calling him center-right and begging for him to calm the markets.

Last week they criticized the president-elect for his silence during the economic crisis. This week he hasn't shut up. He's held two press conferences already to unveil his economic team, and he's holding another this morning.

But one of the most noticeable changes has happened with the issue of race. A year ago, critics were still debating if Obama was "black enough." Now he's got Jesse Jackson crying in public and former critics raving about his "historic" presidential campaign.

Jackson, Sharpton, even Farrakhan, are all on board and surprisingly, on message.

And for those African Americans who worried just a few days ago that Obama would neglect to appoint blacks to his Administration, he seems to be proving them wrong as well.

Obama's Black Appointments

In the past week alone, we've heard of at least six African Americans who will join his new team, including Eric Holder, who will become the nation's first African American Attorney General.

In addition to Holder, Obama selected Valerie Jarrett to be his White House senior advisor, Melody Barnes to lead his Domestic Policy Council, Patrick Gaspard to be his political director, Desirée Rogers to become White House Social Secretary and Rob Nabors to be Deputy OMB Director.

That means two of the six members of his economic team are African Americans at a time when economic issues are the most important concern facing the country. And three of the most influential people in the White House -- Gaspard, Jarrett and Rogers -- are also African American.

And he's just getting started.

We still don't know what will happen with Susan Rice, Obama's senior foreign policy adviser, who may play an influential role in the new administration. The president-elect is expected to name his national security team next week.

We may also see a role for Cassandra Butts, Brian Mathis, and Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL), Obama's Harvard Law School classmates who helped him win the election. Butts serves as general counsel to the transition team and Mathis is a Wall Street investment banker who served in the Treasury Department under Bill Clinton.

Obama's former professors could also be involved. Former Harvard Law Professor Chris Edley, currently dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, already serves on the transition team, and current Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree has also been an adviser and vocal supporter of the Obama campaign.

And sometimes the most influential positions are actually outside the government, as Vernon Jordan learned when he served as a golf buddy and informal adviser to President Bill Clinton during his administration. They call them FOBs. In the Clinton Administration, they were "friends of Bill," but in the Obama Administration they are "friends of Barack."

Perhaps Rep. Davis, who reportedly has his eyes on higher office in Alabama, may be a prominent FOB, playing a major role for Obama without giving up his seat in Congress. Similarly, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, who was mentioned as a possible pick for Attorney General, may also play a supporting role for Obama from his perch in Boston.

There could also be a role for Dr. Eric Whitaker, Obama's basketball buddy who got his master's in public health while Obama was getting his law degree. Or for John Rogers, the prominent Chicago businessman who was appointed this week as co-chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

But it's only November, and Obama has 55 days before he takes office. So for all those with résumés in the mix, there still may be hope.