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January 13, 2009

Fred Hochberg to Be Named Head of Export-Import Bank

Fred Hochberg to Be Named Head of Export-Import Bank

Fred Hochberg, the gay man who headed the Small Business Administration under President Bill Clinton, will be named by incoming President Barack Obama as the director of the Export-Import Bank, ABC News reports. Hochberg, a longtime figure in both Democratic and gay politics, had been buzzed about as a possible replacement for Bill Richardson at the Commerce Department, but his appointment to the bank means that Obama's cabinet will remain without a single gay member.

Hochberg was deputy administrator and then acting administrator of the SBA. More recently he was the dean of the Milano School of Management at the New School in New York City.

He supported Hillary Clinton in last year's Democratic primary.

The Export-Import Bank, according to ABC News, is the federal government's export credit arm and finances sales of goods exported from the U.S. Hochberg will be the bank's first openly gay director.

The Human Rights Campaign, where Hochberg has been on the board and is currently a member of the group's public policy committee, hailed the expected appointment.

"Fred is one of the most highly qualified and experienced public servants in our community, and the fact that President-elect Obama has tapped him for such an important economic position speaks well for the LGBT community," HRC president Joe Solmonese said in a statement. (Advocate.com)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: sam
    Date posted: 2009-01-12 9:23 AM
    Hometown: los angeles

    Comment:

    More evidence that Obama and the Democrats are afraid of gay men. They're fine in minor positions but heaven forbid they be given important portfolios with prominent media coverage. Obama and the Democrats will lose votes over this.


  • Name: Tony
    Date posted: 2009-01-10 9:31 PM
    Hometown: NYC

    Comment:

    Don't forget he is letting a gay band march in the inaugural parade. Obama is being very inclusive, He's saving us a nice seat right in the back of the bus.


  • Name: don anderson
    Date posted: 2009-01-09 7:57 PM
    Hometown: puerto vallarta, mexico

    Comment:

    ART M: it's nice to know that someone else is keeping a sense of reality about obama. i'm VERY skeptical. an old time leftie.


  • Name: Roger Burr
    Date posted: 2009-01-09 5:13 PM
    Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

    Comment:

    Kudos to this good gentleman. I wish him the best. It is heartening to see we are making ever increasing, albeit slow, progress in areas of public visibility. Once we get an openly-gay CABINET level appointment; we will REALLY have arrived! Congratulations, Mr. Hochberg.


  • Name: Art M.
    Date posted: 2009-01-09 4:15 PM
    Hometown: SF>CA>USA

    Comment:

    Wow! What an OVERWHELMING inclusion into Obama's Administration! Whoddathunk that we'd be so MAGNANIMOUSLY represented in a Liberal Democrat's administration? Oh wait - they're the ones who're supposed to be supportive of us, aren't they? Nevermind... Oh well, I'm sure Freddie will do quite nicely in his little sinecure. So we only have one (or is it two) gay people in his government? At least he's not going to have some homophobic Xtian hatemonger going to give an address at the inaugaration! What? HE IS??? Nevermind...


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