Obama appoints record number of Latinos

WASHINGTON, June 14 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has selected far more Hispanics for his administration than any previous president in American history, observers say.

The Houston Chronicle reported Sunday that Obama has tapped significant numbers of Latinos from California and Texas to serve in his administration.

Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said he credits California's large Latino population, its quality educational system and its concentration of "more progressive Latinos" for its high number of Obama administration picks.

The newspaper said Latinos have comprised 11 percent of Obama's first 300 nominees for senior administration positions requiring Senate confirmation.

Former President George W. Bush had appointed 5.5 percent Latinos during his first 18 months in office, while former President Bill Clinton filled 4.5 percent of his confirmable positions with Hispanics, the report said.

"This is a new America," said Simon Rosenberg, chief executive officer of the New Democrat Network. "America is going through one of the most profound demographic transformations in all of its history. The Obama administration is simply reflecting the emerging reality of America in the early 21st century."