NAME: Xavier Becerra
NEW APPOINTMENT: U.S. Trade Representative (rumored)
HOW HE KNOWS OBAMA: He was an early supporter, endorsing him on January 27, 2008.
OTHER TOP POSITIONS: Congressman from California since 1993, member of
the House Ways and Means Committee and Hispanic Caucus, vice-chair of
the Democratic Caucus (as of November 20), and assistant to Speaker
Pelosi-making him the highest-ranking Latino in Congress; prior to
Congress, he was a member of California legislature and California
deputy attorney general; ran for Los Angeles mayor in 2001 and lost in
the primary
WHERE HE STANDS ON TRADE: Voted yes on promoting free trade with Peru in January 2008; no on Central American Free Trade Agreement in 2005;
yes on free trade with Australia, Singapore and Chile; no on
presidential fast-track authority on free trade agreements in 2002
TRIVIA: Has delivered the Hispanic response to the State of the Union
address; Voted against the bank bailout, even while assistant to
Speaker Pelosi, telling the NYT, "The last thing I need to do is go
back home and tell people I voted for $700 billion, some of which will
touch the same people that caused the problem, and I can't guarantee
taxpayers will recoup those costs."
--Seyward Darby