Say what you will about the ill-experienced Commander-in-Chief to-be, but President-elect Barack Obama clearly understands when it’s politically advantageous to engage in ethnic-, religious-, or regional-based politics and, just as important, when it’s not. The former being in the heat of an election, the latter being, well, anytime one is actually governing.

Sane political observers knew it would happen, but finally others are beginning to wise up. First gays, 70% of which voted for Obama, were offended with Obama’s selection of Reverend Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, and now, African Americans, an astounding 97% of which voted for Obama, have joined the growing ranks of disillusioned, pissed-off supporters. The Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call reports that members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) have taken offense with Obama’s rather pasty Cabinet picks, only four of which have been African Americans.

Uncontrollable hilarity ensues.

Congressman Danny Davis (D-Ill.), who supported Obama before he became a cultural phenomenon, expressed some mild dissatisfaction in Obama’s selections, though he said on balance the picks were acceptable. “Did the African-American community probably expect more appointees at that level? Probably so. … [H]e ended up with a real rainbow. But some people, sure, thought there should be a bit more color in it.” Davis’ positive sentiments, however, were not shared by other more senior members of the CBC, one of which – who only gave comment on the condition of anonymity – said Obama “isn’t doing enough for the black folks.” Right…

Categorizing potential candidates by race, ethnicity, and sexuality instead of actual accomplishments and preparedness stand to benefit minority communities how, exactly? Obama is without a doubt a shrewd political practitioner skilled at coalition building, but never has he endangered his success for short-lived political points with minority communities. Despite being the first African American Presidential candidate from a major American political party, his campaign leadership was not as diverse as some in the African American community would have expected. David Axelrod, white; David Plouffe, white; Robert Gibbs, white. Obama didn’t select Axelrod, Plouffe, and Gibbs, et al, because of their race, he chose them because of their résumé. There is no reason to assume he’ll do anything to the contrary for his remaining Cabinet picks.

The Congressional Black Caucus needs a wake-up call and I sincerely hope they get it, too.