Is this a nature vs nurture argument? Elder Gong was born in California, is Asian, and is the newest member of the Presidency of the Seventy. Does being Asian make him more of a role model? I don't think so. I look up to people for much different reasons than race or ethnicity. Role models should be based on the character of the role model. I do get what you are saying, and there is a natural tendency to view people of our own race or ethnicity as a better role model. I don't think it's right but I understand the tendency to do so.
In opposition to the argument that the church is passing up an opportunity to put people of a certain race or role model into the Quorum of the Twelve based solely on that classification, I think people may be passing up an opportunity to see the people called for who they are and gain an understanding of why they were called... to gain a testimony of why they were called. The newest called members of the Twelve should not categorically be dismissed as the best people to be called because they are white in skin color.