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Big Dem Donors Score Plum Ambassadorships*
May 28, 2009 2:13 PM
ABC News' Jake Tapper and Kirit Radia report:
Yo Gabba Gabba, indeed.
President Obama last night announced his intention to nominate a dozen individuals to key ambassadorships. Among them: entertainment executive and Democratic fundraiser Charles Rivkin, who the president has tapped to be Ambassador to France.
In 2005 Rivkin became president and CEO of W!LDBRAIN, an award-winning entertainment company that produces the Nickelodeon hit “Yo Gabba Gabba!” He served as the co-finance chair in California of then-Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.
President Obama also named the former Vice Chairman of Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking Louis Susman to be Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.
Susman, too, was a top fundraiser for Mr. Obama’s presidential campaign. Four years before that he was the national finance chairman for Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
Of the dozen ambassadors named last night, one third -- four -- have experience serving in government posts abroad: Christopher William Dell, named to be Ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo; Patricia A. Butenis, to be Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives; Robert S. Connan, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Iceland; and Thomas A. Shannon, to be Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil.
The other eight – while they have myriad other accomplishments -- do not appear to have such credentials, despite President Obama’s pledge on January 9 that he would have civil servants “wherever possible” serve in foreign posts.
“We have outstanding public servants,” the president said, “and I've spoken with Secretary of State designee, Hillary Clinton, about the importance of rejuvenating the State Department. I want to recruit young people into the State Department to feel that this is a career track that they can be on for the long term. And so, you know, my expectation is that high quality civil servants are going to be rewarded."
The president did at the time allow that there would be some political appointees to ambassadorships.
“There probably will be some,” he said. “It would be disingenuous for me to suggest that there are not going to be some excellent public servants but who haven't come through -- through the ranks of the civil service.”
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs today praised the president for being "exceedingly forthcoming" in January about political appointees.
"Yesterday we rolled out a number of both career and non- career ambassadorial appointments," Gibbs said. "I think you see a group of committed individuals and proven professionals that are eager to serve their country. Some of those individuals were fundraisers. Some of those were career ambassadors. Some of those were people that left -- either teaching or some other thing like that, like Miguel Diaz, to become our ambassadorial appointment to the Vatican, somebody who is -- has a distinguished record; or a congressman like Tim Roemer, who has served on the 9/11 Commission and with some distinction in Congress to be our ambassador to India."
Gibbs described Rivkin as "a friend of the president" who speaks French and "who has a strong professional background, desires to serve this country. And the president believes he'll be good -- he'll be good as the next ambassador to France."
Of course, appointing big donors and pals to plum ambassadorships is nothing new.
As was reported at the time, the first 35 diplomatic appointments of this kind made by President Bush donated an average of $141,110 to him and other GOP campaigns and committees in the previous election cycle.
As ABC News’ Justin Rood points out, this 1908 New York Times story asks, “Can a poor man represent the United States in these latter days in a diplomatic capacity in Europe?”
The American Foreign Service Association, the union that represents US diplomats, says that it “urges that only the most qualified individuals be appointed to represent the United States critical interests around the world, especially as ambassadors.”
The organization has urged that that the non-career portion of ambassadors be reduced from the informal historical average of 30 percent to a maximum of 10 percent. By its current totals, AFSA estimates that President Obama’s political non-career appointees are somewhere in between those two percentages.
AFSA cautions that the jury is still out on what the final percentage of political appointees will be as there are 37 ambassador positions still unfilled.
- Jake Tapper and Kirit Radia
* This post has been updated with quotes from Gibbs from the briefing.
May 28, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (71)
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Anyone know why a plum is a good thing... other than Jack Horner.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 28, 2009 5:27:39 PM
I don't know if they have to be approved, maybe they just get a plane ride.. I only come here to read.. I hate politics.. I ignored it until the market crashed and they started talking about tax increases... otherwise I would just go to the Bloomberg and WSJ.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 28, 2009 5:26:23 PM
I always thought that the ambassadors to England and France actually had to know something about foreign policy. I guess not.
This is all so corrupt.
Posted by: Arnoldresignnow | May 28, 2009 5:25:20 PM
Bush's appointees were selected by a BBQ Rib Cook-off.. ties were broken by a three alarm chili contest...
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 28, 2009 5:24:02 PM
DontGet818OnMeNow - Thanks, you brought up something I'm not sure of. They confirm Ambassadors? For some reason I thought it was just an appointment. Any info would be appreciated.
Posted by: Try the truth | May 28, 2009 5:22:18 PM
At least his appointee to France speaks fluent French. All of Bush's appointees did not speak the language of the country and most made no attempt to learn it. While Obama did not get rid of the tradition of appointing fundraisers, he at least is trying to appoint more qualified people.
Posted by: Tom Ledford | May 28, 2009 5:21:45 PM
paul - No it's not saying that. You specifically say " Obama's politics as usual." Not politics as usual. With the Obama's your denoting ownership. Are you dizzy from trying to spin that one yet!? Call me partisan all you like. Your showing your partisanship. Your words are there, yet you try and spin and deny. I have read your post carefully and comprehend it's meaning. Funny, you speak to me of truth when your own words are staring you in the face and you deny what you wrote. Pathetic!
Posted by: Try the truth | May 28, 2009 5:19:40 PM
I thought about Huntsman, good answer.. after he's confirmed..if he wasn't already...
I always think of Papa Joe Kennedy and the kids going to Great Britain.. the cruel irony of an Irish Catholic serving (and he was also the first SEC head)...
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 28, 2009 5:16:02 PM
First, I don't know what an Ambassador does day to day so why should I care? Secondly, who should get the appointments? A career politician?...if you could find someone who would take such a meaningless job. Or an outsider who has not contributed financially to any campaign?..somone like Joe the Plumber?
In the end ambassadorships are pretty meaningless and I see no harm rewarding contributors..
Posted by: indy_voter | May 28, 2009 5:12:45 PM
whatashame - Ok, now please show me my post that said you hated him. Another thing you won't be able to find. When cornered you turn victim. All I asked was factual back up for you statements. You know there are none. Oh, and it's TRY THE TRUTH!
Posted by: Try the truth | May 28, 2009 5:12:11 PM
"I love Yo Gabba Gabba, but this is just more of Obama's politics as usual."
"Try the Truth" - That statement clearly says that Obama is carrying on with "politics as usual" as he has been. That means that he is doing nothing different than those who came before him -- he carries out the same corrupt "politics as usual" policies that Bush carried out before him. Again, you seem to be too partisan to see clearly, but you may want to read more carefully and also take the advice of your own moniker.
Posted by: paul | May 28, 2009 5:10:51 PM
DontGet818OnMeNow ----
Utah Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. to China
Posted by: Try the truth | May 28, 2009 5:09:09 PM
try to trust: doesn't matter what I send or what I say, you have your opinion and I have mine. That is the American way. But don't say I hate him because that is a lie you are starting. Shame on you. If you believe he never said it, that is all that will ever matter to you. I hope he really turns out to be the perfect president you want him to be....for all our sakes. But you really need to get rid of your distain for anyone who doesn't share your opinion. You will soon learn that no one is perfect, including BO. When you do, I hope it does not destroy you. Have a great day.
Posted by: whatashame | May 28, 2009 5:08:53 PM
"That was Jan. 9th. I am refering to his promise involving the "culture of corruption in Washington" during his campaigning, pointing to a lack of integrity"
Obama has sought to make government more transparent and has done a pretty good job so far.
I am having trouble finding a quote of Obama saying culture of corruption though that certainly was a Democratic mantra in 2006. Got any?
Posted by: Ryan C | May 28, 2009 5:08:51 PM
Let's all try to name a U.S. ambassador (say in the last 35 years) that was appointed because they were qualified for the job. I'm not going to participated, because I can't name any ambassadors...
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 28, 2009 5:05:04 PM
whatashame - I did go and I listened most importantly I comprehended. Your words "The difference is, BO said he WASN'T going to do them and that there would be change. He needs to keep his word." HE NEVER SAID THAT! If you still believe he said it, please provide the link. Can't be hard, everyone of his campaign stops was written about and is on video. You just want to bash him for something HE NEVER SAID! His statement has been posted by Jake, by me and others! Stop pointing the finger and prove your statement as we all have here!
Posted by: Try the truth | May 28, 2009 5:00:48 PM
KR - We get it, the man can do no right in your eyes! The number of lobbyists is how many? But in your eyes one would be too much! It's all or nothing with you. I only hope in your private life you hold yourself to the same standards you hold our President to!
Posted by: Try the truth | May 28, 2009 4:54:46 PM
JHW539: I do not hate BO. I do not even know him. I find it impossible to hate someone I do not know. I do think it is wrong of you to jump to such a conclusion about me just because I think he did something that he eluded to in his campaign he would not do. It doesn't mean I have given up on him. I am just a bit disappointed. That does not make me hate him. You appear to be the hater here --- you seem to hate everyone that does not agree with your point of view. Maybe you and "try to trust" should have gone to some of his campaign stops like I did and heard first hand some of his promises: not what you read in the paper or on these sites.
Posted by: whatashame | May 28, 2009 4:53:37 PM
I wouldn't even care if they hadn't started this Change we can believe in.. stuff.. D.C. is ruled by money, Wall Street is ruled by money and our whole society seems to believe into the sanctity of money.. Change no, believing, the verdict is still out.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 28, 2009 4:51:07 PM
"“There probably will be some,” he said. “It would be disingenuous for me to suggest that there are not going to be some excellent public servants but who haven't come through -- through the ranks of the civil service.”
That was Jan. 9th. I am refering to his promise involving the "culture of corruption in Washington" during his campaigning, pointing to a lack of integrity. Its nothing new, he already broke that promise with his lobbyist buddies in the cabinet. This just piles more on.
Posted by: KR | May 28, 2009 4:44:44 PM
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