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Obama rewarding high-cash donors with plum overseas posts
Last Updated: 3:07 PM, July 11, 2013
Posted: 3:05 PM, July 11, 2013
President Obama has been rewarding big-money supporters with plum overseas jobs, continuing a pay-for-post trend that’s alarms career diplomats, according to a published report today.
Obama is far from the first chief executive to dole out key ambassador positions to campaign donors, but the practice appears to be reaching new heights, the Guardian newspaper of London reported.
The average amount of money raised by recent or pending appointees for Obama has soared to $1.8 million per job, the newspaper claims in its analysis of campaign-finance data.
"The giving of ambassadorships to people who have raised a lot of money for the campaign has increased and that's a concern to us in particular,” said Susan Johnson, president of the American Foreign Service Association, which represents career diplomats.
“There was some thought that with Obama being such a 'change agent' that he might really do things differently – but it has just been a bigger let down."
The left-leaning British daily cited several, recent postings that went to well-heeled Obama backers.
- President Obama recently tabbed former CNET Matthew Barzun to be ambassador to the United Kingdom, perhaps America’s most prestigious overseas gig. He raised $2.3 million for Obama’s 2012 campaign.
- Earlier this week, prominent Obama supporter John Phillips was nominated to be ambassador to Italy. Phillips has raised $500,000 for the president, according to The Guardian.
- Los Angeles fund manager John Emerson was nominated to be ambassador to Germany last month, after he reportedly raised $1.5 million for the president.
Thomas Pickering, US Ambassador to the United Nations between 1989 to 1992, said presidents naturally want pals to be their eyes and ears overseas. But if only the richest of those supporters get great gigs, that could be problematic.
"To some extent, this question of having the ear of the president, and who has it, shows the seriousness of the issue," said Pickering.
The White House insisted that President Obama’s ambassadors are the most skilled people for their postings.
"I am proud that such experienced and committed individuals have agreed to serve the American people in these important roles," said Obama in a statement issued with Barzun's appointment.
Read more: Obama rewarding high-cash donors with plum overseas posts - NYPOST.com http://www.nypost.com/p/news/nationa...#ixzz2Ylc6juh4
Last Updated: 3:07 PM, July 11, 2013
Posted: 3:05 PM, July 11, 2013
President Obama has been rewarding big-money supporters with plum overseas jobs, continuing a pay-for-post trend that’s alarms career diplomats, according to a published report today.
Obama is far from the first chief executive to dole out key ambassador positions to campaign donors, but the practice appears to be reaching new heights, the Guardian newspaper of London reported.
The average amount of money raised by recent or pending appointees for Obama has soared to $1.8 million per job, the newspaper claims in its analysis of campaign-finance data.
"The giving of ambassadorships to people who have raised a lot of money for the campaign has increased and that's a concern to us in particular,” said Susan Johnson, president of the American Foreign Service Association, which represents career diplomats.
“There was some thought that with Obama being such a 'change agent' that he might really do things differently – but it has just been a bigger let down."
The left-leaning British daily cited several, recent postings that went to well-heeled Obama backers.
- President Obama recently tabbed former CNET Matthew Barzun to be ambassador to the United Kingdom, perhaps America’s most prestigious overseas gig. He raised $2.3 million for Obama’s 2012 campaign.
- Earlier this week, prominent Obama supporter John Phillips was nominated to be ambassador to Italy. Phillips has raised $500,000 for the president, according to The Guardian.
- Los Angeles fund manager John Emerson was nominated to be ambassador to Germany last month, after he reportedly raised $1.5 million for the president.
Thomas Pickering, US Ambassador to the United Nations between 1989 to 1992, said presidents naturally want pals to be their eyes and ears overseas. But if only the richest of those supporters get great gigs, that could be problematic.
"To some extent, this question of having the ear of the president, and who has it, shows the seriousness of the issue," said Pickering.
The White House insisted that President Obama’s ambassadors are the most skilled people for their postings.
"I am proud that such experienced and committed individuals have agreed to serve the American people in these important roles," said Obama in a statement issued with Barzun's appointment.
Read more: Obama rewarding high-cash donors with plum overseas posts - NYPOST.com http://www.nypost.com/p/news/nationa...#ixzz2Ylc6juh4
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