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| Home Front: Politix |
| Obama ambassadorships surprisingly affordable |
| 2009-06-13 |
| President Barack Obama on Thursday tapped four big Democratic Party donors for plum ambassadorships in Europe and Latin America while naming six career diplomats to posts in Africa, the Mideast and the Pacific. Washington lawyer Howard Gutman, who raised more than $500,000 for Obama's campaign and personally contributed the maximum $4,600 to it, was nominated to be the next U.S. envoy to Belgium, the White House said in a statement. Gutman also contributed $2,300 to now Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks money in politics. Obama named former Virginia Lt. Gov. Donald Beyer to be ambassador to Switzerland and Luxembourg. Beyer, who made his money as a car dealer, raised more than $500,000 for Obama and also contributed $4,600 to his campaign, according to the center. Vinai Thummalapally, a Colorado business executive and Obama friend who raised between $100,000 and $200,000 for the campaign and donated $4,500 to it, was named the next U.S. ambassador to Belize. Thummalapally's wife, Barbara, contributed $2,800 to Obama, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Obama also named Washington lawyer Mark Gitenstein, who donated more than $4,000 to now Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign and contributed $1,500 to Clinton's campaign to be ambassador to Romania. Career diplomats were nominated on Thursday to be envoys to Burundi, Tunisia, the Marshall Islands, Oman and Suriname. Obama also chose retired Army Gen. Alfonso Lenhardt to be ambassador to Tanzania. |
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| #9 List of persons so honored can be found here |
| Posted by: Jusonter Forkbeard5139 2009-06-13 19:19 |
| #8 Please compare the above "Ambassadors" to the real thing - eye opening, is it not ? Creation of Position: The class of Career Ambassador was first established by an Act of Congress on Aug 5, 1955, as an amendment to the Foreign Service act of 1946 (P.L. 84-250; 69 Stat. 537). Under its provisions, the President with the advice and consent of the Senate was empowered to appoint individuals to the class who had (1) served at least 15 years in a position of responsibility in a government agency, including at least 3 years as a Career Minister; (2) rendered exceptionally distinguished service to the government; and (3) met other requirements prescribed by the Secretary of State. Under the 1980 Foreign Service Act (P.L. 96-465; 94 Stat. 2084), which repealed the 1946 Act as amended, the President is empowered with the advice and consent of the Senate to confer the personal rank of Career Ambassador upon a career member of the Senior Foreign Service in recognition of especially distinguished service over a sustained period. Except as noted, all persons included in this list are also listed in this volume under the country and Department positions they held. |
| Posted by: Jusonter Forkbeard5139 2009-06-13 19:16 |
| #7 I'd be more upset if this hadn't been going on for 200 years - How do you think Joe "the Bootlegger" Kennedy ever got to be ambassador to the Court of St James. Yeah another democrat, but do you believe the GOP doesn't pay in kind? |
| Posted by: Lumpy Hupeper3653 2009-06-13 14:02 |
| #6 Jack is Back: Pi**er it is when in 6 months or less in the postion they've .... completely gone |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-06-13 10:46 |
| #5 Yeah, but what's the cost-benefit ratio? Sure, it's a cushy job, but what are the pay and perk benefits? |
| Posted by: Bobby 2009-06-13 10:41 |
| #4 Wasn't "Gutman" the Sidney Greenstreet character in Maltese Falcon? Perfect casting for those filthy Belgians. |
| Posted by: regular joe 2009-06-13 09:25 |
| #3 Besoeker: As long as they are aware of it. I can tell you from personal experience this is sometimes more often the case then not. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2009-06-13 08:27 |
| #2 For those who may not be entirely aware, these people had an absolutely extraordinary amount of influence over the approval and scope of intelligence related activities within thier assigned countries. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-06-13 07:23 |
| #1 Best Government Money can buy. |
| Posted by: Mstrmech 2009-06-13 05:34 |