US diplomats cry foul as Obama donors take over top embassy jobs

[FarCenter]

Barack Obama has rewarded some of his most active campaign donors with plum jobs in foreign embassies, with the average amount raised by recent or imminent appointees soaring to $1.8m per post, according to a Guardian analysis.

The practice is hardly a new feature of US politics, but career diplomats in Washington are increasingly alarmed at how it has grown. One former ambassador described it as the selling of public office.

On Tuesday, Obama's chief money-raiser Matthew Barzun became the latest major donor to be nominated as an ambassador, when the White House put him forward as the next representative to the Court of St James's, a sought-after posting whose plush residence comes with a garden second only in size to that of Buckingham Palace.

As campaign finance chairman, Barzun helped raise $700m to fund President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign. More than $2.3m of this was raised personally by Barzun, pictured, according to party records leaked to the New York Times, even though he had only just finished a posting as ambassador to Sweden after contributing to Obama's first campaign.

State Department veterans are increasingly concerned about the size of donations raised by political supporters who go on to take up top foreign posting. Thomas Pickering, who recently led the investigation into lethal attacks on the US embassy in Libya and represented the US at the United Nations, claimed the practice had become nothing more than "simony" – the selling of public office.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/10/obama-donors-top-embassy-jobs-rewards

[Scurrilous]

1. Oh, the humanity. n/t

[Aerows]

3. I take it this doesn't bother you in the slightest?

I'm curious.

[geek tragedy]

65. Why would appointing an exceptionally qualified person whom the President

deeply respects and trusts be cause for concern?

[Aerows]

40. Hit and run

with that hideous avatar. Who would have thought.

[geek tragedy]

2. I'll take "things that are a scandal now that a black Democrat is doing them" for $1000, Alex. nt

[Aerows]

4. I'll take "things that would be a scandal under a Republican President" for $2000, Alex. n/t

[geek tragedy]

8. This has never been considered a scandal. The ambassador to England

and positions like it are ceremonial positions that always go to political supporters, not career diplomats.

[Aerows]

13. I know

But to think it is racially motivated instead of holding Democratic officials to a higher standard than Republican ones is silly. I voted for Obama, a better candidate than a Republican. I will never stop hoping for him to be a better person than a Republican. If that makes me a "traitor" to the Democratic party, so be it.

[geek tragedy]

18. Wasn't considered a scandal under Carter or Clinton. nt

[Aerows]

19. Everything under Clinton and Carter

was considered a scandal, and let's not pretend that it wasn't. Did you forget Clinton getting hounded for everything under the sun until they impeached him for lying before Congress about something that had nothing to do with the nation?

Were you alive during the Clinton administration?

[geek tragedy]

21. Clinton got caught committing perjury.

he should never have had to testify about such matters in office, but he did perjure himself

[Aerows]

22. After every single damaging thing

could be excavated about him and bore no fruit. Remember Whitewater? If you tell me that Clinton got the kid gloves treatment and Obama is getting the Golden gloves treatment by Republicans, you don't know Republicans.

[geek tragedy]

25. Obama learned the lesson from Clinton.

Clinton was careless and left himself open to those attacks.

The Republicans have been able to make nothing stick, nothing. Not even a whiff of impropriety.

It drives some people batty to hear this, but Obama has been about as squeaky clean of a President as we've ever had. Even Jimmy Carter had Bert Lance.

[Aerows]

29. It doesn't drive me crazy

It's a good thing. Comparing criticism of the President for policy choices with being a racist does, however, annoy the shit out of me. It's like you have no cards left.

[geek tragedy]

31. A lot of the criticism Obama gets is embedded with racist stuff.

Especially the stuff about how he golfs or his family is enjoying too much luxury. Because they're not good enough to live like every President's family before them has.

[Aerows]

34. When the discussion is about that, then it's a discussion about that

Otherwise, I see disputes among Democrats about policy and to try to convert that into race-based criticism is wrong. Take the race-based criticism to Freeperville where they originated. Here on DU, we are talking about facts, and trying to play "hurt feelings, you racist because you disagree with me" here where people have been solely focused on the issues seems wrong to me.

[geek tragedy]

35. Sorry, I respectfully disagree. It's part of a pattern, in my opinion. nt

[Aerows]

38. It may well be in your mind

But it isn't in the heart, soul and mind of everyone posting here. And I'd venture to guess it would be in the heart soul and mind of even the vast minority here. Most of us know how to get along and decry racism. Nobody is perfect here, but I doubt you will find too many here that hate the POTUS because he's black - they dislike his policies because they disagree with him on policy.

[geek tragedy]

42. Per the comments from the link:

The best democracy money can buy!? Any non-Caucasians???

So, that element is there.

[Aerows]

44. Did someone from DU

make that comment? Is everyone from DU suddenly responsible for every comment that people on the internet make? Good grief.

[geek tragedy]

48. I never accused anyone from DU of racism on this point nt

[Aerows]

50. It sure seemed like a blanket

was being spread over all of DU, since, you know, you conflated said comment with DU posters.

[geek tragedy]

52. nope, meant the reporting nt

[Aerows]

53. Looked like conflating DU

posters to me with people that make racist comments, and I'm not inclined to let you blow that off since that is what you did, and anyone with eyes can see it.

"it isn't in the heart, soul and mind of everyone posting here. And I'd venture to guess it would be in the heart soul and mind of even the vast minority here. Most of us know how to get along and decry racism. Nobody is perfect here, but I doubt you will find too many here that hate the POTUS because he's black - they dislike his policies because they disagree with him on policy. "

Which "here" did you think I meant, Disney World, or DU?

[geek tragedy]

55. Here is what I wrote:

I'll take "things that are a scandal now that a black Democrat is doing them" for $1000, Alex. nt

Sorry, that is not a reference to DU. With respect, I do not care whether you are willing to let me off the hook with this. I reject your characterizing, and quite honestly this discussion has become tedious.

Last word is yours.

[Aerows]

56. It became tedious the instant you conflated DU posters

with racist internet posters, and now you choose to run from your statements by running as far away from your statements as possible.

Thanks for the last word. At least you know when you are in a hole to quit digging in it . I admire that in a person.

[Ed Suspicious]

81. Bullshit. Rancher Bush got tons of criticism from me for golf. "Now watch me hit this drive."

Oh yeah, and the fucker was constantly on vacation cutting brush at the ranch, and that riled me up as well.

[geek tragedy]

87. Yes, because Bush truly did spend way too much time on vacation.

Much moreso than Obama. But the press has never figured that out.

[RC]

23. The case was a civil case and the question had nothing to do with the case.

So it didn't count. If it happened to you or me, it would not be perjury and the question would be ruled out of order.
But because it was Bill Clinton being hounded for anything they could get...

[geek tragedy]

27. the civil case was about sexual harassment.

So, yes it was in direct connection with that case. The problem is that the SCOTUS voted 9-0 that allowing a President to be grilled under oath about his sex life wouldn't be disruptive.

[RC]

60. No other president has had to testify in a civil case.

Clinton got the judge to define sexual intercourse as vaginal penetration by a man's penis.
So in that civil case, by definition of the judge, Clinton did not lie, he and Lewinsky did not engage in sexual intercourse.

We both know Bill Clinton was being railroaded.

[Aerows]

28. It was

but those who seek to make it racial instead of political have an agenda. You can't criticize a Democratic President who is black, but there are plenty of reasons to criticize a Democratic President who is white. Which is pure foolishness given the history of the Republican party inventing wrong-doing.

[Blue Bike]

86. Whitewater was a BS accusation

Unless you agree with Rush Limbaugh et. al.

[Cali_Democrat]

67. bwhahaha

[geek tragedy]

68. And of course we have people assuming Barzun is just some inbred dummy who's completely

unqualified.

Because, you know, Obama.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

5. How is this news? This has been the practice since Andrew Jackson

I cannot believe I am seeing such petty bullshit about President Obama posted on Democratic Underground with regularity. Pathetic.

[cali]

17. the news part is the growth of it, but I agree that this has gone on (unfortunately)

forever, and is hardly worthy of being posted.

[eShirl]

6. Isn't Don Siegelman in jail for less?

[geek tragedy]

9. No. nt

[avaistheone1]

12. YES.

[NightWatcher]

7. Wow Obama is the first Prez to repay a donor with a cozy job?

Do we really want to go there?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

11. it's just the ODS kicking in again

[Bluenorthwest]

51. A wrong is only wrong the first time? Do you really want to go there?

I think folks who want to do this stuff should refrain from the years of sermons about how Sanctified they are and Jesus opposing gay people and such. Once a person spews at others claiming a morality far and above that of the others, I expect to see something different than that which is done by others who have not preached about being Sanctified.
It's not a big deal, it is just amusing how common the men who claim superiority really are in the end.

[geek tragedy]

64. Are you familiar with Barzun's qualifications?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/10/matthew-barzun-us-ambassador-britain-obama

[msongs]

10. not unique to this president. ambassadorships have always been for sale nt

[Bluenorthwest]

45. 5 amassadors to the Court of St James have become President. It is worth noting who gets

that particular post and others. They have not 'always' been for sale. In recent times they have been bartered and bargained, but not always. A person in such a role at times has extremely important duties, an ambassador can make peace and even cause war. It should not be a tag sale item even if it is. Mind you this President has lectured me about my family and 'Sanctity' and some high moral Bible standards he claims to have, so it is fair to expect him to live as he has felt so free to preach at other to live. Sanctimony has a cost.

[geek tragedy]

66. Did it occur to you that Barzun is qualified, maybe even highly so? nt

[avaistheone1]

14. Money talks.

Everything else walks in this admin.

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

15. I like loyalty in a person. nt

[Cha]

39. Lol!

Good point.

[DevonRex]

16. Well, duh. The sun rises in the east, too. Breaking news for The Guardian tomorrow morning!!! nt

[Proud Liberal Dem]

20. Petty.

If this is the worst problem that we have to worry about right at this moment, then I'd say we're doing pretty good IMHO.

[arely staircase]

24. another age old practice that is alarming now that Obama is doing it.

This stuff is so transparent.

[bunnies]

33. Did you see the comments on the article?

Its a complete hate-fest. Someone even wonders if there are any "non-caucasians". Obvious much?

[geek tragedy]

37. Yeah, leftwing Tea Baggers were soiling their undies in hatred in that thread.

That's the Greenwald/Snowden demographic I guess.

[bunnies]

43. Yep. It reads like something from the bowels of FR.

The Guardian must be so proud.

[dusty trails]

26. A famous GOP ambassador

I recall Shirley Temple Black was an ambassador to several countries under GOP Presidents Ford and Bush the Elder.

[Laelth]

30. Not uncommon. Not a real "scandal." More like sour grapes. n/t

-Laelth

[William769]

32. So whats the problem?

It's one of the perks of the job. It's not like President Obama is the first to ever do this.

[GeorgeGist]

36. No Hope for Change there.

Next.

[displacedtexan]

41. Saint Ronnie made actor John Gavin Ambassador to Mexico.

No credentials, whatsoever. No outrage then, GOP?

[Bluenorthwest]

46. I remember that!!!! Oh my God! People I knew were spinning in horror as they knew the man

not ambassadorial material, apparently.

[mitchtv]

83. But Ex Gov Bill Weld was unqualified for the same post

patronage for repugs only

[The Straight Story]

47. My personal view as to why some are upset with Obama over this and not others (not race)

Obama put a lot of emphasis on getting the 'little' people to vote and contribute. We all needed to work together to make a change.

When he gets in office it is those who raised the most that get the rewards - from corporations to individual fundraisers. In other words, it worked the same as it always has but the outreach was broader and supposedly different.

I.E. Politics as usual. He did what everyone else has done when we were hoping he would mix it up a bit. How many black ambassadors or female ones have we had to major posts? Why not someone completely out of the beltway/inner circles to some of those posts? How many bloggers and such worked their butts of online to push for him to get in - what reward did they get or recognition?

What he did was not wrong. It just wasn't a change (except in a few cases). We wanted a whole new slate, a different way of doing things after all of the years of bushs and raygun.

[IDemo]

49. The "He Hit Me Firsters" never fail to disappoint

From here out I'll refer to those who would excuse any policy or political behavior as perfectly fine since, since, umm...Andrew Jackson!! as H2MF's.

You know who you are. Carry on.

[geek tragedy]

59. Not excusing any policy, just petty complaints like this one that outrage

only the usual anti-Obama bedwetters

[IDemo]

61. Seriously?

It's not petty to expect someone who gains a diplomatic post to have some semblance of qualifications besides deep pockets.

[geek tragedy]

62. Maybe you should google, read, and then decide whether to whine or not

From the Guardian (same paper that published this story):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/10/matthew-barzun-us-ambassador-britain-obama

It is with the nomination of Barzun, however, that the Obama administration has signalled most clearly that the UK-US relationship remains central to the Obama administration's strategic vision in the president's second term.


The US ambassador in London is often a career capstone, given to a well-heeled political insider as a glamorous, end-of-career posting.

However, this tradition contrasts with the spirit of innovative thinking and tenacious hard work in the west wing of Obama's White House. The key staff in this White House tend not be DC careerists. They are often young, technology-savvy and entrepreneurial. With the nomination of Barzun, President Obama has deployed one of this new generation of power players to London.


During the four years I spent at the state department serving secretary of state Hilary Clinton, I personally helped to train more than 150 of America's ambassadors. Some were brilliant. Some less so. Seeing him among his peers, I got a good view of Barzun as ambassador-in-training, as a political actor in Washington, and then during his successful posting as ambassador to Sweden.

[IDemo]

72. Almost the entire rest of the article supports my position

While Barzun may be one of the rare ones with money and capability, some in the diplomatic community disagree with buying your way into an embassy.

Susan Johnson, president of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), which represents career US diplomats, added: "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.

<

"In a few exceptional cases they are not detracting from credibility of diplomatic service, but at the scale it's being done it is undermining the concept of a career diplomatic service and weakening the strength and capacity of the diplomatic service."

And,

The Foreign Service Act of 1980, states that "contributions to political campaigns should not be a factor in the appointment of an individual as a chief of mission." *

At at time when the US is reaching the limits of its "hard power", career foreign service staff argue it is time for professional diplomacy to mount a comeback.

* Not that any Act actually serves to limit the exercise of power anymore.

[geek tragedy]

74. You were complaining about the nominee in question not being qualified.

What makes you think that people with money aren't also smart?

Can you name a single Obama nominee who isn't qualified? Not only for embassy postings, but anywhere in government? He doesn't appoint Brownies.

[IDemo]

77. I never complained directly about Barzun

While having money isn't a direct measure of intelligence, it has almost always provided a pathway to influence and power.

And yes, mentioned in the article was someone who evidently lacked (or failed to use) any capability for the job.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8307105/US-ambassador-to-Luxembourg-was-aggressive-bullying-hostile-and-intimidating.html

US ambassador to Luxembourg was 'aggressive, bullying, hostile and intimidating'

A top Obama campaign donor rewarded with the post of US ambassador to Luxembourg was "aggressive, bullying, hostile and intimidating" and left her embassy in a "state of dysfunction", according to an official report.

[geek tragedy]

78. And she was forced out in early 2011, the

date of this article.

Got anything more current?

[IDemo]

79. Take your own advice and Google it

Your question was asked and answered.

[renie408]

54. Does anybody know if Barzun is incompetent or unequal to the job?

He was ambassador to Sweden, so he got some experience while there. And I tend to think our diplomatic relations with England are probably fairly stable, right?

I think it is so strange the things people use to attack Obama when there are some pretty serious, legitimate things you could say.

[geek tragedy]

63. Barzun is highly qualified. This is just whining from the usual malcontents

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/10/matthew-barzun-us-ambassador-britain-obama

[stevenleser]

57. Next I expect to see "You know he takes helicopters everywhere he goes and

Wastes the taxpayers money!!!11!!11!!"

[Historic NY]

58. Really sound like the Bush embeds complaining...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

69. Someday soon, Monsanto will be Secretary of the Interior, and Raytheon Secretary of Defense.

Now that corporation are people they can dispense the middle-men...aka politicians.

[geek tragedy]

70. Do you think the nominee for UK ambassador is a good choice or poor choice for the job? nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

75. He'd probably fit right in as the ambassador to the Cayman Islands.

Where he could rub shoulders and sip champagne with like minded capitalists.

[geek tragedy]

76. So you have no idea and are just talking out of your rear end. nt

[Egalitarian Thug]

85. They already are. n/t

[Robb]

73. What's next? Administration jobs for people who worked on the campaign??

[Zorra]

80. We need to get the money completely out of politics and government. End of story. nt

[dsc]

82. I decided to take a look

To find a career diplomat you have to go back to Bush the elder in 1991. Clinton replaced him with Adm Crowe who while not a career diplomat was not a campaign fundraiser. It should be noted the Clinton replaced Crowe with a business man but at least he had been a professor of public policy and had a demonstrated interest in foreign policy.

[toddwv]

84. Another "Obama is doing something every other President has done!! IMPEACH HIM!!!" Thread? Really?

[Jim Lane]

88. Some statistics about political appointments

According to an August 3, 2009 report from NBC News:

So far, 57% of Obama’s picks for ambassador positions — 34 of 60 — have been political appointees, or people not considered career Foreign Service, according to the American Foreign Service Association. Fourteen of those, or 23 percent, are bundlers. Bundlers are individuals who raise large amounts of money for a candidate by "bundling" together smaller contributions from others. For 2008, anyone who a raised more than $50,000 for candidate Obama are considered bundlers.

In the past 50 years, the average percentage for political appointees has been about 30 percent, according to AFSA. The practice increased under George W. Bush — 36 percent of his picks were political. (Jimmy Carter appointed the least at 24 percent.)

Because many of the political appointments are made early on in a presidency, Obama’s percentages will likely decrease; as more ambassadors are named, more are likely to be career Foreign Service.

(Source: "Ambassadors: Do patronage picks matter?")

This is what I found quickly. I don't have time to follow up on the suggestion in the last paragraph of the excerpt, to see what Obama's cumulative percentage is now, almost four years later. One source quoted in the OP's linked article estimates that it's gotten back to the more typical 30 percent.

IMO the percentage of political appointees is a more meaningful measure than the average amount of money raised (the focus of the OP's linked article). The rising amount just reflects the change in the nature of campaigning and campaign finance. Campaigns have gotten more expensive and so fundraising has been taken to higher levels.

[Myrina]

89. Sigh. It just doesn't matter anymore, does it?

No matter who's living at 1600, the pals that donate the most cash get all the perks.
The rest of us get screwn. And re-screwn.