Obama nominates 3 financial backers to diplomatic posts

[IDemo]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON — President Obama on Tuesday nominated three more of his financial backers for plum ambassadorships, bringing to 11 the number of people involved in campaign fundraising that he has rewarded with diplomatic posts since the start of June.

Kentucky entrepreneur Matthew Barzun, who helped raise more than $700 million as national finance chairman of Obama's 2012 campaign, secured one of the most coveted nominations — U.S. envoy to England.

Barzun, an investor in Internet start-ups, would serve his second tour of duty as a U.S. ambassador if confirmed by the Senate. He was U.S. ambassador to Sweden from 2009 to 2011 before resigning to work on Obama's re-election.

The posting to the United Kingdom is traditionally reserved for political allies — 93% of U.S. ambassadors to that country since 1960 have been political appointees, according to data maintained by the American Foreign Service Association, which represents career diplomats. Barzun would replace another early Obama financial backer, former Chicago investment banker Louis Susman, in London.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/07/09/obama-fundraisers-ambassadors/2504125/

[Demeter]

1. Send them to Benghazi

They can afford to hire their own security.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. My youthful idealism is saddened by this but its so par for the course I can't muster any

outrage over this one.

[Larry Ogg]

11. Just think...

If rich predators didn't fill the campaign coffers of both political parties with ill-gotten gains, honest people (instead of puppets), would be running the government, and Obama would be just another every day run of the mill crook defending lawyer.

And you would most likely have a different avatar.

[awoke_in_2003]

12. Yep...

It may not be what I like, but giving cushy ambassador jobs to donors has been going on for a LONG time.

[Crow73]

3. That is great!

I am so glad that we have someone that looks out for the little guy!
By little guy I mean the DLC....

[EC]

4. As is usual.

big deal, rich people can go live behind gates in a foriegn country and represent us...

[heaven05]

5. typical

of the american political process. Has always been this way, will always be this way. Money talks in this world, bullshit walks.

[vi5]

6. Goddamned obstructionist Congress!!!!!

This is exactly why we need to get out and vote for more dems and take back the house and get a 110 seat majority in the house!! It's the only way that things like this won't keep happening. Obviously the Republicans are forcing Obama's hand.

[Sam1]

7. So, What's the big deal?

hasn't this happened in 35 of the last 35 administration?

[Ed Suspicious]

8. Yup. That's why I voted for the change I could believe in.

[Ed Suspicious]

9. Should that be in quotes? "Change we can believe in."

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. I believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Should I change?

[bhikkhu]

10. Because we need an envoy to England that will really set things straight?

I think thats one of those diplomatic jobs that requires the ability to throw a good dinner party, remember names and faces, and be good at witty rejoinders. Probably the guys that get the job have been fine, even if its "traditionally" a buddy-deal kind of thing.

There's bigger fish to fry elsewhere.

[boilerbabe]

13. Oh absolutely nothing, Sam1 .pffffffft

[Snowfield]

15. Publically financed elections are needed

[Hestia]

16. Unleashing more vulture capitalists out into the wild, making backroom deals...

like we don't have enough of that now.

[okaawhatever]

17. Standard Operating Procedure.I am glad it's someone who is familiar with internet start-ups,

hopefully he can get a few of the English internet entrepreneurs to come to the US.