Meanwhile, the biggest plum in the cake goes to the biggest contributor to Trump!
Three words Trump definitely understands:
PAY TO PLAY
Warren Stephens, an investment banker and billionaire who donated to President-elect Donald J. Trump’s PACs in the 2024 race, was tapped as Mr. Trump’s ambassador to Britain on Monday.
The selection of Mr. Stephens for the ambassadorship, a plum posting that often goes to one of the largest donors to a presidential campaign, was in part a nod to the American Opportunity Alliance, a big-money network of Republican donors in which Mr. Stephens plays a leadership role.
There is one aspect of American exceptionalism about which no one in this country should be proud: The United States is the only country in the world that regularly sells the title “ambassador.” What may be even worse is that efforts to limit the practice may become yet another victim of the hyper-partisan politics of Washington.
This uniquely American tradition is so deeply rooted that it has become a quadrennial punch line. At the start of
every presidential term, journalists ask about the latest crop of “pay-to-play” ambassadors. The White House press spokesperson often responds by making a joke about it. For example, in 2009, the reason that spokesman Robert Gibbs gave for former President Obama’s choice of
Louis Susman as ambassador to London was that he was fluent in the local language.
It even expanded under the Trump administration because there were new ways to give besides campaign contributions. One could make a deposit directly into the president’s pocket by paying dues as members of former
President Trump’s golf clubs —
eight people evidently secured ambassadorships this way. Writing a check for
$1 million for the inauguration apparently helped to get Woody Johnson to the Court of St. James and
Gordon Sondland, a nice place to stay in Brussels when he wasn’t in Ukraine.
Obama picks financial backer for UK ambassador post
Chicago friend Louis Susman chosen for plum posting
despite president's promise to end cronyism in Washington
London is not the only posting being used to reward political supporters. Other positions in Europe are expected to be filled on the basis of patronage. Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, who campaigned for Obama, is to be the ambassador to Dublin.
Obama's predecessor, George W Bush, sent two of his financier backers to the UK: William Farish, a Texas multimillionaire, and Robert Tuttle, a California car dealer.
Chicago friend Louis Susman chosen for plum posting despite Obama's promise to end cronyism in Washington
www.theguardian.com
Obama’s New Ambassador Nominees Gave Big — and Bundled Bigger
The latest batch of picks for U.S. ambassadorships–along with their spouses and children–have contributed at least $637,800 to federal candidates, parties and committees since 1989, including $32,775 to Obama himself. These people also brought in at least $1.1 million for Obama's presidential...
www.opensecrets.org
President
Obama announced another 10 names for ambassadorships last week, and in doing so, he awarded another set of big donors and bundlers with plum positions representing U.S. interests abroad. The new nominees for ambassadors to Belize, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Romania and Switzerland–along with their spouses and dependent children–have contributed at least $637,800 to federal candidates, parties and committees since 1989, CRP has found. Nearly that entire sum has gone to Democrats, including $32,775 to Obama himself and $8,300 to former primary opponent and now-Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton. These individuals also brought in at least $1.1 million for Obama’s presidential bid
as bundlers, and at least another half-a-million
as bundlers for his inauguration.
Obama's ambassador picks: Pay to play?
Andy Card and Reihan Salam discuss President Obama handing ambassadorships to his biggest donors.
