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Obama taps Raytheon exec as envoy to Saudi Arabia

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor June 4, 2009 04:51 PM

President Obama this afternoon announced another batch of nominees for ambassadorships, including a Raytheon executive as envoy to Saudi Arabia.

Retired Air Force General Brigadier General James B. Smith is an international business development executive at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.

Another former executive at the Waltham-based defense contractor, William Lynn III, won confirmation to the No. 2 job at the Pentagon, overcoming questions about his ties to Raytheon.

The other picks are: Carlos Pascual for Mexico, David Jacobson for Canada, Donald Gips to South Africa, Patricia N. Moller to Guinea, Nicole A. Avant to the Bahamas, Kenneth H. Merten to Haiti, and Anne E. Derse to Lithuania.

“I am grateful that these individuals will help represent our nation abroad during this important time for our country and the world. They bring a depth of experience and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come,” Obama said in a statement.

Avant is a California music executive, who along with her family, has been a major donors to the Democratic Party, the Associated Press reports. Avant raised at least $500,000 for Obama and donated the maximum $4,600 to his campaign.

Gips, a Colorado communications executive and former aide to former Vice President Al Gore, raised at least $500,000 for Obama, the AP says, citing the Center for Responsive Politics.

And Jacobson, an Illinois lawyer, raised between $50,000 and $100,000 for Obama, the AP said.

Obama pledged during the campaign to reduce the number of political appointees and boost the number of career diplomats serving as American envoys abroad, but his early selections have included more than a few politicians and major donors, raising concerns about inexperience and patronage.

Last week, the president announced his nominees for coveted posts in London, Paris, and Tokyo, and they were all major Obama fund-raisers.

John Roos, the nominee for Japan, is a California technology lawyer and campaign fund-raiser who collected at least $500,000 for Obama's campaign. Louis Susman, who would serve in Britain, is a former Citigroup vice president from Chicago who raised at least $100,000 as an Obama bundler. He also contributed $50,000 for Obama's inauguration. Charles Rivkin, the nominee for France, is a former financial analyst at Salomon Brothers who runs a California entertainment company and who raised more than $500,000 for Obama.

The White House-provided mini-biographies of today's picks are below:

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This is too funny. A year ago under a different President this would have led off a firestorm, today nothing.

The way the press acted the last 8 years is embarrising now that I can see they way they treat someone they like. The entire media structure should be labeled as an op-ed, not news.

Posted by Craig June 4, 09 07:11 PM
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They changed the cook but it's still the same recipe in Washington.

Posted by C June 4, 09 10:05 PM
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Craig makes a great point! I couldn't agree with nhi9m mkre. Very well stated.

Posted by Jorge in Miami June 5, 09 12:59 AM
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Craig makes a great point! I couldn't agree with him more. Very well stated.

Posted by Jorge in Miami June 5, 09 01:00 AM
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craig
i am embarrassed of how the media acts now, too. NO ACCOUNTABILITY for the Deadl Leader.

Posted by obamunsism June 5, 09 11:39 AM
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