Low unemployment among Obama donors

[PearlWatson]

Nearly 80 per cent of President Barack Obama's top campaign donors have been rewarded with senior United States government jobs, according to a new study.

The appointments have taken place despite Mr Obama's campaign promises that he would break with long-established practice and hire people based on their qualifications and experience rather than making patronage appointments.

In an executive order issued by Mr Obama as he took office, it was stated that appointees should sign forms saying that they were not hired because of political affiliations or contributions. Mr Obama required "that government hiring be based upon qualifications, competence and experience, not political connections".

But a Study for the Centre for Public Integrity has found that 27 out of the 36 people who "bundled" donations of more than $500,000 (£307,000) received jobs such as ambassadorships or economic advisory roles. About fifty per cent of bundlers who raised more than $200,000 (£123,000) got jobs.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wo...ign-donors-rewarded-with-government-jobs.html

 

[candrew]

Ambassardorships? Really?

Ambassadorships to ally nations are patronage jobs - always have, always will be. I think Obama has done a pretty good job of putting professionals in important positions. Even though the results has been mixed.

Even still, I think there's quite a bit of difference between giving friends useless ambassadorships as opposed to putting friends in charge of agencies that are called upon to make life or death decisions.....like say, for instance, FEMA.

 

[PearlWatson]

Ambassardorships? Really?

Ambassadorships to ally nations are patronage jobs - always have, always will be. I think Obama has done a pretty good job of putting professionals in important positions. Even though the results has been mixed.

Even still, I think there's quite a bit of difference between giving friends useless ambassadorships as opposed to putting friends in charge of agencies that are called upon to make life or death decisions.....like say, for instance, FEMA.

The appointments have taken place despite Mr Obama's campaign promises that he would break with long-established practice and hire people based on their qualifications and experience rather than making patronage appointments.

 

[LogGrad98]

So if ambassadorships and economic advisor roles are meaningless, why appoint someone to make 6 figures doing a meaningless job? Couldn't that money be put toward the deficit? Or toward my personal charity fund, the LogGrad for Life Fund? I was one of the unemployed and I wasn't offered a meaningless 6-figure job. I had to find my own meaningless 6-figure job.

 

[One Brow]

Are the people who donate to Obama, or Bush, more likely to agree with his politics? Is a President more likely to appoint people who agree with his politics than those who do not?

I expect political executives to appoint their supporters in part because they are their supporters. Who is better to carry out you agenda?