Petrelis Files

Gay Ambassador-Designate

Paid How Much for NZ Post?

I thought donors to either GOP or Democratic Party presidential hopefuls had to give at least in the six-figures to the candidate and party, if the donor expected an ambassadorial appointment from the candidate if elected to the White House. Either I was wrong, or the price of a foreign post has fallen into the low five-figures.

President Obama has chosen lawyer and Gay Inc leader David Huebner as the designated US ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, who may be qualified for the position, but the appointment has decidedly underwhelmed gay social critic Dan Savage. In his post about a brave president, Ronald Reagan using such an appointment in an audacious way and appointing a black man to be our rep to South Africa during the apartheid era, Savage doesn't mention Huebner's name once.

So how much has Huebner donated to Democratic Party candidates and committees since 1993 at the federal level? A sub-total of $19,200, primarily to California pols. Interestingly, he failed to give to Obama. In California, Huebner gave out $4,150. Combined both figures and his donations add up to $23,350.

BTW, he gave zero to the No on 8 campaign. Probably a smart move actually, considering it was a disaster.

Like Savage, I'm not impressed with Obama's appointment of Huebner. Nice of the President to give this Gay Inc leader and Democratic donor a job abroad, but how about pushing hard for federal employment protections for gays who don't give big bucks to the party?