WASHINGTON, December 2 (Sputnik) – The US Senate approved controversial political appointee Colleen Bradley Bell to be ambassador to Hungary on Tuesday, despite criticism that the fundraiser for US President Barack Obama lacked foreign policy experience.
"It is disappointing that in a transparent move, the White House and the Senate Majority Leader have chosen to prioritize doing political favors instead of working with Congress to confirm professional diplomats, further delaying our ability to fill important positions around the world," ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Republican Senator Bob Corker said in a statement following the 52-42 confirmation vote.
On the Senate floor, Republican Senator John McCain railed against Bell, describing her nomination as an "egregious example" of the Obama administration appointing unqualified ambassadors to important countries at a time when Hungary is moving closer to Russia.
"This is a totally unsuitable nominee to be ambassador to a very critical country in struggle that will go on for a long time as Colonel [Russian President] Vladimir Putin tries to extend the reach of Russia and restore the Old Russian Empire," McCain added, pointing out Bell has no foreign policy, language, cultural or economic experience that would justify her appointment as ambassador to Hungary.
Bell, a television producer, has helped Obama raise campaign contributions. McCain said he accepted the practice of appointing political appointees to Caribbean countries and lesser strategic positions.
The Senate on Tuesday also approved Noah Mamet to be ambassador to Argentina. That political nomination has also come under criticism because Mamet is inexperienced and has never been to Argentina.
