Ambassador as Change Agent

During my drive home, Dan Yorke was talking about rumors that Caroline Kennedy might be poised for appointment as President Obama’s ambassador to the Vatican:

Former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Raymond L. Flynn is giving a thumbs down to Caroline Kennedy as a potential pick for his former diplomatic post, saying the pro-choice values of JFK’s daughter would make the nod “a mistake.” …
According to the Italian publication Panorama, Sen. John F. Kerry asked Obama to consider Caroline Kennedy for the Vatican ambassadorship. Neither Kerry’s office nor the White House would comment yesterday.

Dan’s core point was that the Vatican isn’t just another country, but an ethnic entity to which it is traditional to send an ambassador of the Roman Catholic faith, and being pro-life is critical to such a role. I’d suggest that the special status of the Vatican (in contrast to a nation) is only relevant in the sense that its public character is more starkly drawn than normal.
Sending Kennedy would be like sending an anti-Zionist Jew as ambassador to Israel. It would be like sending somebody whose beliefs run absolutely contrary to those of France or England or Brazil or wherever — somebody who stands in opposition to a core value of the foreign power. Such treatment is only suitable with hostile, or at least unfriendly, countries.
The only reason the United States would send an inimical ambassador is if it is more concerned with challenging a nation’s policies and beliefs than with ensuring good relations.

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Roland
Roland
15 years ago

Justin,
Your last sentence summons up the entire baseline for the Obama administration, to challenge the status quo and institute change into any orifice or office that would have the US as a guest.
I’m ready to puke my guts out every time I see a picture of Obama, hear the word Obama, read a news story with the word Obama and the list goes on and on…
Obama to me is all that could, would and most likely will, ruin this country because of his vision of change.
His relationship with the US is like an abusive husband that forever tells his spouse “you’re fat, ugly, stupid and you should be happy for me because no else would want you!”.
I cannot think of any greater threat to our sovereign way of life than Obama and we’ve already seen enough of his appointments to know where he wants this country to be.
Appointing Caroline Kennedy to the Ambassador to the Vatican position is much, much less subtle than when he bowed and kissed the ring of the Saudi Prez.
I think I need to puke now……

Taylor
Taylor
15 years ago

Breaking news from Fox News
Insider with Obama Administration says,
Caroline Kendedy is NOT in line for the job.

Will
15 years ago

Has Satan reconsidered, because he was apparently unavailable earlier. Caroline Kennedy? Yeah. Sure. Whatever.
I’m not Catholic, but it would make sense to appoint someone as ambassador to the Vatican that doesn’t openly disagree with its well-known values.

rhody
rhody
15 years ago

She probably never was seriously considered. I take it about as seriously as all the socialist stuff being tossed around.
Who started this, anyway? Michelle Bachmann?

JP
JP
15 years ago

Rhody, it’s one think to argue the merits of socialism, but it’s entirely another to bury your head in the sand and insist it’s rightwing conspiracy theory. I mean, you know, the President just, you know, fired the CEO of GM if like you missed it.
I do hope you’re right that she was never considered….if she was it speaks volumes.

rhody
rhody
15 years ago

The socialism thing has become such a kneejerk reflex that it’s just a phony cry of wolf to me.

JP
JP
15 years ago

Fitting expression, since the wolf ended up eating the boy. Maybe you should spend more time determining which cries are real rather than dismissing them alltogether.

rhody
rhody
15 years ago

T’aint heard a real one yet.

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