Biden administration eyes Rahm Emanuel for ambassadorship

[RandySF]

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is considering former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel for a high-profile ambassadorship, potentially to China, three people with knowledge of the discussions said.

Becoming the U.S. ambassador to Japan is another option that Biden administration officials have discussed with Emanuel, one of the people with knowledge of the discussions said.

Emanuel, who became White House chief of staff when Barack Obama took office as president, has a reputation as a sharp-tongued political street fighter. He has clashed at times with progressive Democrats.

He is also a well-known figure in Democratic politics who would bring notoriety to an ambassadorship. Biden is considering him for a key diplomatic position as administration officials look to fill dozens of vacancies in capitals across the world, with decisions expected in coming weeks.

There is precedent for selecting boldface-name political figures to represent the U.S. in both Beijing and Tokyo. Obama selected Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a Republican, as ambassador to China — a move Emanuel played a role in as White House chief of staff. Long-serving former Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., also filled the role in Beijing during Obama's second term, and he was succeeded by former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad during the Trump administration.

Japan — a U.S. ally — has come to appreciate, and even expect, a flashy name as its ambassador, seeing it as a sign of the importance an American president places on the relationship. Caroline Kennedy served in the role during Obama's first term, for instance. Former Vice President Walter Mondale was U.S. ambassador to Japan during the Clinton administration, and former Senate Republican leader Howard Baker of Tennessee was in Tokyo during President George W. Bush's administration.



https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-administration-eyes-rahm-emanuel-ambassadorship-n1256428

[tritsofme]

1. I can't imagine Rahm's usual detractors would be too upset about him being sent

to the other side of the world?

[PurgedVoter]

2. Please no.

He is not a wise choice for building or diplomacy. Give him a place where he can attack the internal enemies of our nation, and I think he will do fine. But don't confuse him with a diplomat. Don't put him in charge of schools or rebuilding our infrastructure. Let him use his strengths, but be aware of his very real limits.

[cwydro]

3. Not a fan.

I imagine President Biden knows what he's doing though.

[nuxvomica]

4. Correction: Kennedy served in Obama's second term

That stuck with me because I remember when Trump came in, she and other diplomats were unceremoniously cut loose with no notice. I think it would be good to return Kennedy to that post.

[Hekate]

5. Should be interesting to watch. I trust Biden's insight. nt

[DFW]

6. China appreciates subtlety, Japan appreciates the appearance of deference

Rahm is known for possessing neither.

If he must be made ambassador to somewhere, send him to Nauru. Or how about North Korea? What’s that you say? We don’t have an embassy in North Korea? Well, let him wait on tables in some Chicago steakhouse until we do. What’s that you say? The steak houses are closed down? OK, then, Nauru it is. Just send him somewhere where he will do the least damage. Rahm Emmanuel is no more a diplomat than Donald Trump is a Rhodes Scholar.

[Celerity]

7. +1000

[demmiblue]

14. +1

[JI7]

8. It would be interesting to see him work with China

[bdtrppr6]

9. why?

just the worst

[Golden Raisin]

10. Kinda' sounds like the proverbial "Bull in a China Shop"

choice. I give President Biden the benefit of the doubt but this sounds dicey to me.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Rahm? Diplomat? Uh, no. nt

[SamKnause]

12. No, just no.

[My Pet Orangutan]

13. Antarctica.

The dead fish will stay fresh.