Diplomatic Purchase

President Barack Obama's pick for ambassador to Norway [George Tsunis] seems to be spicing up the diplomatic relationship by sticking his foot in his mouth before even getting to the post.

[...]

"What do you think the appeal of the Progress Party was, according to the Norwegian voters?" asked Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Jan. 16.

"That is a very seminal question," Tsunis said. "Generally Norway has, and is very proud of being a very open, transparent, Democratic, parliamentary government. One of the byproducts of being such an open society and placing such a value on free speech is you get some fringe elements that have a microphone that spew their hatred and although I will tell you that Norway has been very quick to denounce them -- "

McCain interrupted, pointing out that the Progress Party is part of the center-right coalition government in Norway, with seven ministers.

"I stand corrected, and would like to leave my answer that it's a very, very open society," Tsunis responded.

[...]

In last week's hearing, Tsunis also referred to Norway's "president," despite the fact that the country is a constitutional monarchy.

Tsunis has been a top fundraiser for President Barack Obama and the Democratic party. Tsunis, the CEO of Chartwell Hotels, bundled over $500,000 for Obama's 2012 campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. He also donated $300,000 to Democratic-leaning super PACs in 2012, according to FEC records. .

[...]

One European politics expert, Jytte Klausen of Brandeis University, said that it was not unusual for a nominee for ambassador to be ignorant about the country's politics.

  Huffington Post

Which is, sadly, probably true.