NOVANEWS
Obama’s selection for ambassador to China recently said that he doesn’t know much about China
By John Vibes
WASHINGTON (INTELLIHUB) —Traditionally politicians put their friends and business connections in key government offices, these positions are rarely filled by the best person for the job. Recently, Obama’s nominee for ambassador to China openly admitted that he didn’t know that much about China.
Max Sieben Baucus is a senior United States Senator from Montana and a member of the Democratic Party. He is currently Obama’s top pick for ambassador to China.
In his nomination announcement President Obama said, “For more than two decades Max Baucus has worked to deepen the relationship between the United States and China. The economic agreements he helped forge have created millions of American jobs and added billions of dollars to our economy, and he’s perfectly suited to build on that progress in his new role.”
However during a recent confirmation hearing when he was asked a question about China Baucusreplied by saying, “Senator, I’m no real expert on China. It’s my strong belief that Chinese people are just as proud as we Americans.”
In 2012, after receiving donations from Altria (the parent company of Philip Morris), Baucus successfully pushed through Congress a transportation bill that outlawed “roll your own cigarette” stores by making it illegal for them to operate the cigarette rolling machines.
Baucus is one of the Senate’s largest career recipients of pro-Israel Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions, receiving $550,589 since 1989.
From 2003-08, Baucus received $3,973,485 from the health sector, including $852,813 from pharmaceutical companies, $851,141 from health professionals, $784,185 from the insurance industry and $465,750 from HMOs/health services, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. A 2006 study by Public Citizen found that between 1999 and 2005 Baucus, along with former Senate majority leader Bill Frist, took in the most special-interest money of any senator.
