It is an old Washington refrain: political friend supports a presidential candidate and then gets a plum ambassadorship in a swanky country, likely one with a nice view or a beach.\u00a0 This political quid pro quo happens countless times in D.C. but I was somewhat surprised to learn that it also happens across political parties, though the motivations might be the same.<\/p>\n
Douglas Kmiec, Reagan official and former Dean of Catholic University Law School, drew some right-of-center criticism for his endorsement of President Obama.\u00a0 Kmiec, a devout Catholic, was even refused communion<\/a> because of his support for the pro-choice candidate.<\/p>\n However, despite the policy differences, Kmiec publicly endorsed Obama in an LA Times<\/em> op-ed<\/a>, and even wrote a book<\/a> about then-Candidate Obama’s qualifications for office.<\/p>\n Of course, in D.C., no good deed goes unpunished and I learned from Catholic University<\/a> this morning that Kmiec had been appointed ambassador to the beautiful island nation of Malta.\u00a0 Surrounded by nothing more than the Med<\/a> and fine dining, I’m sure Kmiec deeply regrets his decision last year, and I’m sure his vocal support for the President had nothing to do with his appointment.<\/p>\n