In the wake of a difficult Senate confirmation, regional protest and international consternation, George Tsunis remains on track to become the next U.S. ambassador to Norway.
A regional hotel mogul, Tsunis drew attention for his political fundraising skill. During the 2012 presidential election, Tsunis helped raise nearly a million dollars for President Obama’s re-election campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Obama subsequently nominated Tsunis to be ambassador to Norway in September. A Senate confirmation hearing left some questioning the administration’s choice, however.
Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January, Tsunis stumbled, calling one of Norway’s respected coalition parties a “fringe element” that “spewed hatred,” and admitting he had yet to visit the country.
Members of the international and U.S.-based Norwegian community have been quick to criticize the nominee. A leading Norwegian paper touted the headline “Future US Envoy Displays Total Ignorance of Norway.”
In the United States, the editorial board for the Minnesota Star Tribunecalled on Obama “to recognize that Tsunis’ disastrous performance damaged the nominee’s credibility beyond repair” and to “withdraw the nomination.”
Recently, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., has joined a chorus of voices opposing the nomination. In a June 4 letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, Franken explained his “broad and deep concern about the administration’s nominee.” Franken said Tsunis “might unnecessarily damage our strong relationship with Norway.”
Franken joins two of his Democratic colleagues—Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Tim Johnson, D-S.D.—who have publically vowed to oppose Tsunis. Newsday reports that Tsunis still has at most 53 projected votes, a slim margin above the 51 required for Senate confirmation.
When questioned in January about Tsunis, White House press secretary Jay Carney said, “This president has confidence in all of the nominees he’s put forward for ambassadorial positions.” Since then, the White House has not removed the nomination and has not issued any public statement.
