Topline
On Wednesday, progressive lawmakers in the House of Representatives criticized President Joe Biden's nomination of Rahm Emanuel, former Chicago mayor, as U.S. Ambassador to Japan. They urged the Senate to reject him in an act of party dissent.
CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 20, 2018. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel spoke on the stage at the Laver Cup Gala at...[+] The Navy Pier Ballroom, September 20, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois. Six players from Team World will compete against their counterparts from Team Europe in the Laver Cup. John McEnroe will lead Team World, while Bjorn Borg will captain Team Europe. The event will run from 21 to 23 September. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images For The Laver Cup) Getty Images For The Laver Cup
The Key Facts
Reps. Mondaire (D.N.Y.), and Cori Bush, (D.Mo.) issued statements highlighting Emanuels role as Chicago mayor in delaying the release of a tape showing the fatal police shooting of a Black teenager. Reps. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) issued a statement that highlighted Emanuels role in delaying the release a tape showing the fatal Chicago police shooting of a Black teenage boy. Emanuel might lose votes from progressive senators but the long-time Democratic operative, and ex-Obama chief of staff, could still win the votes across the aisle. Susan Collins (R.Me. Both Susan Collins (R-Me.) and Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., have supported him. Emanuel also enjoys critical support from the Democratic Establishment: Senator Ben Cardin (D.Md. Representative Gregory Meeks (D.N.Y.), and Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) both support Emanuel, as do Dick Durbin, Senate Majority Whip and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairs. Forbes reached out to the White House in an effort to get comment.
Important Background
Although the Biden administration has indicated plans to send more ambassadors to career diplomats to former President Donald Trump, Biden still has given out traditional nominations to political allies and close friends. The University of Pennsylvania president, who he hired in 2017 to a lucrative professorship, was nominated by Biden as his ambassador to Germany. Former Sen. Jeff Flake was also appointed ambassador to Turkey by him. He is a prominent Republican endorser in 2020.
Important Quote
Rahm Emanuel is a former Mayor of Chicago and White House Chief of staff to President Obama. He has a distinguished career as a public servant.
What to Watch
A Senate logjam is more likely than votes to block Emanuels' nomination. There are hundreds of Biden Administration nominations that the chamber still needs to vote on. This includes dozens of ambassadorships, partly because Sen. Ted Cruz (R.Texas), is routinely blocking votes. Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, stated last month that the White House is frustrated at the delay.
