The practice of appointing campaign donors instead of state department professionals has a long tradition in the US. However, many had hoped that Obama would reduce such displays of patronage.

That has not happened. Since taking office, Obama has made almost 80 ambassadorial nominations, of which 56% went to political appointees.

“It is time to end the spoils system and to stop renting out these ambassadorships for fabulous sums of money,” said Susan Johnson, president of the American Foreign Service Association, which monitors the nominations. Johnson said Obama was on track to equal the number of such appointments made by President Bush. “It is business as usual,” she said.

via Barack Obama accused of ‘renting out’ top ambassador roles | World news | The Observer.