Billionaire Democratic donor Haim Saban wrote an effusive New York Times op-ed praising Obama’s Israel policy earlier this month. Today, the White House announced that Saban’s wife, Cheryl, has been nominated to represent the U.S. at the upcoming UN General Assembly. Now, before anyone jumps to conclusions, I’m sure these were totally unconnected events, and Cheryl Saban beat out a line of career diplomats for this important honor based on her resume as an “author, philanthropist, and advocate for women and children,” as well as her very serious book What Is Your Self Worth? A Woman’s Guide to Validation.
The Free Beacon reports:
The White House announced Wednesday it has nominated Cheryl Saban, the wife of Univision chairman Haim Saban, to be a representative of the United States to the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Cheryl Saban is described as an “author, philanthropist, and advocate for women and children” in the White House announcement, serving on boards of the Saban Research Institute, Girls Inc., and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. …
Cheryl Saban’s nomination comes less than a month after her husband penned a New York Times op-ed defending President Obama’s Israel record.
The position was a marked turn for the Egyptian-born Israeli-American, who criticized Obama personally in 2011 for not visiting Israel, and labeled in 2010 the Obama administration “really left leftists, so far to the left there’s not much space left between them and the wall.”
Here’s the White House press release touting the nomination as a “key administration post.”
Cheryl Saban, Nominee for Representative of the United States of America to the Sixty-seventh Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations
Cheryl Saban is an author, philanthropist, and advocate for women and children. As an author, her work focuses predominantly on family, women’s empowerment, and healthcare. In 2009, she founded the non-profit organization Women’s Self Worth Foundation. Ms. Saban serves on the boards of The Saban Research Institute, Girls Inc., and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She is a member of the American Psychological Association. Previously, she served on the Board of Overseers at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (2008-2011), the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Universal Preschool (2004-2007), and as a Commissioner for the City of Los Angeles Commission for Children, Youth, and Their Families (2002-2003). She received a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from California Coast University.
Saban, a major pro-Israel Democratic donor, has been critical of Obama in the past, and indicated last year that he might not donate to Obama because of his Israel policy. He changed his tune recently when he reportedly pledged $1 million to pro-Obama super PACs, and penned the fawning Times op-ed. Obama has tended to give the UNGA representative position to top bundlers in the past, notably Elaine Schuster in 2009 and Carol Fulp in 2010, so his appointment of Cheryl Saban isn’t a surprise. But it certainly does shed light on what Saban’s getting for his support.
"I’m sure these were totally unconnected events, and Cheryl Saban beat out a line of career diplomats for this important honor based on her resume as an “author, philanthropist, and advocate for women and children,” as well as her very serious book What Is Your Self Worth? A Woman’s Guide to Validation." n nOne might almost think you were indulging in sarcasm here. nBut it does explain her husband's sudden change of heart. n nHmmm, I wonder if Mrs. HillelA is being considered for appointment to office.
Doesn't she have to be confirmed? Wasn't that the issue that did in John Bolton?
Wow, a million bucks for a U.N. ambassadorship or representative thingy. To the General Assembly yet. Thank the Lord she didn't have her heart set on being Postmaster General. She and her hubby would be reduced to eating baloney sandwiches. Sometimes it seems that our entire political process is just a thinly veiled excuse for our ruling classes to get together in faux combat and swap party favors.
The first thing that came to my mind when reading her qualifications was Obama & the Nobel Peace Prize Award. I'm starting to think the U.S. is sinking faster than the Titanic.