

Locke

The Washington Post has opened an interesting door in its coverage of Gary Locke, a “star” as US ambassador to China:

Ever since President Obama named Locke to replace Jon M. Huntsman Jr., who resigned as ambassador to run for president, questions have surfaced about whether the Chinese American’s background might lead to dual loyalties. (Ironically, Locke may look the part, but he does not speak Mandarin, whereas his predecessor in the job did.) But Locke’s toughly worded challenges to China — on everything from its currency to intellectual property protection to leveling the playing field for U.S. businesses here — seem to have dispelled any notion that he is anything other than an envoy for American interests. “He made it pretty clear from day one that he’s an American first of all,” said Hong Huang, the fashion magazine publisher. His public speeches, she said, “completely dashed any Chinese expectation that he would behave any differently from any other American ambassador because he is Han Chinese ethnically.”

What’s good for the goose…. so, what about Dan Shapiro in Israel?



Shapiro

From Politico’s coverage of the appointment of Shapiro, who spent a year in Israel when he was in college, to be our ambassador to Israel:

Jewish community leaders expressed strong support for the expected appointment. “This makes so much sense from both a political and policy perspective,” said the National Jewish Democratic Council’s David A. Harris, who happens to have been Shapiro’s freshman year college roommate at Washington University, before Shapiro transferred to Brandeis. “Dan has the policy chops to do this job supremely well and the political know how and confidence of the entire Jewish community.” “Dan Shapiro is an excellent choice to be the next US Ambassador to Israel,” said William Daroff, vice president and Washington director of the Jewish Federations of North America, stressing that he can’t confirm the appointment. “He is someone who knows Israel very well, has deep roots in the American Jewish community, and has developed a very close working relationship with the prinicpal players in the region. He also has literally been engaged in every aspect of the Obama Administration’s Middle East policy since before the President took the Oath of Office. His personal relationship with the President, the Secretary of State, Special Envoy George Mitchell, and Dennis Ross are such that he has great bonafides to represent the United States in Israel.” “Beyond that, Dan is a real mensch, who will continue to serve America incredibly well,” Daroff added.

Here’s the Washington Post‘s coverage of Shapiro. No questions surfacing there. Though As’Ad Abu Khalil says that Shapiro is “a rabid Zionist.” As’ad is given to hyperbole, but he lighted on the fact that Shapiro gave his children Hebrew names; and I light on the fact that he is close to Dennis Ross and that he is approved by the AJC and the Federations, both Zionist organizations; I would guess that Shapiro is a Zionist. (PS. Rabbi Elmer Berger, Joe Klein, John Judis and Eric Alterman have all said that some American Zionists feel dual loyalty to Israel and the U.S.)

Thanks to Janet McMahon of the Washington Report for tip.