South Carolina Ping
Posted on 04/28/2005 10:02:20 AM PDT by Heartofsong83
Bush nominates southern politician to be U.S. ambassador to Canada BETH GORHAM Wed Apr 27,10:57 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CP) - A southern politician and Republican fundraiser, David Wilkins, was picked Wednesday by President George W. Bush to be the next U.S. ambassador to Canada.
Rumours have circulated for weeks that Bush would choose Wilkins, 58, a lawyer who serves as Speaker in South Carolina's House of Representatives and the man who ran both of Bush's election campaigns in the state.
Wilkins, who must still be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, didn't return a phone call late Wednesday to his Greenville, S.C., home.
A close Bush associate, Wilkins also has longtime ties to Bush's father, former president George Bush.
His legislative career began in 1981 and he has been Speaker for more than a decade. He's also a senior partner in a Greenville law firm.
But there's little evidence he knows a lot about Canadian politics.
Colleagues describe him as a social and fiscal conservative but not extremely right-wing.
"It would not be fair to say that he's on either extreme of our legislature," said John Altman, a Charleston lawyer who's served in the legislature since 1997.
"He's certainly not as conservative as I am. I'm a dangerous right-wing Christian."
Altman, also a Republican, describes Wilkins as a "real gentleman" and "fair to a fault," someone who has long been respected by both sides of the House.
"Never has there been a moment when the minority thought he was unfair to them.
"He's a great conciliator, he brings people together. He certainly has the grace in manner to be well-received in Canada. And he certainly has the work ethic," Altman said in a recent interview.
"He's a rare man. He's one of the top five or six men I've known."
Altman foresees no problems with the Senate confirmation hearings.
"There are no skeletons in his closet because he doesn't have a closet. He's very open."
Wilkins was offered a federal district judgeship in January 2001 by U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond. Bush later that year wanted him as ambassador to Chile. Both times, he said he wanted to finish the state legislative session that established a state-run lottery and redrew election districts.
Wilkins is married with two grown sons. Altman tells a story about a long meeting in the Speaker's office featuring frequent interruptions from an aide to announce phone calls.
The only one Wilkins took was from his wife, Susan.
"He's got his priorites just right. He puts his family first."
"He'd give that job (as ambassador) all he had but always save some extra for his family."
Some political colleagues have been of two minds about the idea of Wilkins leaving the legislature.
"I'm ambivalent over this," said legislator George Bailey.
"I think we need Wilkins here. But Canada is our oldest friendly neighbour."
"We have a great deal in common."
"And it's hard to turn down if the president says: 'I need you,"' said Bailey, who describes Wilkins as a "peacemaker."
That would serve him well in interpreting Canada's needs to the United States and vice versa, he said.
"He and Susan have spent time at Camp David. You've got to have the president's ear to do that job."
Wilkins has apparently been getting some friendly needling about the expected nomination since word first broke of the possibility in a South Carolina newspaper, the State, on April 1.
"I've teased him," said Altman.
"I told him I wanted a scarlet tunic from the RCMP."
If Wilkins does replace former ambassador Paul Cellucci, an outspoken advocate for U.S. interests, he'll be heading to Canada at a time of political upheaval and some difficult social and trade gaps with the U.S.
South Carolina is among the states involved in the bitter softwood-lumber dispute.
The South shall rise again!
Now Cellucci has bailed and William Weld want to be Governor of NY!?
I hate RINOs.
If he wants to get up to speed on Canadian politics, he should have dinner with Mark Steyn.
...SC...
And now Cellucci is running a Race Track. Ya' that should work.
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