Anna Wintour WSJ Awards Arrivals - P 2012
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President Barack Obama is reportedly considering nominating Anna Wintour, the ruling editor-in-chief of Vogue, as his next ambassador to the U.K. or possibly France. This would ostensibly reward her for her tireless fundraising on his behalf during his re-election campaign. But Matthew Barzun, finance chairman of Obama’s campaign, also is interested in the UK job, according to Bloomberg.
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Wintour and Barzun each raised over $500,000 for his re-election campaign. And the current U.S. ambassador to the U.K., Louis Susman, an investment banker who worked for Obama’s 2008 campaign, is not expected to stay for a second term.
UK-born Wintour, now a U.S. citizen, co- hosted a $40,000-a-plate event in June at Sarah Jessica Parker’s Manhattan home. in August, she hosted a dinner that cost $35,800 per person at movie mogul Harvey Weinstein’s Westport, Connecticut home . She also co-hosted a fundraiser in London with designer Tom Ford for the President, held the day after London’s Fashion Week of runway shows and parties.
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It sounds like an ideal move for Wintour, now 63. And she would make a popular figure in London. And she’s already got the wardrobe for the job. But Vogue spokesperson, Megan Salt, has dismissed these rumors, saying, “She’s very happy with her current job.”
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But this got us thinking about who else could be appointed foreign ambassadors. Beyonce and Jay-Z spring to mind as a thank you for their big NY fundraiser. And what about Katy Perry? She not only supported Obama by performing at several of his fundraisers, she also wore a ballot dress that literally endorsed his re-election. According to a THR poll, she influenced more young voters to vote Democratic.
Surely, Perry deserves a posh ambassador gig. She knows how to spread American good will through her music. Why not do it from London?
