In yet another disappointing vote for the Latino community, the U.S. Senate voted 49–37 to block the nomination of President Obama’s nominee, Mari Carmen Aponte, to serve as ambassador to El Salvador. Leading the charge against Aponte were Senate Republicans who expressed concern over a past relationship and her support for LGBT rights. Aponte was already serving as our nation’s ambassador to El Salvador, but senators voted on her reappointment as President Obama appointed her during a Congressional recess. Sen. Harry Reid (D–Nev.) said Aponte may get another vote before the end of the year, but that seems unlikely given the ambitious amount of work Congress wants to get through.
Aponte boasts an impressive resume and countless accolades. In a press release, the National Hispana Leadership Institute outlined her many accomplishments.
- As El Salvador’s fragile democracy continues to recover from the legacy of civil war, Ambassador Aponte has had a unique ability to bring old foes together and soothe tensions, keeping the peace and democracy on track.
- Ambassador Aponte negotiated an agreement between the U.S. and Salvadoran governments to on a comprehensive Partnership for Growth Joint Action Plan, that will promote economic growth and transparency in El Salvador.
- Following a tense, two-month constitutional crisis, Ambassador Aponte invited Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to El Salvador to emphasize the need for dialogue, which helped break an impasse that threatened to paralyze the country.
- Ambassador Aponte has been a strong U.S. presence, promoting democracy and human rights, and challenging influences from the governments of Cuba and Venezuela.
- Ambassador Aponte secured the deployment of Salvadoran troops to Afghanistan. El Salvador is the first and only Latin American country to contribute troops to the U.S.-led NATO mission there.
- Reaching out to private sector leaders, Ambassador Aponte has helped find business opportunities for American and Salvadoran companies alike.
It is unfortunate that this impressive list was not enough for 49 senators. NCLR is very disappointed that that this group chose to prevent this talented Latina from continuing to serve her country in favor of scoring political points against the president. It is especially deplorable that senators chose to use her support for equality as reason for blocking her nomination. The Senate missed a prime opportunity to show its support for the Latino community last night and voters will remember this next November.