Wilkins bid farewell to his peers in the S.C. General Assembly on Thursday after resigning to take the post of U.S. ambassador to Canada. Rep. Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, was elected to be House speaker.
Wilkins' nomination, confirmation and swearing in slated for June 21 at the State Department in Washington, D.C., is a sharp contrast to the rancorous debate taking place over the nomination of John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations. Bolton's examination has taken weeks and promises to take longer. Wilkins' examination moved so swiftly through the Senate that only one person, Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., attended the discussion on behalf of his colleagues. The examination was held on May 25. His confirmation was approved May 26.
Several factors played a role in Wilkins's clear-sailing. During his 25 years in the S.C. House of Representatives and his 11 years as House speaker, he proved his leadership abilities and displayed the type of statesmanship that service in Ottawa will demand. It didn't hurt that Wilkins is a personal friend of President Bush and his father. That Earnest F. (Fritz) Hollings, former U.S. senator from South Carolina, lobbied on behalf of Wilkins is a testament to his fair treatment of issues and people in the Palmetto State. And it didn't hurt that Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint, Republicans from South Carolina, worked hard to ensure quick confirmation.
Wilkins' leadership and statesmanship skills will come in handy. Canada has been a strong U.S. ally, but times have been better between the two countries. Canada "is not the almost perfect ally it once was," Weston Adams, a Columbia lawyer and 1984-86 ambassador to Malawi, told The Greenville News. In addition to the unpopularity of President Bush among Canadians, the war in Iraq, border security issues and timber subsidies, along with "Mad Cow" disease, have been hot issues between Washington and Ottawa. Another big issue is likely to be U.S. requirement for passports for people crossing the border between the two nations.
While South Carolinians may be overjoyed with Wilkins' appointment and Canadians gleeful at Ambassador Paul Cellucci's departure from Ottawa, many north of the U.S. border aren't happy with Bush's appointee. Canadians didn't like Cellucci's line-toeing, bullying attitude, according to Robert Furs at counterbias.com. But Furs writes that "Wilkins ... is even less suited for the job than anyone's lowest expectations could hope. While Cellucci, being a former governor of liberal Massachusetts, was at least close in proximity to Canada, Wilkins hails from South Carolina, a hell of a distance from the 49th parallel."
The new American in the progressive socialist paradise of Canada may find indeed that the statesmanship skills he hone in Columbia will be put to the test when he arrives in Ottawa later this month. Wilkins started off on the right foot during his confirmation hearing. He called Canada a "steadfast ally in the war on terror" and noted that Canadians were hospitable toward U.S. airline passengers stranded after the 9/11 attacks and of Canada's continuing role in Afghanistan, according to Gannett News Service.
He has made a good start. In his farewell address Thursday he said, "As all of you know -- this democracy of ours sure isn't perfect. But it's good. And it's always worth protecting and defending. And improving." Wilkins brings honor to South Carolina, but stay tuned to find out what the Canadians really think.