White House withdraws nomination of Swiftboater Sam Fox

March 29, 2007

Washington, D.C. - In a humiliating move by the White House, it announced Wednesday that it has withdrawn its nomination of Sam Fox to be U.S. ambassador to Belgium.

In a humiliating move by the White House, it announced Wednesday that it has withdrawn its nomination of Sam Fox to be U.S. ambassador to Belgium.

"The president believes that Mr. Fox is qualified to serve as ambassador to Belgium," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. "Unfortunately, we received word that, because of politics, some members of the Senate would have voted against his nomination."

Fox's nomination, submitted in January, became controversial when several Democrats, including Sen. John Kerry, criticized Fox's $50,000 donation to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The group attacked the decorated Vietnam War veteran's war record during his bid for the presidency in 2004.

Paul Wagman, a spokesman for Fox, said he had no comment beyond what the White House was saying.