White House Spokesman Says Colleen Bell Fundraising Efforts Had Nothing To Do With Her Being Chosen Ambassador to Hungary (Video)

A White House spokesman said Colleen Bell's campaign fundraising role was not the reason she was chosen as Ambassador to Hungary.

Asked at the daily press briefing what makes The Bold and The Beautiful producer qualified to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, White House spokesman Josh Earnest didn't exactly have an explanation.

"[She's] somebody who obviously has succeeded in, you know, in the business world," Earnest said.

"And she is somebody that the President has confidence will be able to maintain our relationship with the government and the people of Hungary."

Earnest also denied that Bell's hand in raising millions of dollars for the President's re-election campaign had anything to do with her appointment.

'The Bold and the Beautiful' Producer Colleen Bell Confirmed by Senate as Ambassador to Hungary

The Bold and the Beautiful producer Colleen
Bell is nominated for Ambassador to Hungary.
Photo by Sean Smith, Courtesy of Colleen Bell.

The Bold and the Beautiful producer Colleen Bell was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday as Ambassador to Hungary by a vote of 52-42. The votes were along party lines.

Her confirmation had been delayed after Republicans, led by Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), raised objections over their qualifications. McCain even wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal claiming that the sole criteria for the selection of Bell and others was their ability to raise money for President Obama’s re-election campaign. He singled out Ms. Bell for struggling to "define even one strategic interest in the U.S. relationship with Hungary."

On the Senate floor on Tuesday, McCain again blasted the political appointments, but Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) defended them.

"Just because someone is a producer of a popular television show, that doesn't disqualify them," Boxer said, according to Yahoo News. "She’s an intelligent woman. She knows how to be successful."

Colleen Bradley Bell is a Producer for Bell-Phillip Television Productions, Inc., a position she has held since 2012. Prior to this position, Ms. Bell was the Director of Special Projects and an Associate Producer and Script Supervisor at Bell-Phillip Television. She served as General Trustee for the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from 2012 to 2013. Ms. Bell served as a Member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from 2010 to 2012, and was designated Chairman of the Committee in 2011. Ms. Bell currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Children’s Institute, and a Trustee on the Boards of Directors of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Los Angeles Music Center. She is a founding member of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Leadership Council and also serves on the advisory board of the UCLA Rape Treatment Center. Ms. Bell received a B.A. from Sweet Briar College.

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Colleen Bradley Bell Nominated for Ambassador to Hungary (Press Release)

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL producer Colleen
Bell is nominated for Ambassador to Hungary.
Photo by Sean Smith, Courtesy of Colleen Bell.

Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

* Colleen Bradley Bell – Ambassador to Hungary, Department of State
* Madelyn Creedon – Principal Deputy Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy
* Janice Schneider – Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Department of the Interior
* Joseph William Westphal – Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Department of State
* Ellen D. Williams – Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Department of Energy

President Obama said, “I am grateful these accomplished individuals have agreed to join this Administration, and I’m confident they will serve ably in these important roles. I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Producer Colleen Bell Expected To Be Named U.S. Ambassador to Hungary

Photo by Sean Smith, Courtesy of Colleen Bell.

According to the Washington Post, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL producer Colleen Bell will soon be announced as the next United States Ambassador to Hungary. Her vetting process is done.

The Hungarians must agree to the nomination but the approval is apparently a foregone conclusion.

Ms. Bell and her husband, Brad (B&B executive producer and head writer), helped raise money for President Obama's re-election campaign including holding events in their home.

At a fundraiser in February 2012, President Obama spoke in the Bells' dining room, where guests were seated at seven tables, each with centerpieces of pink orchids.

"He reminds us that change doesn't come easy or fast," Colleen Bell said introducing the President.

The New York Times reported in September 2012 that Ms. Bell had raised $2,101,635 for President Obama's campaign and the Democratic National Committee in 2011-2012.

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WE LOVE SOAPS TV 3.34 BOLD & BEAUTIFUL Turns 25: Alley Mills & Colleen Bell Reflect

WE LOVE SOAPS TV recently traveled to the set of THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL in Los Angeles as the show celebrated 25 years on the air.

In this new interview with Damon L. Jacobs, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL actress Alley Mills and associate producer Colleen (who is also Director of Special Projects) reflect on the show's 25th anniversary.

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President Obama at Brad and Colleen Bell's Estate: Knew It Was Going To Be A Long Journey

President Barack Obama attended two fundraisers at Brad and Colleen Bell's estate on Wednesday night. Two fundraising events took place at the estate where THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL producer/writer lives. About 1,000 people attended the first, which featured a concert by the Foo Fighters. Rashida Jones and Jack Black spoke at that event.

The second was a $38,500-per-person dinner for about 80. Clooney, Belushi, presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett and former U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas Nicole Avant were among the guests at the smaller dinner.