Mark McKinnon is recess appointed to be a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, thereby sidestepping the Senate approval process. "Bush had picked McKinnon for a Democratic seat on the board. When Senate Democrats objected, Bush did did some juggling and named McKinnon to a GOP seat, but there never was a confirmation hearing." Austin Statesman, 20 December 2006. McKinnon is described as a senior staffer on the John McCain presidential campaign, by the Boston Herald, 21 December 2006 and New York Times, 20 December 2006. Update: McKinnon says: "This board is doing very important work confronting some of the biggest challenges this country faces trying to communicate the American image abroad." Cox News Service, 22 December 2006. "Because of a Democratic vacancy, McKinnon's appointment tips the balance on the board to the Republicans." McClatchy Newspapers, 22 December 2006. Now that Mr. McKinnon is one of its key decision makers, perhaps he should be informed that U.S. international broadcasting does not succeed by "communicating the American image abroad" but by providing the accurate, credible news that is not available from the domestic media in many target countries. As for the BBG's balance, the party of the president will always have a majority, because there are four Republicans, four Democrats, and the secretary of state, presumably of the same party as the president.