Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Caroline Kennedy as senator?
I have nothing against Caroline Kennedy. Unlike a few of her cousins, she has kept her picture off the tabloids. From all accounts she keeps her own counsel and is one of those who knows the use of silence, a rather refreshing trait in a media culture that peddles the loud.
With that said, I’m not sure she should be picked to replace Hillary Clinton as New York’s junior senator. Sure there is the delicious irony of Kennedy, who worked hard to get Barack Obama elected, taking Clinton’s spot (it’s time I got over my issues with a certain type of Clintonista), but irony can only do so much.
Despite all the skills she brings to the table, her last name worries me. Do we need another Kennedy in the Senate? Didn’t New York have a Kennedy as senator back in the day? Are political dynasties a good thing?
Sure the rhetoric of democracy and its realities lived on the ground (we are all created equal but some are more equal than others) never match. Those vagaries can be lived with but it doesn’t mean political power should be handed over to families.
James, I thought I was about to agree with you when I started reading your post!
But then you wrote: “Despite all her skills she brings to the table….”
I’ve been listening to a lot of people discuss her bid for this job. It seems to me the consensus, or at least the consensus I agree with, is that she is not at all qualified to be Senator. I know, some say what qualifications given we have had people with zero political experience do a good job in the senate, but I want someone who knows how to be effective in government, not a household name and certainly not a dynasty.
Your analysis, with all due respect, is the exact opposite of what I expected. I expected “yes, comes from a family that knows politics and has name recognition, but not qualified.” Instead we get “qualified, but has that kennedy baggage.”
I agree with the baggage part and your comments about that family’s inability to stay out of the tabloids (and I assume you might also be suggesting keep their pants on?).
But I just don’t see what qualifications she has. A trust fund baby from a big political family, whose father was tragically killed while in office, but the short time he did spend there is now seen as a total failure, is not the qualifications I want.
True, my own senator from Mass has turned out to do some good things but leaving someone to die a horrible death while only trying to cover up the incident vs. trying to save her puts such a pall over this family’s reputation that I want none of it in public office.
So, yes, we don’t need that family getting a plumb seat without earning it…but what are those skills she would bring?
We need leaders not names to get us through this crisis.
She’s more qualified than about 50% of the Congress. At least she has READ the Constitution and studied constitutional law, which is more than I can say for most Republicans and some Democrats.
Please explain to me how Teddy Kennedy’s tragic accident at Chappaquiddick in ANY way disqualifies Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg from serving in the US Senate. TEDDY overcame it and went on to a life of distinguished service in the Senate.
PRESIDENT Kennedy inspired a country to go to the Moon. I don’t call that “nothing.”
Sadly, we’ll never know what Senator Robert Kennedy could have accomplished.
She should run for PRESIDENT in 2016!
Bud Burgoon-Clark
San Diego CA USA
Why do gay people always bite the hands that feed them. Ted Kennedy has been hugely supportive of gay rights including gay marriage. Both John Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy were supporters of civil rights legislation in their day. Why wouldn’t we want another Kennedy in the white house? I came out in 1970 and I still have trouble understanding gay politics. Good thing Harvey Milk paid no attention to the official gay lib people of his day. Do we need another Kennedy in the Senate – YES!
Dave W. : Very well stated argument. It’s almost too late to end the concept of dynastic families, but for the good of the nation as a whole, we must start to end the control of so few over so many.
Many lesbians and gay men have had to fight for our rights; the Kennedys and other politicians didn’t “give” us anything other than what is due us; civil rights.
I generally vote for the person and the ideals/policies they support. I’ve always been impressed by Caroline Kennedy and would vote for her in a heart beat.
With that said, I am fearful of dynasties… Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton in the White House would have been too much… What kind of message does that send to our kids (and there are many children that have ONLY known a Bush or a Clinton in the White House).
I knew next to nothing about Ms Kennedy until her name was floated for the position, but its disturbing to me that shes already hired Liebermans publicist, the one who pulled him from Dem to Indy to score his Senatorial seat for what we HOPE will be the last time here in Connecticut. With that kind of advice, she’ll likely do either very well, or tank entirely.
We don’t need another Kennedy… especially in NY where the economy already suffers day in, day out. She will do NOTHING to help the average person; gay or straight. How about she go back to MASS with her uncle and take his senate seat.
I support Caroline Kennedy and the Kennedy Family 100%. The Kennedy’s have always been on the vanguard of civil rights, they supported (black) civil rights back when Irish people in Boston were as racist as any you’d find in the South. They not only supported Civil Rights, they put their own necks out. On the issue of gay rights and marriage equality, they’ve been with us even when the majority of gay people weren’t even on board.
Also, and this is personal. After Hurricane Katrina, when I was jobless living off of FEMA, trying to get financial aid to finish school in Boston. I got a call one day from Senator Edward Kennedy himself, everything I asked for in the way of helping relocated people and students in Massachusetts he made sure happened. I didn’t ask anything for myself, yet Senator Kennedy sent a check from the Kennedy Foundation which helped me buy clothes, new furniture and school books.
As far as I am concerned, no matter what wrong the Kennedys have done, their family lives public service and has sacrificed themselves for the advancement of our nation.
Why not? The Kennedys have done a good job in politics, and the family is politics savy. Again, WHY NOT?
LOL…you almost had me until the last few paragraphs when I noticed language that usually has a political agenda attached!!
Breathing Chappaquidick into the name Carolin Kennedy is SOOOOO Rush Limbaugh, it’s totally laughable!!
Caroline Kennedy is articulate, educated in constitutional law, a lifetime resident of New York (something new?) and can bring home the bacon to New Tork.
After your post, I’m convinced to give her a chance and let the voters decide in 2010…Rush and Sean don’t live here anymore!!!
What a slap in Hillary’s face would that be.
I’m waiting to be told what office Caroline has ever run for and won? What would make anyone think that she she be a Senator when she has not even run to be Dog Catcher?
Who gives a [damn] about her last name. How about focusing on what she has done and what she can do. Everyone is so quick to be critical of politicians, well I don’t see any of those negative people applying for the job. I believe that she would do the best job to her capabilities…after all, after the last past 4 years of mess ups it really couldn’t get much worse.
But what about Obama’s “affair” with anti-gay homophobe Rick Warren?
As a person born in Massachusetts, I am absolutely appalled that you would oppose Caroline Kennedy’s bid for Hillary Clinton’s seat in the Senate. The Kennedy’s have always given 100% of their time to helping those less fortunate in this country. Yes, she is a Kennedy. So what? She has what it takes and her honesty is refreshing in this day and age. Besides, in two years there will be an election so New Yorkers can have their say. If you want a real story, come to Arizona and see what our governor is doing to our state by leaving us in the hands of a extreme right-wing legislature and a right wing Governor to boot. I predict rioting after two years of destruction brought on us by the idiots who will run this state!
Perhaps we are more concerned that she is a female Kennedy than we are that she simply is part of the family. I don’t question any of the contributors’ rhetoric, just their potential motivation, subconcious though it may be.