Caroline Kennedy's father was taken from her due to his service to this country.....

[FrenchieCat]

and for me, that gives her a different edge on the New York Senate Seat than simple nepotism.

I realize that her father went into politics on his free accord, but I don't believe that Caroline Kennedy signed up to be deprived of growing up without her father due to his decision, and the tragedy that ensued, his assassination.

Some may be against her being appointed for this position because they see it as nepotism.
But because of what the life changing events that she experienced because of his service,
I don't see it that way.

What do you think?

[ananda]

1. Nepotism is not even in the picture.

Caroline isn't related to David Paterson.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. I think she is a VERY intelligent competent person. I think her

qualifications for Senator are there even without looking into her ancestry.

There have been Senators in office who were A LOT LESS intelligent and competent than Caroline Kennedy. Does the name Jim Bunning ring any bells?

[ShortnFiery]

3. Get over it! We're in a Depression and "Kennedys' Camelot gonna make it BETTER" is A FANTASY.

NO WAY! :thumbsdown:

[FrenchieCat]

9. You did not address the issue I raise.

You only said Bah Humbug in your own way.

If she wants it, I will support her in that endeavor.
We may have grown up revering her father as an icon, but she grew up without a father.
If you think that's nothing, then fine.

In reference to a Depression, that has very little to do with anything......
because it isn't one single senator for New York, appointed or otherwise,
who will somehow make the depression go away.

So you may have an opinion, but you should be able to flesh it out so someone can debate
with you...which is what these boards are for....not so much these drive-by proclaimations.

[ShortnFiery]

14. She is NOT first in line with regard to qualifications. Sorry, POLITICAL ROYALTY doesn't work for me

:thumbsdown:

[EffieBlack]

70. What "qualifies" one to be a U.S. Senator?

Besides the citizenship and 30-year age requirements?

[ShortnFiery]

21. "We may have grown up revering her father as an icon ..." I don't *revere* any politician,

living or dead. That's where we differ.

Caroline's daddy was bedding women left and right in the WH ... but the Press was "more polite" (blind?) then. :(

[FrenchieCat]

24. You seem so angry!

Geeze!

Revere is a general term, and I think that it is appropriate, regardless of what you do or don't do.

In reference to her father's infidelity, where you are going is not necessary.

You have made yourself clear...so you don't have to get ugly about it.

[ShortnFiery]

28. Have you been paying attention?!? A close friend of mine just lost her job ...

she's a single parent with two children. :cry:

IMO, if you were truly paying attention to the impending DEPRESSION - you too would be a little miffed and not waxing for Political Royalty to rescue us "little people." :(

Our USA Financial Crisis is beyond "ugly" it's "FUGLY" ... FUBAR even.

[FrenchieCat]

44. I'm sorry about your friend, and the millions that are being negatively impacted.

Please do not underestimate how this is affecting me and my family or others that I know, as you have no knowledge of this.

But I don't link Caroline Kennedy to being responsible for the state of our nation, nor do I believe that she would do a worse job than those who have been making the decisions. And considering that this is my first Thread about Caroline Kennedy, I can do without the drama of the "waxing for Political Royalty to rescue us the little people" schpill.

[ShortnFiery]

57. Kennedy is JUST another American. In fact, she's LESS qualified than many GOOD New Yorkers

You are confusing "a myth" with competence and true legislative experience. :(

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

4. Sorry,but that doesn't do it for me. The main things are her

qualifications,not her lack of a father.

[FrenchieCat]

10. And what in your opinion are the qualifications required?

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

40. I wouldn't be presumptuous enough to even attempt to suggest

what the qualifations are. That's up to the governor.

I just think that the fact that a middle aged woman lost her father at a young age is a non-issue. I lost my father at the same age as Caroline so I do know about that particular issue.

[FrenchieCat]

45. I believe that it is an edge......

that's what my thread stated.

Just like being a minority or a woman or an attorney can be an edge.

An edge is something that add another dimension if all else is relatively equal.

I didn't say she should be appointed simply because her father was murdered when she was a young child.

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

47. It shoudn't be even a factor at her age.

[FrenchieCat]

51. Why not?

it is part of her life story. It contributed to her being who she is today. You don't think that this experience made her look at life differently compared to if Camelot would have had a happy ending?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. I think it's a load of bullshit.

There are plenty of people out there who have a lot more experience in legislatures than Kennedy, some of whom are minorities, and aren't getting considered just because they have a famous father.

[FrenchieCat]

13. She only had a father for a very short while.

so famous or not, it does one not that much good when the famous
is buried 6ft under.

But I understand what you are saying.

So who are the minorities do you have in mind for the seat?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

23. Her own experiences are irrelevent.

The nepotism comes into play from people giving her undue credit because of their own opinion on her father, whether it's the governor, voters, or a conclave of cardinals.

[Augdog20]

67. Incensed over Kennedy?: vote in my blog poll for alternate candidate

Cong. Ackerman says J Lo is as qualified as the no-officeholding-resume of Lady Kennedy.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12112008/news/regionalnews/caroline_equals_j_lo__dem_143651.htm

VOTE IN MY BLOG'S POLL:
Who should be Gov. Paterson's alternate to Caroline Kennedy?

http://bluesunited.blogspot.com

[BeyondGeography]

6. I just care about keeping the seat

And I find her not particularly well-suited to the hellhole that is New York State politics.

[peace frog]

7. On a strictly emotional level

I would LOVE to see Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg in Hillary's Senate seat. Oh, I'm wondering about all the frequently asked questions regarding her fitness for the office, too, but nevertheless. Like I said, it's strictly emotional.

[H2O Man]

8. I do not think

that her name is why she has been offered the position. I believe it is because of her qualifications.

[FrenchieCat]

17. I believe that this may be the case......

But I was posting based on some things that I have read, and watched on television,
where folks were saying that it is only because she was a Kennedy.
I was just countering that notion, because in fact, her being the daughter of our President,
wasn't necessarily that advantageous to her personally.

[H2O Man]

29. There are some

angry people and some unsatisfied-by-anything people who oppose her. Strange: an attorney who has published a book on the Bill of Rights seems like the type of advocate the progressive/liberal democrats should favor.

[FrenchieCat]

30. Some dislike her, possibly because she endorsed Obama so early,

right before Super Tuesday....I'm thinking.

[H2O Man]

32. Perhaps because

she originally had supported Senator Clinton, but then switched to support Obama.

[cali]

34. You might consider that it's not a matter of dislike

Obviously I'm grateful and glad that she endorsed Obama. Depicting it as "people don't like her and that's why they don't support her appointment to the Senate", is rather silly. I haven't seen one person here suggest that they don't like her.

[cali]

31. I like Caroline Kennedy. I admire her. I also have no idea what kind

of candidate she'd be. And no, I don't think she'd be considered if not for her family name.

[ShortnFiery]

33. Yeah, Bloomberg's recommendation is completely objective.

:eyes:

[CTyankee]

68. THANK YOU! You have nailed it succinctly.

Caroline Kennedy is, in my estimation, an extraordinary woman who has worn her mantle of fame well. She is a published author on American heroes and on literary works. She is an attorney. She has campaigned for John Kerry and Barack Obama for president. She served as a member of Obama's team to help him find his vice presidential candidate.

As I have said on previous posts, I have known her in my long life to be extraordinarily graceful and intelligent throughout her public life.

And here is a very good reason to like her and support her for HRC's seat as U.S. Senator from New York: Barack Obamaa supports her. If WE here on DU have respect for President elect Obama, if WE here at DU voted for him, worked for him and respected him, WE can defend his support for her. After all, we have trusted his judgement up to this point. Why jump ship on him now?

[cali]

11. well, each to their own. that's your personal sentiment.

and Caroline Kennedy is hardly the only child that's lost a parent in tragic circumstances. I don't think her sacrifice- if you wish to think of it that way- is any greater than the child of a cop killed in the line of duty. In fact, in many ways, it's less tragic. There was always lots of validation for Kennedy and she's lived a very privileged life.

I don't think the possibility of her appointment is nepotism, but let's be crystal clear: No way on earth would she be considered if not for her family name.

[FrenchieCat]

37. Of course it is my sentiment....and explicitly stated so.

Living a priviledge life doesn't necessarily make up for the lack of one's father. That's like saying that money can buy you happiness. That's a pretty hard line.

[cali]

38. you addressed none of the points in my post.

Why is her loss of her father any more tragic than the kid whose father is shot down while stopping a speeding car or during a robbery?

[FrenchieCat]

41. Certainly her loss was not greater than a similar loss to any other child,

but I do think that one's personal life story could/should certainly make a difference for all people. If one of them decided to run, say like one of the 9/11 widows, yes, that personal tragedy should be taken into consideration when measuring the candidate....as it becomes part of who they are.

[Inspired]

12. I'm really surprised at the controversy.

I would love to see Caroline Kennedy in the US Senate. Maybe it's an emotional thing for me? So be it.

[ShortnFiery]

22. Camelot?

:puke: I've since awakened from the political ether that told me that most "haves" truly give a damn about the rest of us.

[marlakay]

15. You would think that because of who her father is

she would strive to achieve things for him. I know all my life I tried to do things to please my father.

How much more for her? She has said she knows that he had a gift to bring to the people and helped Obama because he was the first person in her lifetime to do the same.

I think her uncle who is like a father to her has had long heart to heart talks and said, your time has come Carolyn to not just sit back and work from behind but to step out and help Obama with his policies on education and Health Care. We know those are big for Edward K. and he probably told her, I won't be around much longer and I need you to fight for me.

Yes, someone else could do it, but would they have the sense of obligation to the world that her family has always had? They come from affluence but I heard were raised to help those that are not.

In this world of corruption and power mixed with greed we need more people like Carolyn and Obama who want to help people not for fame but genuinely because they care.

[cali]

25. lots of myth in your post. lots.

and lots of assumptions.

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

43. Power? Corruption? Greed? Are you referring to Old Joe Kennedy?

[Bucky]

16. I don't see how her father being murdered increases her qualifications

Think about all the adult children of KIA soldiers, sailors, firefighters, forestry service workers, cops, and such who could make the same claim to qualification. And in what way does this qualification enhance one's ability to do the job, beyond pure maudlin sentiment?

Or what about the potential candidates whose fathers died in industrial accidents, or from black lung disease, or from other unsafe working conditions. Is their sacrifice less noble, are their children less noble, for having parents who died to provide a good home rather than dying on the public payroll?

Where is an honest, worthy distinction to be made here other than notoriety and the greater access available to wealthy Americans?

Caroline Kennedy is a distinguished public citizen and a well connected political figure who would probably make a pretty decent senator. The fact that someone gunned down her father doesn't really add to her luster in my book.

[FrenchieCat]

35. I think that personal sacrifice, whether by choice or not does count,

and not for just Caroline Kennedy.

Being raised without a father, no matter the amount of money one has, does make a difference.

So yes, folks who when they were small children out there, and had a parent that was assassinated or even just died in an accident when while serving their country by being elected nationwide by the people, that yes.....that's something to consider....just like we consider those who lost limbs, or were imprisonned, or fought in wars as having provided a certain amount of personal sacrifice.

[Bucky]

39. So when you weigh candidates for a job, you add points for having a dead father?

Again, I admire the woman for the work she's done. She's certainly well qualified to be a senator--indeed, she's exactly the kind of national citizen the Senate was designed to house. But I just don't see how we can equate her loss of a father with the other genuinely personal sacrifices of the other types of people mentioned.

The analogy seems way off to me. She's not a leading citizen because she had to deal with that loss. She's a leading citizen because of the things that she's done with her life and the causes she's champtioned.

[FrenchieCat]

49. Correct.

It's called an edge....because it makes a difference in the sum total of who a person is.

That's why colleges take into consideration much more than test scores when looking at applicants who apply for admission. Those edges can sometimes make a difference when all else is relatively equal.

A person of a disadvantage financial background might get more consideration because of what it might have taken for them to get to where they got to as opposed to a rich applicant.

Or being a minority might make the difference.
Or being a woman.
Or yes, having lost your father via a national tragedy while he was doing the country's work.

Everything counts.....and I think that for Caroline, this experience that she had should count as much as those who say that she shouldn't be considered simply because her name is Kennedy.

[Bucky]

50. Well, if I ever have a job interview with you....

...please allow me to go out and kill my dad first. :)

[FrenchieCat]

52. When applying for a job, the resume is reviewed.....

than an interview is scheduled.

During that interview, one may be asked certain questions such as.....what makes you want to work here (in a politician's case, what is the reason you want to serve?)--

The point is that there are various components to what makes a person who they are beyond what shows up on paper.

I used to work in the College Relations department of a large company. We got tons of resume, many of them showed great qualifications. So we were charged with looking for those things that weren't so evident. Something in the cover letter that would indicate the "edge" that would make an individual stand out amongs the rest. Sometimes we would hold an preliminary interview over the phone....and yes, the personal stories were exactly what we were told to look for that would provide insight on the applicant's character, and not all of those things were quantative in nature.

[cali]

48. Being raised by an abusive parent is even more of a

tragedy for a child.

And a sacrifice is a willing act. Please don't misuse the word.

[FrenchieCat]

53. Sacrifice has more than one meaning......

sac·ri·fice (skr-fs)
n.
1.
a. The act of offering something to a deity in propitiation or homage, especially the ritual slaughter of an animal or a person.
b. A victim offered in this way.

2.
a. Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.
b. Something so forfeited.

3.
a. Relinquishment of something at less than its presumed value.
b. Something so relinquished.
c. A loss so sustained.

-------------------
and I didn't say that losing a parent at a young age was the ultimate sacrifice, now did I?

[cali]

54. as your definitions demonstrate, a child's loss of a parent is NOT

a sacrifice on the part of the child. Give this line of thought up. It doesn't work.

[FrenchieCat]

56. Well ok.

I don't consider her especially lucky. Are you saying that growing up without a father because he is murdered and folks are still making movies, writing books, and discussing who really killed him year in, year out, those are just "the breaks"? If one happens to turn on the TV and turn to a channel just at the time that you can watch your father's brain being blown out of his head..."them's the breaks"? When you can barely can come out of your house because of who your family was, no matter how you'd prefer that it wasn't like that......"Them just the breaks"?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

18. if one is against legacy, one should be strongly against this.

we dont OWE her because her father lost his life doing work he signed up to do.

[Occam Bandage]

19. I wasn't aware that the children of murder victims traditionally get a consolation Senate seat.

Is that a recent tradition? Won't we have to expand the Senate when the children of 9/11 victims come of age?

[sarge43]

26. Or the children of all service personnel KIA. n/t

[Occam Bandage]

27. Maybe they get free promotion to the rank of brigadier general.

[anonymous171]

20. She sounds like she would be a bad campaigner.

[Cha]

36. Besides her qualifications I think she shows excellent

judgment. She came out and supported Obama early on in California with her endorsement in the NYT on January 27, 2008.

<snips>

"My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.

Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.

We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960."

<much more>
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/opinion/27kennedy.html

Some of her qualifications from someone who knew what she did at the MMOA..

"LibertyLover (1000+ posts) Tue Dec-09-08 01:34 PM
Response to Reply #42
45. Well, let's see - Caroline Kennedy -
after finishing college, she interned with her uncle, Ted Kennedy, then went to work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. That's where I know her from. She is a lawyer with 2 publications on civil liberties to her credit. She is president of the Kennedy Library Foundation and has worked extensively with the New York City Public Schools, first as chief executive of the Office of Strategic Partnerships for the NYC Dept. of Education and now as Vice Chair of The Fund for Public Schools. Additionally she has represented the Kennedy family at any number of official functions. She is very intelligent, passionate about civil liberties and the Constitution and knows her way around the American power structure. To me that makes her a very attractive candidate for the position of New York's junior senator."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3637484#3638095

[Top Cat]

42. Frenchie I agree with you on this

If Caroline was a unknown people would complain... She has more experience than alot of 1st time senators. People should stop the hating and embrace this if she is selected.

[lynne]

46. There are thousands of people in the US who grew up fatherless due to service to country -

- with fathers lost in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq. Carolyn deserves no more of an edge than they do as their lives changed due to their fathers service, too. Any political appointment and those running for office should be judged on ability and record. Not on name.

[ronnykmarshall]

55. I think she'd make a great senator.

I'm not a New Yorker so I don't have a say so in this.

But if polls are showing that New Yorkers like the idea, so be it.

Maybe Patterson should appoint a "seat warmer" to Hillary's seat and let the voters have their say in 2010.

[bridgit]

58. Oh, its nepotism: HuffPo ~ UPDATE 12/9 NYTimes reports that Caroline Kennedy's uncle...

Ted, has been working hard behind the scenes to have her appointed to Hillary Clinton's New York Senate seat:

While Caroline Kennedy is maintaining her public silence about whether she wishes to succeed Senator Hillary Clinton, her uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, has been working behind the scenes on her behalf, according to Democratic aides.

In recent days the Massachusetts senator has called Gov. David A. Paterson and Senator Charles E. Schumer, as well as Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, who took over last month as head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee when Mr. Schumer stepped down.'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/05/caroline-kennedy-clinton_n_148671.html

Nepotism & sources of dynastic wealth, though I suppose what isn't, right?. Question may be: Is there anything wrong with nepotism? Many already know the answer to that question = sometimes maybe yes, sometimes maybe no.

In Caroline's case that answer would be trending 'no', though its pointed out that while having cultivated a life of low-pressure arts related functions - functions that better us as a society (in great part as part of her father's legacy, her family's legacy; past-times I'm not able to pooh-pooh being in the creative arts myself), peace initiative & governance works (again as part of her father's greater legacy), and fostering civil commonalities, and positive outreach in the world; she hasn't run for any office. Maybe that doesn't matter, maybe it points to a vast & eternal wisdom. My sense is that I'd do similarly if I had the cache Caroline Kennedy is able to draw on...

A downside may be that it opens a door for less popular people with corrosive agendas that could then be harder to close than it was to open. Especially with the brouhaha over Obama's vacated seat, I can see people endeavoring to fill all manner of similar positions, from senate seats to K St, using nepotism, however apropos, as a jumping-point-justification.

Imo she should toss her hat in the ring herself, take her chances, and dispel the appearance of nepotism in so doing.

[girl_interrupted]

59. Don't feel her dad's death gives her special rights, however

I think Caroline is a very intelligent woman, no matter who her parents were. And I admired both her parents very much. JFK receives a lot of deserved praise, but I've seen a lot of comments on this board regarding Jackie, that she was just another pretty face, known only for her fashion sense, an early version of todays Carla Bruni, 1st lady of France, but she was a lot more. And forgive me for elaborating on this, but I never have the time to adress some of the things I've seen, so hope you don't mind if I do it now. Jackie attended Vassar College studied at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France and had a B.A. French literature from Georgetown University& spoke French, Italian & Spanish, fluently. She worked as a photojournalist before her marriage.

She was only 31 when she became 1st lady, She loved art and music, poetry and books, history and architecture, and had an uncommon appreciation of culture. She was equally passionate about improving the human condition.She abhorred discrimination of all kinds. She was the first First Lady to hire a mentally retarded employee here at the White House. And she made certain for the first time that minority children were all welcome in the White House nursery. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2889/is_/ai_15543177

Because of her beauty, many world leaders were captivated by her, that helped to open doors for her husband in diplomatic relations. Privately, she was known to provide the President with withering assessments of political figures with whom he was negotiating, whether it was Pentagon brass or the Soviet Politburo. She forged personal friendship with world leaders, France's Charles DeGaulle, India's Jawaharlal Nehru, Pakistan's Ayub Kahn, England's Edward McMillan, furthering the interests of the President and the U.S. In South American nations, she made speeches in Spanish hailing the promise of the Administration's Peace Corps. Believing JFK's most important accomplishment was his 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, days after his assassination she penned a remarkable letter to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, calling on him to remain committed to nuclear arms reduction and urge smaller nations to do likewise. http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=36

So do I think Caroline comes from good stock? Absolutely. The only thing that worries me about Caroline, is that right now NY is in pretty dire straits. I'm not sure this is the time for a neophyte. Caroline is very well educated, a lawyer, but she has never actually practiced law. She has never been active in NY politics or politics in general till this year. She is not much of a public speaker, either, & can be quite boring to listen to. She really hasn't fought for any causes, and NY truly needs a fighter.

With so much at stake right now, I really would like to see someone more qualified. Like an Andrew Cuomo or a Carolyn Maloney or Kristen Hillebrand or Carolyn McCarthy. They are all elected officals and know the in's and out's of NY politics.

As for someone who suffered a loss, then Carolyn McCarthy fits the bill much more than Caroline Kennedy. Caroline had her mother, her family & was quite well to do. McCarthy on the other hand was an average citizen, a nurse whose son was gravely wounded & whose husband was killed in the Long Island Railroad Massacre. McCarthy not only nursed her son back to health but was determined to change the gun control laws in NY State. This woman was and is truly a fighter. She decided she could make more of an impact if she ran for public office and she did and she won. I have tremendous respect for her, she's always on the NRA's hit list & so far she has beat them on every turn. I'd love to see her as our Senator.


If I were Caroline, I'd wait till 2010. In the meantime, I'd get prepared for a run, maybe take some public speaking courses, travel around NY State, much like Hillary Clinton did, when she visited each & every county. Get to know the people & let them get to know you. Right now Caroline has the name, but is more like a Manhattan Socialite, than an average New Yorker. But she has great potential of her own, as well as amazing parents, and if she really wants to get into politics, she should go for it in 2010. No matter how this turns out, I wish her the best of luck.

[saltpoint]

60. Not a week ago, similar poll, Andrew Cuomo held a strong lead.

Looks as if New York voters took a measure of a possible CKS candidacy and liked what they saw.

Go, Caroline.

[ShortnFiery]

61. Yes, in the future us "PEONS" will text message our votes because it's all about fucking celebrity

and birthright, not qualifications. :puke:

Our voting system might as well mimic "American Idol" if we recognize Political Royalty as MOST qualified because we want to entertain some DELUDED fantasy that "the haves" actually give a damn about the Average American Worker.

[saltpoint]

63. You seem kinda angry.

There'd been a poll showing A. Cuomo comfortably ahead.

A new one shows CKS comfortably ahead now.

Hence, my point.

[ShortnFiery]

64. You're point proves NADA. Gov. Patterson is tasked to select the person most qualified.

I guess now, only "celebrities" and/or "political royal families" are able to be in contention.

Have we reached Plutocracy yet?

[saltpoint]

65. Well, speaking strictly for myself, I will ONLY consider celebrities

for political office.

For examle, I see no reason why John Travolta should not head the Energy Department. He's famous, and a lot of people have seen his movies.

I'd put Barbara Mandrell at the EPA. Is she still alive? Well, if she is, I think she'd be a terrific EPA chief. No doubt about it.

And as far as I'm concerned, we can't do better than Nancy Grace for Attorney General. Holder will have to step aside. He was never that famous to start with.

[saltpoint]

62. Agree, and then some.

The Kennedy legacy is a legacy of service, over many decades.

I'll honor Gov. Paterson's choice, whoever it is.

But I prefer CKS.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

66. Lots of people's parents have been taken from them in service to this country.

Doesn't mean they are qualified to be appointed to the Senate. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Caroline Kennedy is unqualified. I just think she should have to prove it like anyone else.

[CTyankee]

69. How do you see that playing out? Just wondering...

I mean, what should Caroline do?

[kskiska]

71. Suppose it had been John, Jr., who wanted the seat?

Would that have been different?