Caroline's Consummate Qualifications

[Shiver]

Caroline's Consummate Qualifications
HuffPost blog, by Michael Carmichael
Dec. 16th, 2008

*snip*

For days, Chinese whispers in the corridors of power trickled through the grapevines of political gossip that, Caroline, the sole surviving child of JFK and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy might be interested in serving in the US Senate. Fueled by the knowledge that her uncle Edward Kennedy is nearing the limits of his service in the Senate, the rumor that Caroline Kennedy might be stepping into her family's niche of history by following in the footsteps of her father and her uncles seemed remote, a pipedream, a fantasy, a paradox of wishful thinking for those nostalgic enough to recall the glamor and momentum of Camelot.

Regarded by many as pure speculation and discounted as highly improbable that Caroline Kennedy could have any conceivable interest whatsoever in subjecting herself and her family to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune concomitant on the position of US Senator, the rumors ended abruptly when Governor Paterson received a telephone call from JFK's daughter stating that she would be interested in the Senate seat soon to be vacated by Hillary Clinton when she is confirmed as Secretary of State in February.

Given the received opinion in the form of contrarian rumors, Governor David Paterson may have been mildly shocked when he told reporters that Caroline Kennedy had telephoned to confirm her intention to seek his appointment with the promise to present her qualifications to the Governor. Sounding just the slightest bit dumbfounded, the Governor told a hastily assembled press conference, "She told me she was interested in the position. She'd like at some point to sit down and tell me what she thinks her qualifications are." Echoing the thunderstruck Governor, the headline in the New York Times proclaimed, "Kennedy Seeks to Prove Qualifications for Senate Bid."

*snip*

Using her skills as an attorney and author, she wrote six books including a legal textbook: In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action as well as the bestsellers -- A Patriot's Handbook and Profiles in Courage for Our Time.

Caroline Kennedy's executive experience includes her service as CEO for the Office of Strategic Partnerships for the New York City Department of Education and her Presidency of the Kennedy Library Foundation. She serves on the boards of the Commission on Presidential Debates and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Caroline serves as the Honorary Chair of the American Ballet Theatre, and she is a member of the Advisory Board of the Harvard Institute of Politics.

*****

Much more at link above.

[sandnsea]

1. Actual accomplishments

substantive change. Seriously. Could I get 5 specific programs that have been implemented due to her efforts. Where she worked on getting the program implemented, not just raising money.

[saracat]

2. Yup. Well connected, well educated socialite who serves on several boards

many family connected.Nothing is remotely politically astute about this resume or really government oriented.

By these standards Theresa heinz Kerry should be the Senator from PA! She actually has done more constructive effort on behalf of more people.

Many many folks sit on boards, raise money and are philanthropic. Caroline had many opportunities to enter public service. She contributed in her own way but it wasn't politcal. She doesn't deserve to leapfrog other who did contribute and did so at the expense of their time and efforts.

carolines "e4ffortts" were made possible only by her name and money. NY has a lot of women who came up the hard way. They were "elected" .

[Phx_Dem]

7. Hillary had less on her resume when

she ran for Senator and she wasn't even a resident of New York. Theoretically speaking, if Patterson wanted to appoint Laura Bush to that seat, would you support it?

I'm not suggesting Hillary didn't deserve to be Senator, she ran and she won. But you seem to think Caroline's resume is somehow thinner than Hillary's was.

[cali]

10. no, Clinton's resume was not thinner.

That's just not true. Clinton worked as an attny for the CDF, worked for the impeachment committee, worked as an attny., published prolifically on children's rights and family law, co-founded the Arkansas Project for Families and Children,chaired the board of the Legal Services Corporation, chaired the board of the Arkansas Rural Health Advisory Commission, chaired the Arkansas Educational Standards Board, and served on the boards of other public interest entities. She was twice named as one of the 100 most influential lawyer in the country by the National Law Journal.

In short, Hillary's resume is much longer and more impressive than Caroline Kennedy's. It's ridiculous to compare them. Even though I opposed Hillary for prez, I always thought that the argument that she wasn't accomplished enough, was bullshit.

[saracat]

14. Cali is absolutely correct, a phrase I have not used often. And some forget

I was not always a fan of Clinton's either. And I do not dilike Caroline. And I would like to see a woman, if possible, In the Senate seat but it isn't a deal breaker for me. What is mosy important is someone who has earned it through dedication to the process and is qualified.

[Two Americas]

15. I agree with Cali completely

[Phx_Dem]

17. I never said Hillary wasn't qualified.

I said her resume was no more politically qualifying than Caroline's is. If Hillary's work at the Rose Law Firm qualified her for the Senate, then every lawyer in America is qualified. Being a laywyer doesn't hurt, but constitutional law is a far better primer than corporate law.

"Caroline Kennedy's executive experience includes her service as CEO for the Office of Strategic Partnerships for the New York City Department of Education and her Presidency of the Kennedy Library Foundation. She serves on the boards of the Commission on Presidential Debates and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Caroline serves as the Honorary Chair of the American Ballet Theatre, and she is a member of the Advisory Board of the Harvard Institute of Politics."

You're entitled to your opinion, but in my view Hillary was no more qualified when she was elected than Caroline Kennedy is now, and maybe less so.

[cali]

19. that's ridiculous. first of all I never said that you said Hillary wasn't

qualified. You said her resume was thinner than Caroline's. It's not. It's far superior to Caroline's.

It's not a matter of opinion. It's a matter of facts. And you don't have them on your side. Kind of sad to see someone argue against fact. I provided evidence. You fail.

[AtomicKitten]

36. Pfft. Are you including Tuzla, the Ireland Peace Process, and SCHIP in your analysis?

Your poofy resume pimpin' is ridiculous. Even more absurd is your obvious need to elevate Clinton over Kennedy. Bookmarked.

[Captain Hilts]

40. NYDems decided to offer the seat to HRC when they saw her campaigning for downticket candidates...

in NYState and how well people responded to her.

As first lady, she spent more time on the hustings in NYS than Caroline Kennedy has as a resident.

They also knew Lowrey wouldn't beat RudyG.

[cali]

3. uh, just a note: Caroline has not written 6 books

she co-wrote two with Ellen Alderman, and edited 2 books of poetry for children and a couple of other volumes. Claiming she wrote 6 books is just resume inflation. Yes, she's done a lot of philanthropic work and kudos to her for that.

[Shiver]

6. The piece has more than few little errors like that.

Some of the spelling mistakes really stuck out at me :banghead:

Thought it was interesting regardless, though.

[Phx_Dem]

20. You're right, she has "authored" 7 books.

To discount her role in writing a book because it was written by herself and someone else is absurd. Keep slipping those hairs, you sound pretty desperate.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw_0_14?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=caroline+kennedy&sprefix=Caroline+Kenne

"In Our Defense" by Caroline Kennedy
"Profiles in Courage for Our Time" by Caroline Kennedy
"A Patriot's Handbook" by Caroline Kennedy, Jon Muth
"Right to Privacy" by Caroline Kennedy, Ellen Alderman
"Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy" by Caroline Kennedy
"A Family Christmas" by Caroline Kennedy
"A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children" by Caroline Kennedy

[cali]

21. first of all, she co-wrote the first two

that's right, co-wrote. As in wrote it with another person, ergo giving her sole credit for those books is dishonest by omission. And she edited the others. There is a difference between editing a collection and authoring a book. The article fails and so do your arguments.

[Phx_Dem]

22. She's listed as the author.

And to discount someone because they co-wrote a book is simply absurd. By that logic, you'd have to discount both authors which means no one wrote it.

[cali]

24. She is listed a a author on every volume ever printed of both books

and I'm not discounting her. I'm pointing out the fucking dishonesty of the person who wrote the OP. You don't just leave out information of that kind.

Look, I like and admire Caroline Kennedy. I don't like it when people twist the facts, don't deal in reality and inflate someone's qualifications.

[Phx_Dem]

25. No one is twisting any facts.

First of all, to say she authored books is correct as her name is listed as the author. If you want to split hairs to say that she co-authored a book, knock yourself out. No one ever stated those books were written soley by Caroline Kennedy so maybe you're one twisting the facts to imply someone did.

Secondly, writing a book is not a qualification, it is simply something that is on her resume. Being a lawyer at the Rose Law Firm is not a qualification to be anything other than a lawyer or perhaps a judge.

If you don't think Caroline is qualified, good for you but the Constitution says she's qualified. And she is damn sure as "qualified" as Hillary was when she ran, and she is actually from New York.

The main point is that Hillary was no more "qualified" than Caroline, yet she did just fine as Senator so maybe political "qualifications" are overrated. Maybe all that's required are big brains, a vision, some good ideas and track record for getting something done; all qualities that Caroline Kennedy has. Who needs another political hack who is already in bed with all the lobbyists?

[AtomicKitten]

39. Clinton was no more qualified in 2000 than Kennedy is now.

Some here at DU like to carry on the tradition of poofing up Clinton's resume. Clinton tried it in the primary and her claims, for example, of ducking sniperfire in Tuzla, having brokered the peace process in Ireland, and having being instrumental in SCHIP were embarrassingly exposed by the facts.

It's funny that some of the same people that screamed "sexist!" in the primary now have their boot on Caroline's neck.

[Shiver]

29. "Fucking dishonesty?"

I posted an article. I did not write it.

[AtomicKitten]

37. cali's on a bent to poof up Clinton's resume over Kennedy's -- your OP is simply fodder

[tomp]

34. this is authorship-lite.

and including ford for pardoning nixon...? :puke:

give me her money (i.e., free time, connections) and i could do twice as much and better than that.

if she's what it takes to beat giulliani in the general, i'll take her. but let's not pretend this is anything other than status quo party politics.

[ClarkUSA]

4. WTH are "Chinese whispers"??

:shrug:

[Shiver]

5. Been trying to figure out the answer for that.

The writer in me says it's more about setting the scene and the tone than actually meaning anything, but I'm probably wrong.

[ClarkUSA]

8. No matter what it is, it sounds racist and that's unfortunate.

Would anyone say there were "African whispers" or "Jewish whispers" if it weren't directly relevant to a story? I think not.

[Bucky]

26. Chinese whispers (the French call it "Arab telephone") is like the game "telephone"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_whispers

It's a play off the idea that the Chinese language is incomprehensible (or should that read "inscrutible"?). So it's mildly racist, but means that the rumor mill gets wilder and wilder with each retelling.

[Cha]

9. Thanks for this Shiver..I also like what

Al Giordano has to say about Caroline Kennedy possibly being appointed by Gov Paterson..

<snip>

"I think she's more than qualified to be a U.S. Senator and I hope she gets the position. We need more Senators who are cognizant and respectful of our constitutional rights. She'll be great for education and funding for the arts.

She's outside the Washington power grid but knows how it works. Her celebrity will bring increased attention to the progressive bills she introduces, co-sponsors and supports. I think she's exactly the kind of change we need to bring to Washington."


http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/

Fresh Blood as it were:)

Caroline Kennedy inspires me like Obama does and I would like to see her do this especially now that we know she wants it.

[VolcanoJen]

11. Kind of new to L'Affair Kennedy, but I'm surprised by the negative reaction...

... across the lefty blogosphere. It strikes me as a little bit sexist, a little unrealistic, and a whole lot silly.

I was really struck by what Jane Hamsher wrote, in particular:

"It seems Caroline Kennedy has decided she'd rather have a US Senate seat than a pony for Christmas... She's 'making calls this morning to alert political figures to her interest.' I guess it was either that or get her nails done."

My Gawd.

I suppose people like Jane are forgetting that they had no difficulty supporting Hillary Clinton on a last-name-basis, and weren't they the same people who wrung their hands over the sexism of the mainstream media vis-a-vis Hillary?

The whole thing strikes me as bizarre. Caroline Kennedy, or Rudy Giuliani? It's going to take tens of millions of dollars to win the seat in the '10 Special, and even more tens of millions to defend it in '12 when the term is up. What are we supposed to do, raise these tens of millions on ActBlue in the middle of a freakin' depression? For some other no-name candidate because Ms. Kennedy is just too famous? Are we talking about New York, or West Virginia here?

Mindblowing. End rant, but I'm a little peeved.

[Shiver]

12. I've never been able to read Jane Hamsher's stuff.

The tone just bugs me, and when I saw the article to you mention, the small blurb was enough to let me know I wouldn't care for what I read. The actual reading of it solidified this for me.

I like Caroline and I think she'd make a great public servant from any state. She's a liberal, and with the newly-forming Blue Dog senate caucus, we need more lefties in the Senate. Furthermore, she has an in with the incoming president, and can do a lot to help Obama out. I don't care if she's a Kennedy, or if this could be seen as furthering a "dynasty". If she is appointed, then the people of New York have two years to decide if they want to keep her.

The same can be said of whomever Patterson appoints.

I don't live in New York, I've never lived in New York, and I've never even been to New York (I can't even name all five boroughs of New York City). My opinion on this, therefore, carries no weight whatsoever. I won't be voting in New York in 2010 or 2012. However, I would think the same questions that I would have if Feingold or Kohl were to step down to take an administration position should apply to Caroline Kennedy as well:

1) Would she be able to serve the people of New York effectively? The entire country?

2) Would she be able to win and hold the seat in forthcoming elections?

3) Does she want the seat?

4) Can she avoid being arrested?

I'm interested to know what New Yorkers think on these questions, and on the matter in general.

[VolcanoJen]

13. 5) Money, Money, Money

This could also be filed under 2) but I'm just reiterating.

Jane Hamsher has always been a difficult read for me... and everyone, don't ever forget that the most prominent lefty bloggers, Kos, Atrios, Hamster, even digby, were Hillary supporters early-on and it was quite the struggle to get them to understand the meritocracy vis-a-vis Obama back then. Hence I find their hypocrisy today to be a little bit stomach-churning.

One of the things I've always adored about DU? As a community, we are real-world. And, we're usually and collectively spot-on right. :-)

[cali]

16. kos was never a Hillary supporter.

Don't know about the others, but I know he wasn't.

[VolcanoJen]

18. Well, you're right, I'm not sure about that.

Can't remember it exactly, and I really am thinking way back to, say, January 2007 on this. And it's tricky to separate Markos from the other contributors to his site.

[JuniperLea]

23. I don't read any of those sites anymore...

Between the meta wars on Kos, the plebeian writers on HuffPo, and the apparent buying of firedoglake, I'm pretty disenchanted with all at the moment. And don't get me started on Politico.

[Bucky]

27. The source of the anti-Kennedy campaign is pure career jealousy

There are people who want that job or support someone else who might want that job, and they resent Kennedy coming in at the top of hte game based on her name recognition. Only it's not just based on her name recognition. She's very well connected--she's really got a nation-wide network of friends and knows all the serious players in the game. Till now she's been dabbling. Now she's coming into the game at one of the most prized seats in the nation.

It'll be interesting to see how Kennedy handles... or throws... elbows when the going gets rough.

[AtomicKitten]

28. Caroline is as qualified* as Clinton was in 2000.

"Qualified" meaning a sum total of actual accomplishments (as opposed to a fluffed up resume), name recognition, and the ability to raise cash.

Edited to add: "Caroline Kennedy Turning the Tide of Skeptics."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/16/kennedy-begins-to-turn-th_n_151551.html

[cali]

30. not even close. please see my post upthread.

[AtomicKitten]

31. I view Caroline's position now politically very similar to Clinton's in 2000.

The posturing about proving one more worthy than the other is absurd and really beside the point. There is a good chance Caroline will be appointed the next Senator from NY, and I think it's wonderful. I agree with the basic premise of arguments against dynasty, but I think this particular appointment is brilliant on a number of levels.

[Captain Hilts]

41. Clinton had actually worked on policy issues, for Prez Carter, for starters.

One of the country's top 100 attorneys, etc.

But, yes, I DO think CK is qualified also. Just differently.

[paulk]

32. hogwash

"The image of a US Senate graced by two Kennedys both bearing the flame of JFK and conjuring the era of Camelot presents a potent concoction of political magic at a critical juncture in American history now seemingly on the threshold of a resurgence of progressive energy and the promise of positive change in the Obama Era.?


This fantasy of "conjuring" Camelot ignores the fact that the Kennedy Camelot was a media creation, a bit of PR - the loving husband, the beautiful wife, the two darling children - when the reality of it was JFK backstage porking any piece of tail he could get his dick into.

Sorry but I prefer my politics with at least one foot in the real world.

The only thing the appointment of Caroline Kennedy "conjures" up for me are images of nepotism and dynasty...

[SwampG8r]

33. backstage porking any piece of tail he could get his dick into.

lol

how does this statement differentiate between these 2 women?

just one more thing they have in common

[paulk]

35. Hillary Clinton was not appointed to office

that would seem a pretty major difference...

along with the dynasty bit, and any number of other things.

But, you know, I haven't been engaging in a comparison of the two women. I'm commenting on how absurd this starry eyed need for the Camelot myth is, and how using it to justify the selection of a Kennedy to high office is even more absurd.

[Arkansas Granny]

38. I have no problem with Caroline's qualifications or her interest in being NY Senator.

My only concern is that any other woman with the same qualifications and accomplishments, but without the family name, would not be considered for such a prestigious appointment.

That being said, I hope that Gov. Paterson bases his decision on who is best for the position and not on a person's celebrity.