Let's face it. Over the last few months, very few democrats (outside of Obama, of course) have received as much face time in the media and press as Caroline Kennedy. A quick search of googlenews tells you that her name pops up repeatedly in speculation, thought and editorials in regards to the NY Senate seat. So much so that other potential officials are getting almost no press run to make a real comparative.. effectively, the surge of media attention has made it a horse race with only one candidate getting 80% of the ink. But, as someone from afar, let me throw my 2 cents in: Andrew Cuomo is a significantly better choice.
Yes, there is going to be some campaigning done on the behalf of women's groups to contend that an outgoing woman should be replaced with another woman, which is an argument that many of the Kennedy backers have made in numerous blogs I've read repeatedly. This judgement of qualifactions based on genetics, however, is not necessarily worth much in terms of a senator who will happen to represent both sexes - and more importantly the state as a whole, and need to be effective.
While we can respect Caroline Kennedy for work done on many fronts, almost none of those have been in the type of role she would need to fill if she is appointed to the senate. In fact, to many outside of the state of NY, this would appear to be an appointment where the primary qualification is name and money. Whether that statement is true or not, it is often not the truth of the matter that means anything, but rather the perception that resonates with the majority.
Over the last few weeks, however, a slow growing story has taken hold that Andrew Cuomo, Attorney General, has voiced interest in consideration for the vacant seat.
http://www.9wsyr.com/...
There is a certain glamor to putting Caroline Kennedy in office; and admittedly,, in order for this position to have any validity, Cuomo must come out of the shadows and openly say he is interested in the position to allow for the press to do their job.
But it was the small Buffalo News that pointed out the obvious more then a month ago:
http://www.buffalonews.com/...
He also has served in Washington, as head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and has won a statewide election. His experience and skills would make him a formidable advocate for New York — all of New York — in the Senate.
Kennedy carries a name that is even more famous, and she obviously would be a sentimental choice for many people. She is the only surviving child of a slain president and one of the world’s most glamorous women, the latter of whom firmly rooted her daughter in New York City.
But, after a lifetime of understandably seeking the privacy that was lacking in her early childhood, Kennedy has no real political experience. And absolutely nothing ties her to Western New York.
Let's be honest, democrats are at low risk of losing a senate seat when it comes back up. However, having an effective advocate in Washington is something everyone deserves, and the position of a senate seat is simply not a given right due to those who advocate for it. Of those in real consideration, only Cuomo really has the resume that would put him in a position to be effective as a senator from day one.
The people of New York may have sentimental feelings and ties to Caroline Kennedy - and no one anywhere is saying she is anything but a good person who would do her best in the role.
But the state of New York has been represented by those who were able to effectively help guide and craft policy because of the strong skills they brought to the job. Caroline Kennedy simply doesn't have those skills yet. If she wishes to take a stab at the senate later, she can run for any elected office, win and fulfill those responsibilities first - find out what it's like to really run a campaign and to represent people in the State government, in the US House, anywhere.
But if Cuomo can come out and say he is truly interested in this role - on the record - his qualifications to represent the state of New York make it difficult to give her this appointment as her first stop on a political road.