I have one question for those supporting Caroline Kennedy's appointment to the Senate: Would she even be considered if not for her name?
I don't support the appointment of Kennedy to the Senate. My reasons after the jump.
I like Caroline Kennedy. I admire her. Should she choose to run in 2010, I'd love to see it. But I do not support her being appointed to the Senate.
Caroline Kennedy is an accomplished woman. She's co-written two books. I've read one of them, In Our Defense, and I enjoyed it. Caroline has raised a bundle of money for NYC public school system. She's sat on several boards and headed up the Profiles In Courage award. Worthy activities all. She's an attorney, though as far as I know, she's never practiced law.
Caroline has only tangentially been involved in politics before this year when she campaigned for Obama. Her inexperience showed. She's not a particularly good speaker. She didn't speak much in terms of policy.
Does Caroline Kennedy have the stomach for the grind of campaigning for a Senate seat? I don't know, but I have my doubts. And there's really no way of knowing what kind of candidate she'd be. With the others who are being considered, at least we have a record to examine.
Should Kennedy be appointed, she's being given a big political gift: incumbency. I can't see any prominent NY dem running against her in the dem primary in 2010. One can argue that anyone being appointed will enjoy that same political plum, but at the very least the others being committed have worked to get elected in NY and they have actual records in elective office. Having said that, I'd like to see a place holder appointed and let NY dems who want the seat, work for it in 2010. I know the argument that that puts the seat at risk, but imo, so does appointing someone with no experience in elective politics.
The bottom line to me, is that Caroline is being considered because of who she is, not what she's done.
And that troubles me, just as it has in other analogous situations.
Oh yeah, and no, I'm not a New Yorker, just to clear that up before it gets asked.