There's a lot of hyperventilating today about how the mean bloggers destroyed Caroline Kennedy, as though I had a direct line to Paterson's office and called the shots. No, I'm not a Kennedy. My family wasn't rich and powerful and famous, so I don't get direct lines to anyone.
But, goes this theory, thanks to our efforts to "destroy" Kennedy (by fighting their desire for monarchy), we're now stuck with a Blue Dog in the Senate.
To me, this is a win-win situation. There are two alternatives:
- Gillibrand was voting her districts, and will now tack hard to the left as she represents a much more liberal New York, or
- She gets primaried and a more progressive Democrats -- one chosen by the voters! -- gets in. Heck, it could even be Caroline Kennedy, assuming she isn't afraid to face real voters!
Gillibrand is an accomplished politician who won in a brutally difficult House seat. But what made her successful in that district won't make her successful statewide. So she either adapts, or she dies. And in the end, it'll be the voters making that call.
As it should be.
Update: And the evolution begins.
"After talking to Kirsten Gillibrand, I am very happy to say that New York is poised to have its first U.S. Senator who supports marriage equality for same-sex couples," Van Capelle said.
"She also supports the full repeal of the federal DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) law, repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) and passage of legislation outlawing discrimination against transgender people. While we had a productive discussion about a whole range of LGBT concerns, I was particularly happy to hear where she stands on these issues."
Gillibrand wouldn't have been caught dead with this kind of unambiguous support for gay rights in her House district.