I am a resident of New York, and I think Caroline Kennedy is uniquely well-suited to provide the representation my state needs in the Senate.
Maureen Dowd's column today at last signals some "push back" against the sexist Caroline Kennedy bashing that has been going on in the press. As a New Yorker, I think that Caroline Kennedy is uniquely well-suited to serve my state's interests in the Senate: She was an early and outspoken supporter of our new President, Barack Obama, and as a member of the team who vetted his Vice Presidential choices she has intimate and first-hand knowledge of his policies and the way he makes decisions. Add to this her impressive qualifications as an attorney and an author, as well as her experience as a fundraiser, and she brings a lot to the table. (I have worked in the Development field for years as both a volunteer and as a professional, and anybody who thinks Kennedy's impressive fundraising accomplishments don't count is clueless.) Caroline Kennedy's family name is the frosting on the cake: She has powerful connections, and the kind of "celebrity" that makes people (and the press) pay attention to what she has to say.
I also happen to think that Caroline Kennedy, like Michelle Obama, represents a new path for women. Each has chosen a career path that has allowed her to balance the demands of family and workplace. In interviews Michelle Obama has made it clear that she sees her life as a continuum, with many productive years ahead of her; although her career is on hold now, while her children need her to provide stability, she is confident that she will be able to return to the world of work. (And how great is it that the Obamas made sure their daughters started school on time, like all their classmates? They are putting education first and modeling that for the rest of the nation -- what a contrast to Sarah Palin's children, who were dragged all over the country as props!) Similarly, Caroline Kennedy has made raising her family her chief occupation, but is now ready to focus on politics and bring her skills and experience to that work.
What do we want in our Senators? At the very least, someone smart and capable who can work with the Administration and will look out for the interests of our state. Caroline Kennedy exceeds those qualifications; what's more, she is smart enough to know she has a lot to learn, and clearly ready to take on that challenge. This voter would like to see her appointed as the next Senator from New York.