Caroline Kennedy To Seek Hillary Clinton's Senate Seat: NY Times Reports

Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of an American political dynasty, has decided she will pursue the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a person told of her decision said Monday.

The decision came after a series of deeply personal and political conversations, in which Ms. Kennedy, who friends describe as unflashy but determined, wrestled with whether to give up what has been a lifetime of avoiding the spotlight.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Georgianna]

It is not Hillary Clinton's senate seat. The seat belongs to the people of NY State. We have serious problems in upstate New York. The unemployment rate among African American males in the city of Buffalo is a little above 51%!

I just hope we put someone in the seat who is willing to put "service" back into public service. The job of our elected officials is to serve the interests of the people. Unfortunately, too many in public office are in it for power, influence, and prestige.

[radical1]

Personally, I believe Caroline would be the best offensive against failin Palin. Let her RISE to the top, and see how far she goes. Lots of Luck, Caroline, and we love you already.

[dianhow]

As far as I can tell - the Kennedy name is the only reason she is being considered for the senate. Hillary's will not be happy that her senate seat might go to a Obama supporter !
The Clinton's are well thought of in New York..as are the Kennedy's. Qualifications should be the only criteria used to pick someone for the senate...but we all know..thats not how the system works.
.Here in Chicago..Mr Stroger was president of the Cook county board...but when he got sick..his son was then 'annointed' to take his place..his name : Todd Stroger. It's almost like royality..some one ' inherits ' the throne. The Democratic machien got him in. The ' machine ' that Mayor Daley says does not exist. Todd Stroger has done a very poor job, but loyal Dems all voted for him. We can not continue to vote only according to party labels...that does not work !! It's also a lazy way to vote..
we need to research the positions of each candidate...

[horus07]

caroline is the person who can do the best job for the people of new york. she is my first choice for the senate seat vacated by hillary.

[pittfan]

caroline would be a great pick to be the next us senator from NY .remember hillary didnt have any experience when she ran for senate and she has done an admirable job.i expect caroline will do the same

[AlinaM]

I do no know Mr. Ackerman but it is a shame that a grown man cannot tell the difference between Caroline Kennedy and Jennifer Lopez. He should have a talk with his mother.

[HeevenSteven]

When did Senate seats become a birth right?

[bbednarz]

Haven't we had enough of this empire building - that excludes everyone else from the job because they are too stupid ?.?....If and I say IF she wants to be a Senator Why Didn't She Run For Office..Political Pressure is the wrong way to get "NOT ELECTED" too a job "she didn't want".........
.
..Running for office on her family name - r e a l l y a true Kennedy looking out for number one

[wannetta]

I HOPE CARLOLINE GET THE SEAT SHE HAS GIVEN UP ALOT A VERY SMART WOMAN,SHE WOULD MAKE AN EXCELLENT MEMBER OF THE SENATE CAROLINE IS JUST AS MUCH QUALIFIED
AS ANY ONE THAT FIRST GOSE TO WASHINGTON IF NOT CAROLINE THEN SENT BILL CLINTON
LET THE GOP Republican DEAL WITH THAT

[Stephen C. Rose - Huffpost Blogger]

Time to dust this one off for the doubters.

http://stephencrose.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/caroline-kennedy-quintessentially-qualified/

[streetkid5]

One of the pieces of crap that's attached to Mr. Rose's thoughtful and well-written piece is "An Open Letter to Caroline Kennedy" That dated and inaccurate bit of doggerel, and the misinformation on which it is based, hardly needs to be resurrected now, in the days of Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton and of John McCain standing up for the President-elect.

[AlinaM]

Thank you for this factual response. I also think that she would make a wonderful future president, not to mention our first woman president. It would be nice to have such a dignified follow up to Barack, specially if Barack proves to be as transformational as he promises to be. I was disappointed that Obama took Clinton into the fold at first. I was however delighted at the prospect that Caroline would succeed Hillary Clinton in New York as a senator.

[dianhow]

If she were not part of the Kennedy.Dy­nasty...no one would even consider her. and I happen to like the Kennedy's. I say..let her run in 2010 and get elected on her own merits.

[RadhaColalurver]

I truly admire Caroline Kennedy, and I agree with others here that she is extremely intelligent and well-suited; however, NY is horrifically underrepresented by upstate, and as New Yorker I'd like to see a senator from upstate who would comply to upstate NY's concerns. If Caroline can show that she has true affinity to upstate NY in this short amount of time period, then I agree that she should be appointed If not, then with all due respect - simply and please just no.

[NotGuilty]

More slapdown of the regressive, oppressive, racist, sexist, financial failure called the GOP.

Hey Jeb, hey Palin..... been nice ta know ya!

[WilliamL]

Yeah, sure, right, just let her "have" a Senate seat because why ?

Because she is a Kennedy?

No.

[troika]

I cannot comprehend why she is now coming out of the woodwork and being interested in becoming a senator. Ofcourse her uncle Sen. Ted Kennedy would welcome that idea and push for it so as to leave a Kennedy legacy in the senate. Moreover, she has on many occasions had mentioned that she was uninterested in any political position. Why all of a sudden a change of heart? Don't get me wrong, I am not a republican but a hard core DEMOCRAT. I admire her being a private person and doing a lot of work from behind the doors. Just having Kennedy as the last name in itself is not a right or privilege to becoming a senator. She has no public/elected office experience at all. Secondly I will not buy the argument that Sen. Clinton did not have any experience when she became a senator. Sen. Clinton has had thirty plus years experience and also was a first lady. Sorry folks, Caroline Kennedy will not be able to handle the nitty gritty challenges of a campaign.

[Tidyus]

Wish it was Caroline as Secretary of State. She has good manners and you can stand to listen to her.

[troika]

Your comment that Caroline Kennedy has good manners and hence qualified to be the Secy. of State is one DUMB statement. There are dime a dozen folks who have good manners and also to whom you can listen as they talk and even more qualified than her. Doesn't mean they all are qualified to become the SOS. Caroline has no experience in any field whatsoever. It is only since she supported Obama that she has been in the public eye. No privileges should be shown in electing a senator especially one with the last name Kennedy. If this is the only reason, then bring on RFK Jr. who has proven experience working hard for the poor and who is also an environmental activist.

[SledDogActionCoalition]

There's a big difference between Hillary and Caroline. Hillary was elected. Caroline wants to be appointed. Although she did public service, Caroline is still unqualified. Does anyone whose done public service deserve to be appointed to the senate? Most people don't have the unmitigated gall to ask that they be appointed senator. I wonder if Caroline did because she has a sense of entitlement.

[lynettema]

Anyone else who wants THIS Senate seat at THIS time will have to have the "unmitigated gall" to ask that they be appointed. That is the only way to get THIS Senate seat this time. Caroline may not have the experience of a political office, but she is every bit as qualified as most people that decide to run for office the first time.

[troika]

She should run in 2012 like the rest if she is that interested. It should not be handed over to her, merely because she wants it and has Kennedy as the last name which is lame.

[troika]

I could not agree with you more. Pres. elect Obama should stay out of this and Gov. Patterson should not be pressured to appoint Caroline Kennedy. I am sure there are plenty of men or women who can make the cut and who are more qualified and have more experience. If she wants to be a senator, then she should run for it in 2012. Also I do not like the argument by some folks that Sen. Clinton is staying silent about this. She is right in doing so. Why would she want to back Caroline when she (caroline) campaigned for Obama. Secondly, it is the work of Gov. Patterson to appoint a senator.