Kennedy Reaches Out To Clinton Directly

Caroline Kennedy has called Hillary Clinton to discuss her interest in the New York Senator's seat, a source close to Clinton tells the Huffington Post. But the two, as of Monday, had yet to actually speak.

"[Kennedy] called," said the source, "but they hadn't connected as of yesterday morning."

Nevertheless, Kennedy's outreach to Clinton, who is leaving her seat to become Secretary of State, is another chapter in what is quickly becoming a fairly comprehensive public and private campaign for the Senate post. Kennedy has additionally been in touch with a host of prominent New York figures, including Governor David Paterson, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Kennedy has also hired a well-connected political hand to help steer her candidacy to success. Josh Isay, former chief of staff to Sen. Chuck Schumer and founder of the political consulting firm Knickerbocker SKD, is a well-connected figure within New York politics. He is controversial in progressive circles, in part because of a client list that includes Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Benjamin Netanyahu. But Isay also has obvious connections that could aid Kennedy in the short term, including ties to New York politicos and powerhouse unions like the SEIU.

Even with Isay's help, the key sticking point for Kennedy remains: whether or not she can placate Clinton's backers in New York, many of whom seem tepid or antagonistic towards her candidacy.

Multiple reports indicate that supporters of the former first lady -- not to mention the Clintons themselves -- weren't willing to simply forget Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama during the Democratic primary. Others, including several Clinton fundraisers, have made public statements that the former first daughter simply isn't qualified for the Senate. But the source close to Clinton insists that their differences are not caused by hurt feelings, but rather preferences for other New York politicians.

"The Clintons aren't going to do anything against her," said the source. "I think they had just been more emotionally attached to names that surfaced before hers did, like Randi Weingarten [of the United Federation of Teachers] and [Rep.] Carolyn Maloney."

Asked for comment, Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines responded: "This is entirely Governor Paterson's decision, Senator Clinton completely respects the privacy of his process so will not be commenting on it or any individual candidate, nor does any third party speak on her behalf."

Comments

[fayemac]

So what was the problem people had with Palin? Not qualified? Even I give her much more credit for having the smarts, she severely lacks the killer instint that goes with politics at this level. The neo-craps would eat her alive.

[rellort]

The Kennedy family has sacrificed two extraordinary men for this country. It is amazing that this daughter of one has the courage to pursue this appointment. If she only has half as much concern for this nation as her father and uncle, she is still way ahead of the puffed-out pack behind her.

[HappyIdiot2008]

Thank you. Nice post.

[steve-annie]

Her father and both uncles. Ted Kennedy has certainly had his "issues" but he has also worked tirelessly for those of us who don't have lobbyists and megabucks to push our positions for us. Her cousin Bobby, Jr. is on the team as well. Right or wrong, like it or not, being a Kennedy is the equivalent of having a PhD in politics! Don't try to tell me that Caroline won't know how to get things done. And to suggest, as one poster has, that the neocons "would eat her alive" is just laughable. Kennedys aside, remember her mother?? Behind the little white gloves, pillbox hats and soft voice was a spine of steel (something we could really use right now among Senate Democrats) and nobody managed to get the best of her either. Without her, we wouldn't have Grand Central Station in NYC anymore, and heaven knows what condition Central Park would be in. More Kennedys in public service? No problem.

[madzippy]

If she were anyone besides a Kennedy, would she be considered for this position? I say let's give it to someone more deserving, someone who's run for public office and proven their mettle through a campaign and has a history of being elected to represent people. She may be spot on in her positions and abilities, but this smacks of privilege.

[bubbuh]

I say let the Guv give it to one of the two people who are iikely to be able to raise ther $80+ million that will be needed to defend the seat in 2010 and 2012, Both of those happen to be from political families.

[bubbuh]

If she had the same resume and the same ability to raise campaign funds, yes. You're talking about the person who raised $65 million dollars in private funds for the NYC public school system in less than two years; who was one of Obama's top advisers during his primary and Presidential campaigns; who in fact led the committee that selected the VP short list for Obama. You may think she doesn't have the resume. Obama and Ron Bloomberg among many others disagree with you.

[bogues]

All Mrs. Kennedy did was let the Governor know that she is interested. She has not demanded to be appointed. I have no doubt but what she is going to follow the rules and respect the decision that the Governor makes, no matter what that decision is. He may very well choose someone with more experience, so be it.

[humanist1]

Just announced - FRAN DRESCHER HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY NY GOV FOR US SENATOR!!!!

[bubbuh]

hnaaa-hnaaa-hnaaa

[Jonny38103]

Go Caroline! People forget that Kennedy is a Constitutional lawyer - she's better qualified than many in the Senate now.

And I think the other story here is Cuomo, who used to be married to a Kennedy (Kerry?). There's some bad blood there as well.

[klondiker]

Has she ever practiced law, or been inside a courtroom, or argued a case?

[rellort]

You're kidding, right?

[Jireh]

Has ALL of the other Senators practiced law, or been inside a courtroom, or argued a case?

[saturnine maniac]

You're commenting on a comment that says she's a constitutional lawyer, asking if she has ever practised law. Am I the only one this doesn't make sense to?

[k6007]

Qualifications to be a us senator.
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Constitutional_Qualifications_Senators.htm

[bubbuh]

She's not seeking a judgeship.

[flyingmonkey]

I've always thought Caroline was quite bright and articulate. When watching her on talk shows, I've always hoped she'd run for office.
Run being the key word.
There's something about this politicking to be appointed that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It smacks of the kind of cronyism and political dynasties that I voted against.

[doctorwang]

Someone will be temporarily appointed by Paterson. There is no other option. The special election will be held in 2010.

[Marcospinelli]

Do you have any idea what her positions are on any issues?

Obama is reaching out to Repubs, calling them, making nice with them, while he's appointing DINOs to his cabinet. Not one progressive in the bunch.

Obama has backed down on all left-of-center campaign promises. He's even backed down on center promises. I think real Dems have been reamed by this guy, and I for one am not giving anyone the benefit of any doubt.

I expect elected representation that work in the interests of the people, but all that I'm seeing are Democrats working on behalf of the monied.

[Marcospinelli]

Did you hear about the loophole missed by Obama and Democrats in the Congress on the $700 billion bailout package? About executives being able to get those multi-million dollar bonuses after all? It seems that for all the Democratic lawyers in Congress, not one of them caught the loophole. Executives will be getting multi-million dollar bonuses this Christmas as part of the $700 billion bailout by us taxpayers.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6165162.html

Eight years of Bush double-speak, of poison pills in Republican legislation, and Democrats are still not wise to them?

Supporting that bailout was Obama's big show of how much better a bet he was than McCain in leadership. So much for "Constitutional scholarship", something I hear being said of Caroline Kennedy. Not one Democrat in Congress caught the loophole, or if one did, he failed to sound the alarm for whatever reason. I can only guess it to be because the leader of the party, Obama, had stood behind the bill and you don't go against the leader in politics.

We can't afford that kind of blind loyalty any more. We don't need a neophyte to Congress -- We need hard-seasoned killers.

[doctorwang]

You're talking about the bailout that B#sh & Co. pushed, right? The one that was passed with votes from both parties? (why no mention that the GOP didn't 'catch' it either?) The same one McC voted for? I just want to be sure we're talking about the same bailout...­....

[HappyIdiot2008]

Do you ever have anything positive to say? You are so negative. What seems to be the problem?

[GhiaccioPronto]

She was for renaming the Triborough

[Nan2008]

Give Obama a chance, he's not in the WHITE HOUSE YET and you're riping on him. George and his crooked Republican RIGHTIES, are making it very difficult for him. They're trying to make IT almost next TO impossible to achieve his/our goals. We need to be patient, until he's in and opens up the CUPBOARD to see if there's anything left. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT HE OR WHAT HE WON'T FIND. He's going to have a big job pieceing everything together,

[Beninn]

Look at that. Nan2008 just dropped the next shoe in Obama's agenda. We see the writing on the wall, how Obama plans to excuse himself from breaking his campaign promises, with this tasty little line - "George and his crooked Republican RIGHTIES, are making it very difficult for him. They're trying to make IT almost next TO impossible to achieve his/our goals. We need to be patient, until he's in and opens up the CUPBOARD to see if there's anything left."

Here's a news flash for you, Nan2008 - Obama helped Bush empty the larder. Obama and everybody else knew what was going to be left (0) when Obama made the promises to enact windfall profits taxes on Big Oil, on bringing the troops home from Iraq within 16 months, and raising taxes on the rich.

Obama's administration has already begun. His appointees indicate clearly what he is and where he's going. You don't appoint a Phyllis Schlafly to administer pro-choice programs.

[humanist1]

If anyone is owed anything by this country - let alone New York State - it is the Kennedys. Any Kennedy will do, but Caroline is especially attractive for this position. And someday - if we are all so lucky - she will achieve the highest office in this land.

[ElBruce]

I'm not against her for the position, but that's way over the top. She isn't owed anything by the country, least of all to be put in charge of it. Frankly, I think she'd find your comment insulting. I would if I were her.

[klondiker]

I'm kind of slow today, so I can only hope that this is satire.

[Nan2008]

We don't owe the Kennedys' anything. JUST BECAUSE HER NAME IS KENNEDY, does not mean she's ENTITLED. She needs to run for this office, Hillary did, why can't Caroline?

[MendotaLee]

African-Americans worked in this country as slaves for 150 years without pay. Seeing as how so few of them are in the Senate, maybe we could appoint one of them instead, that is if we are doing this based on who the country owes it too.

Walk up and down the Vietnam Memorial, plenty of fathers never came home from that war. What happened to JFK was tragic, but growing up without a father is hardly unique.

[Bergen]

I really admire what she has done for public education in New York City, quietly, with a minimum of fuss, and virtually no press coverage..­.most unusual. She has been a true door-opener for disadvantaged kids. Her philanthrophy and quiet gift of service would be most refreshing.

[PJay1]

Another media nontroversy?

We have REAL problems in the US and the world at large, yet it seems the media are fixated on guilt by association of Obama/Blago because they live in the same state, a state with a population of about 13 million, and a (non) feud (not) developing between Caroline and Hillary.

Time to find some REAL news stations, sites, and real journalist­s/reporter­s.

Enough with this ridiculous over paid under informed punditocracy!

[HappyIdiot2008]

I agree. It's the media that keeps this story going. They are loving all the attention they are getting.

[doctorwang]

attention = ratings = $

and they do love the $

[lynettema]

Pjay wrote:
Time to find some REAL news stations, sites, and real journalist­s/reporter­s.

Enough with this ridiculous over paid under informed punditocracy!Pjay

Good luck with that. Even the so called liberal media are whining about what they are not being told. It is not enough that what Fitzgerald and Obama says is in sync, they have to find some reason to be cynical. Where is the drama if they believe what Fitz and Obama say? The media would rather believe their own speculation and the lies of the RW pundits than what our officials tell them and us. It is what it is. The information coming out of the Obama administration is going to be straight up and the media just hasn't adjusted from the full of holes and full of lies rhetoric they have been getting from the Bush administration for 8 years. This a.m. the media was whining that Obama would only answer 3 questions at his press conferences. Obama has been having 2 - 4 conferences a WEEK. We have already heard more from Obama since he was elected that we have heard from Bush in the last year. Media! Enough whining!

[PJay1]

Excellent observation and analysis.
I agree completely.

[ElBruce]

We've all got our media cycle so revved up after the election that for now we're kind of spinning our wheels on stuff like this. It's not a bad thing, it's just a slow news cycle right now, so we're all navel-gazing on either this or the shoe-throwing thing.

[BillyJr]

A state with a population of about 13 million, yes. However, there are just over a 100 representatives of the state so that narrows the gap a considerable amount, wouldn't you say. And although I don't for one minute believe there is some connection with the actions of Blagojevich and Obama, they do know each other just by virtue of their positions in the state.

So as you search for your "REAL" news, keep in mind that "lumping" isn't going to harvest the best results. And yes, with all the other "REAL" problems this country is facing, we could address far more but a brief perusal around the Huffington Post, one would find that there are many issues covered in just this one "over paid under informed punditocracy" blog.

Best of luck in your search. May I recommend World Net Daily?

[PJay1]

For the record, I wasn't criticizing Huff Po per se. I check in here a lot and I agree that they cover many stories.

I was talking more about cable media and the fact that many of the blogs and news websites follow and 'report' on the non reporting and media created controversies.
They (the media) are a narcissistic bunch and I find it insulting that instead of-- yes--*REAL* journalism, they make it about themselves and whine about how P E Obama is (mis)treating them.

Let's remember that this is the same media that helped this outgoing (thank Goodness) admin) sell us Iraq and WMD, the same media that has barely held this administration OR the Congress accountable for impeachable offenses, the same media that promotes someone who danced with Karl Rove to be the new host of MTP.

The list is long. I'm simply stating the obvious: that with all that's going on, the majorityj of *coverage* is about Obama/Blago and now Hillary/Caroline.

That's really pathetic, in *my* humble opinion. You're certainly entitled to your opinion and you can respect and admire the press and pundits to your heart's content.

[catman442]

Note how the anti-Caroline posts call her "Kennedy Schlossber­g." You're just can't forgive her for endorsing Obama in the primary.
Hey folks: Obama won. Hillary lost. He, to his credit, has brought her into his administration. She, to her credit, has moved on.
Grow up.

[dreffein]

Why is adding Caroline's last name a problem?

[ElBruce]

I notice that people who don't have a problem prefer to call candidates what they call themselves. Using an alternate form of their name is a sign of disrespect. See "B. Hussein Obama" for an example.

[rubberneck]

What has Kennedy ever won...she is such a downgrade from Hill.

[doctorwang]

- until she got the Senate job what did Hill ever win?

[ElBruce]

When Hillary ran for this Senate seat, she was in the exact same position, and had pretty much the same level of qualification.

[Beninn]

"Grow up"

Who are you? Joan Rivers?

I'm the one who used Caroline Kennedy's last name (Schlossberg) in posts here. That's her name. It's what she goes by. What's your problem with it?

I'm not now, nor was I ever, a Hillary Clinton supporter. I've said in several posts that Hillary Clinton has nothing to do with this, just as I've said that Sarah Palin has nothing to do with this.

What are your fantasies about Kennedy Schlossberg's ideology? Because that's the situation facing us -- People's fantasies about what she stands for and what she would bring to the job. She's a completely blank slate, an unknown quantity. The exact kind of politician we don't need at this time.

[tel8034]

Bill and Hillary expected Obama to forgive them for their mean and nasty behavior during the primary.

Obama showed that he was the "BIGGER PERSON" when he named Hillary his SOS.

BUT ..........­.......... The Clintons have a problem with Caroline and is finding it difficult to forgive her for endorsing Obama?

In this democracy don't we all have a right to support whomever we choose without being "punished"?

I would hate to believe that the Clintons are this petty and vindictive.

[dreffein]

How do you conclude that HRC is not supporting Caroline? What part of no comment shows pettiness and vindictiveness?

[ElBruce]

Correct. The smart thing to do (and therefore the thing Hillary is going to do) is stay neutral regarding this. Obama can't afford to have his Cabinet members taking out political payback on his own supporters. Hillary is certainly aware that any attempt to do so would hamstring her efforts as SoS.

[Nan2008]

OH, PLEASE. Gee, I don't recall the CLINTONS EVER CALLING OBAMA A RACIST. Give me a break, YOU PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO RIP ON THE CLINTONS OWE THEM YOUR GRATITUDE. OBAMA GETS IT, WHY DON’T YOU. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE CLINTONS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS, OBAMA WOULDN’T BE THE PRESIDENT ELECT, DEAL WITH IT. If Caroline wants Hillary’s OLD JOB, she should run in the next election.

[doctorwang]

and who will fill the vacant seat for the next two years?

[HerbTee]

You are so sadly mistaken in your rant and your over-sensational aggrandizing of the Clintons. But let's not start the Clinton-Obama "war" in this thread...P­LEASE! I haven't said anything negative about Hillary Clinton since she was selected for SoS and I am trying to be very good about not doing it. Her SoS appointment was totally against my wishes. However, I have accepted Obama's decision for selecting her and I’ve already moved on about it. Perhaps you should too. Obama won and he won WITHOUT the Clintons, even if you personally feel that he should bow, scrape and kiss the Clintons’ feet. Please don't get me started!!

[HerbTee]

Fortunately, this Senate seat appointment is NOT up to or even about the Clintons..­.it's Governor Paterson's sole choice until the voters decide in 2010. If HIllary Clinton is so concerned about who sits in her NY Senate seat now that she's out, then she shouldn't have abandoned her seat in the first place. Why should Hillary, or have any influence whatsoever on who replaces her in the Senate. Is that not the Governor's decision and not hers?

Once again, Hillary Clinton wishes to dictate terms to others even when she has no dog in this fight!

[Sarita]

Just how "native" do you have to be...Carol­ine has lived in New York most of her life! I wouldn't call her a carpetbagger - Hillary, yes. Bobby, yes. Caroline, no!

[rellort]

Why not Fran?

[GhiaccioPronto]

Why not indeed

[JJay]

Clinton in 2000 is NOT the same as Kennedy today. Clinton *ran* for the job and was *elected* by voters. Kennedy has not ever subjected herself to voters' will or been in a government job that made her truly responsible (beyond in an advisory capacity) to competing constituencies.

Kennedy may be a great senator; I think she probably would. So would many people. If she ran, I'd probably want to vote for her. But because the voters themselves don't get to vote for the appointed candidate for that position, there is a special burden on Gov. Patterson to keep the public trust by appointing someone whom a majority of voters will find qualified.

[doctorwang]

Poll numbers show her and Cuomo to be the favorite amongst NYers. So, using your standard, either choice would be acceptable.

[closetodemfection]

At 25% each, hardly a ringing endorsement of either, not to mention name recognition stacks the polls. Asking voters who they'd rather have when neither Kennedy nor Cuomo has laid out a SINGLE statement of their plans or ideology is absurd. IMO, any candidates being considered should have to release a statement of where they stand on various issues, then poll the voters to see who they prefer.

[partyofone]

The solution, of course, is to hold a special election and not appoint anyone. That is democracy.

[doctorwang]

There will be a special election held in 2010. Paterson's appointment is temporary.

[closetodemfection]

This would be the ideal solution.

[foreffectivegovernment]

Why not have a Caucus like in the Democratic Primaries. Then the young college educated militant kids can "organize" and install a "Hope" and "Change" candidate as New York Senator. What could be more of a Progressive's Heaven than for Teddy Kennedy to have two votes in the Senate. Maybe he could reform Healthcare like he helped Richard Nixon do in 1973. Read this:
**********­**********­**********­**********­**********­****
Transcript of taped conversation between President Richard Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman (1971) that led to the HMO act of 1973:
Ehrlichman: "Edgar Kaiser is running his Permanente deal for profit. And the reason that he can - the reason he can do it - I had Edgar Kaiser come in - talk to me about this and I went into it in some depth. All the incentives are toward less medical care, because -"
President Nixon: [Unclear.]
Ehrlichman: " the less care they give them, the more money they make."
President Nixon: "Fine." [Unclear.]
In the Senate, (Senator Edward) Kennedy, author of the HMO Act, also encouraged its passage: ``I have strongly advocated passage of legislation to assist the development of health maintenance organizations as a viable and competitive alternative to fee-for-service practice." "I believe that the HMO is the best idea put forth so far for containing costs and improving the organization and the delivery of health-care services.'­' On December 29, 1973, President Nixon signed the HMO Act of 1973 into law.