Kathleen Parker: Caroline Kennedy Is No Sarah Palin

Kathleen Parker, one of the first conservative writers to call foul on Sarah Palin as a VP pick, is back this time sizing up Caroline Kennedy in comparison to Palin.

It is a legitimate question: Why is the resume-thin Caroline Kennedy being treated seriously as a prospective appointee to the U.S. Senate when the comparatively more-qualified Gov. Sarah Palin received such a harsh review?...

...In Kennedy's case, those actors would be senators, not heads of other, potentially belligerent, nations. If appointed, she would be a single vote among 100 and otherwise a placeholder until 2010, when she would have to run for election as any other.

Parker helped turn a conservative tide against Palin during the election when she wrote "Palin Problem: She's Out Of Her League" for The National Review. See an excerpt below:

Palin's recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League.

No one hates saying that more than I do. Like so many women, I've been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I've also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does. My cringe reflex is exhausted.

Comments

[1Marie23]

Kathleen Parker is now sounding weak in her sort of endorsement of Caroline Kennedy, girl from Camelot. She will be one of 100, so no need to worry if she is not up to speed. Well, that is not exactly a glowing endorsement. I guess New York could do worse! Well, go for it New York. We are back in Camelot, so have Caroline along for the ride. What a joke! What a disgrace to all the hard working people of New York! Shame on you Kathleen Parker for your not so wise comments.

[cindymanns]

I am totally SHOCKED that Kathleen Parker is not a supporter of Sarah Palin, but does think Carolynne Kennedy is exquisite. Is anyone else shocked???

[rivera151]

the headline is right. Palin has experience in public office and being elected, Kennedy has her last name

[1Marie23]

Only liberal women can be elected in this country. Forget it if women defend life!

[flagger]

Take away Caroline Kennedy's last name and what do you have?

[meko]

Money?

[renoir]

a law degree from columbia, a successful career as a fund raiser for public education programs, years of good community service?

the difference between caroline kennedy and sarah palin is intellect. specifically in the case of palin, lack of therein.

[nadahater]

Caroline Kennedy should NOT be GIVEN the senate seat!! If she wants to be a Senator, let her run in 2010!!!

[RepublicanMicky]

Ms. Parker,
You are correct: "Caroline Kennedy is no Sarah Palin."
Caroline Kennedy has a functioning brain,....­.thank God.

[cindymanns]

Have you heard Caroline's recent interview with the New York Times?? BTW, are you a brain surgeon??

[demrepub]

The evidence against Caroline Kennedy gets more substantial each and every day. Now we find out that she can't even throw a few bucks to local Dems running for office. Come on people, how much more evidence does Governor Paterson need to tell Caroline she doesn't get to senator? She seems to have been totally disengaged from...eve­rything. What has she been doing for all these years? Lots of women manage to raise their kids, work and regularly vote -- without the benefit of millions of dollars to hire a nanny and a maid. Yet Caroline only says that she's been raising her kids (and having someone ghost write a few books for her). I don't think that Ms. Kennedy is well acquainted with multi-tasking and busting her ****. We need someone with a lot better track record to represent New York in these difficult times. Paterson needs to just say "no" to Caroline Kennedy. Stop the madness!!!

[Stilton4]

hav u ever been in a men's locker room?

[1Marie23]

Looks should not be the defining point here, your comment should be taken off.

[Stilton4]

i hate to say it. looks are are not important. but caroline looks more and more, well, er: horsey. naaaaaaaaaaaay

[Fabini]

I was able to tell the two women apart in a two-photo array. Is either one of them Senate material? I think not.

[Pierangelo]

Bottom line:
Caroline Kennedy's talents, experience and intellect make her supremely qualified to be Senator. OTOH, Sarah Palin's lack thereof made her unqualified to be Vice President.
Simple really, when you look at it.

[meko]

She is only in consideration because of her last name, money and family connections. No one with her resume (non-practicing attorney, co-author of a few books, charity board member, part-time volunteer on behalf of NY public schools) would be considered otherwise.

But perhaps all those people talking about the cost of reelection have a point. Perhaps only the very wealthy and people with relatives in government can win the senate seat in New York. Caroline Kennedy never raised money for anyone who wasn't a family member, and I doubt her friends would either.

The New York senate seat, may not be available to anyone but the wealthy. Maybe all the press releases and Kennedy sycophants are right and best the common people can hope for is a relatively sympathetic plutocrat.

Hillary sold the "Obama can't raise the money and can't win the general election line" and in NY it worked. So maybe the same line works for the NY senate seat. But I'm not giving them any of my time or money. I don't do volunteer work to further line the pockets of the wealthy and further aggrandize the famous. If the senate is going to be bought by someone, they can buy it themselves.

[renoir]

do you seriously think that she would take on a 2 year job and NOT work her butt off to earn the seat in 2010? do you think that her resume reflects a person who lacks intellect or a community service-minded philosophy? caroline kennedy is a bone fide progressive. the seat will be filled by an appointee.­.. who would you prefer? a hockey mom?

[seattlejanet]

A simple quiz for them both, that would include geography, basic government and constitutional questions, and I think we would stop discussing this.

Carolines only problem is that she needs to bring some FIRE to this game....ev­en though Sarah was incompetant, she did have a big personality.

You HAVE to be likeable..­...

[benne]

I was beginning to come around on Caroline until I heard her being interviewed. She looked down in a demure, yes, feminine way, and did not answer the questions directly. If she can't offer an argument as to why she should be Senator and if all she can do is site the tradition of her family, she shouldn't be appointed to Senator. I'm all for her running for Congress even getting a government appointment and building up her resume. She is as of now unprepared for the job and can't even muster direct answers to basic questions posed by the press.

[checkitout]

The difference between Sarah and Caroline? How 'bout: one has a brain and a law degree. The other is a former beauty who is dumb as a rock. There - does that help the comparison?

[swo68]

There are number of things to not like Sarah about, but to say she's "dumb as a rock" is... dumb.

[emncaity]

True. She is not "dumb as a rock." I'd say she's a little bit smarter than a rock, probably.

[Stilton4]

can we say: smarter than swo68?

[patricethree]

I see the Sarah Palin bashing still is going on.. How can Kennedy who has no experience be compared to Palin who is a head of a state?. This will be funny to watch the Dems squirm when they apply the typical double standard.

[Stilton4]

we have disposed, I thought, of the experience is important thing. especially when it is irrelevant. mccain would be the best example. palin is a good one. they have little relevant experience except for their present jobs. but jeez, sarah does not even read the paper and is confused about what russia as a neighbor means. she is, pardon the term, dumb.

[1Marie23]

Double standard rule for sure. Only liberal women that endorse abortion can be considered. Heaven help her if she values life.

[JoeAlvord]

We rocks resent that remark.

[curocat]

I guess your just cracking up huh???

[Fabini]

Sarah Palin is not igneous material, that's certain.

[Gray1206]

Caroline Kennedy has class, intelligence and years of experience as a lawyer.
Sarah Palin has none of the above.

[meko]

Caroline Kennedy passed the bar, but has never practiced law.

[abenirex1]

And what has Palin worked on before running for office? Opening car backseats to get C-rated newscasts?