Caroline Kennedy Supports Gay Marriage In First Political Questionnaire

Caroline Kennedy is finally sharing some of her political opinions with the people she's campaigning to represent -- casting herself in the liberal tradition of uncle Ted Kennedy, bucking Barack Obama by supporting same-sex marriage and disavowing Hillary Clinton's 2002 vote for the Iraq invasion.

A Kennedy spokesman drafted seven written answers to the eight questions submitted by Politico to the 51-year-old attorney, author and electoral novice.

Some of Kennedy's responses were brief and vague -- and she flatly refused to answer a pressing political query we posed: Will she support the Democratic nominee for New York mayor in 2009?

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[1Marie23]

I would pay to see Katie Couric interview her, or perhaps Charlie Gibson. I can just imagine the questions now.

[QuestionEveryone]

Has anyone noticed the Huff has taken Kennedy stories off the main page? Too funny!! I guess there afraid that thinking people might actually turn the tide against the annointment.

[meko]

They all seemed to be press releases. I noticed that the one that mentioned my biggest objection to this appointment, that it shuts down the pipeline of talented people, was stuck at the bottom of the page from the beginning.

[meko]

I'm waiting for the post that says "100% of Caroline Kennedy Publicists Think She Is Most Qualified Person for US Senate Appointment"

[orangepetal]

I had an idea. I think Ms. Kennedy could be Czaress (how fitting) of a program promoting Global Development through Culture and Friendship. It would be tremendously respectful to her family, very exciting for her and very benneficial for the strategic interests of the US. Her name would give the effort immediate relevance and she seems motivated by the youth. I think her talent and energy would be put to great national use and offer her many new and interesting opportunities.

[meko]

I think she'd be great at that.

[frenchie25]

Caroline, as a NYer I'm inclined to support you but I'd like to hear from you directly, not through a mouthpiece.

I agree with David Gergens: you should make a public speech and take questions.

Show 'em what you got...I think it's a lot. But without hearing your voice and views directly, it's a little too Palin-esqu­e...and that moose just won't hunt. C'mon, you're better than that!

[lizziekw]

She's not ready for this and she hates the public spotlight. There isn't time for a candidate to develop into a candidate in this thing, really. She must be able to answer questions about policies and plans. She's just not anywhere near prepared to do that.

Teddy can train her - or have someone else train her - if she's actually in the Senate. In that space she will be protected. Unfortunately, she's going to have to start campaigning for 2010 immediately and that looks like a pretty tall order for her. She doesn't enjoy the process - it's not her turf.

Well - we'll see. I still prefer Carolyn Maloney but she doesn't have the socio-political glam of Ms. Kennedy.

[meko]

I don't know if anyone caught up in the glamor of Camelot is interested, but Carolyn Maloney has actually DONE things to support gay rights. She introduced the Family & Medical Leave Inclusion Act to Cover Same-Sex Couples under FMLA. She condemned Don't Ask Don't Tell from the beginning. She has always been one of the few members of congress to support marriage equality.

So it's not as if New York doesn't already have someone who has a history of caring about and working on these issues. There's a big difference between just now deciding to talk about something and having done things that have made a difference.

[lizziekw]

I agree - Carolyn Maloney is pretty fab on marriage equality and most other issues. I prefer her taking the seat to Caroline Kennedy taking it but that may be a losing battle.

Still - I'm pleased to see that Caroline Kennedy's come out for gay marriage. Good for her.

[MagisterLudi]

NY Times.
'Ms. Kennedy’s spokesman provided written answers to 15 questions posed by The New York Times. Most of the answers were brief. "
Spokesman? Whasamatta she can't talk?
Ms. Kennedy declined to say whether she supports placing a cap on local property taxes in New York
Ms. Kennedy, declined to say whether she supports raising state or federal income taxes for the rich.
Ms. Kennedy, declined to answer whether she would support a Democratic candidate for mayor during the 2009 elections.
She declined to answer her stance on NAFTA.

Well, NY Dems should DECLINE to support her "Give-Me-It" PR campaign!!!

[harriscrl3]

More Knock against Barack No surprise. Shouldnt this be in Caroline Kennedy's section. What does this have to do with Barack.

Carol

[vjoseph]

I guess we are witnessing the Caroline Kennedy-gate in its infancy

[meko]

Vague answers, statements by committee. It really doesn't seem as if she's given any in-depth consideration to the issues. It doesn't seem as if she's getting her money's worth from that PR firm.

She's asking to be appointed, not elected, and there are so many people who are better prepared. There are a lot of other non-practicing law school graduates who do part time charity work in New York. If her last name weren't Kennedy she wouldn't even be getting enough attention to be laughed at for suggesting her appointment.

[Egalitare]

"Some of Kennedy's responses were brief and vague -- and she flatly refused to answer a pressing political query we posed: Will she support the Democratic nominee for New York mayor in 2009?"

As if the NYC Democratic Party could possibly nominate a reasonably viable candidate.­..unless they get ultra-pragmatic and endorse Bloomberg and forego nomination of their own candidate (not holding my breath waiting for that). Let's remember that Bloomberg was a Democrat and only changed parties to get around the "Kiss of Death" that is the City Party's nomination.

[FatherKindly]

Well, whatever her other qualifications might be, she would certainly be an improvement on the general tone of the Senate. Her manners are impeccable.

[serindipity803]

How 21st Century, love it! New Blood, famous family, how great can it get??

[1murillo]

This is great.

We need political leaders to speak against this official gay-bashing. Of course, there are still social, political and economic prices to pay. Some leaders - some districts, bodies - will still be effective when announcing their views; yet others will be reticent.

[mergina]

Fabulous.

[tigerlille]

Caroline Kennedy is someone with integrity who, unlike Obama, will not be pandering gay rights to the religious right. We need people like her in office. People who object to her appointment, in the words of Obama, just don't get it.

[1murillo]

Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg is someone with integrity, as is Barack Obama. If you disagree with one of his many acts doesn't mean you understand his reasonings. (The last few days have seen Warren-based, instead of Blagojevich-based, attacks on Obama, soon we'll have another.)

He'll never explain every one of his decisions to everyone in the world, there is simply no time and he would be explaining instead of acting.

Perhaps you're a 'one issue' person; if so, there'll be even less chance that what he says/does will match your requirement.

However, if you worked on more than your one issue you'll be more apt to appreciate his moves.

[vjoseph]

Co-sign

[tigerlille]

The mystical motives and strategies that people attribute to Barack Obama never fail to amuse and amaze me, as does the belief that he doesn't need to explain his actions.

Barack Obama is a man, not a god. Not only do I not worship him, I actually have the effrontery to believe that I am quite capable of understanding his reasons, which I would wager are not as complex and far reaching as you seem to imagine.

[LaughingMan]

........wo­w, you gays are seriously beginning to sound pathetic not to mention annoying.

Forget wearisome; you crossed that bridge days ago with the whiny woe-is-us- Obama-thre­w-us-under­-the-bus schtick that grew old, - now suddenly everything and everybody has to be Gay-approved, or more to the point, Gay-centric. Caroline Kennedy supports Gay Marriage? Awesome, unlike that useless just-anoth­er-politic­ian Obama who will not be getting any more gay votes in the next election.

It's been said over and over again, you guys (and gals; we wouldn't want to discriminate now, would we?) need to get over it.

More importantly Get over yourselves; Stat!!!

Hate to break it to you but the Gay vote is just not that politically significant in the grand scheme of things. Take it out of the 2008 elections and guess what? Obama still wins. So for all you clowns threatening not to vote for him again in 2012, here's a suggestion;- spare the rest of us the whiny crap and go right ahead and make yourselves that much less politically insignificant, or better yet go vote for the Right wing; I'm sure they'll be more accommodating to gay views. Obama will still win without you. I know it sucks, but it's the truth.

Or you can make like a Pole vaulter, get over it, stuff the Obama-bashing and shut the F up with all the Obama-drama nonsense. We're sick of hearing it.

[tigerlille]

Civil rights are non-negotiable, and guaranteed by our constitution. They aren't parceled out based on a groups' percentage of the vote, and potential usefulness to a politician. They are an inalienable right. That means gay people get them too. I am sorry that this topic is so wearisome for you. By the way, I am not gay. But I am sure that I am politically expendable too.

[harriscrl3]

Actually he has integrity its because he has integrity why he is reaching out to people who didnt vote for him through Warren. Because in case folks like you who were drunk on whatever he said at Grant park that he was EVERYONE"s President not just Progressives but everyone.

This is to tell you how laughable Progressives are you want him to practice to diplomacy to listen to other countries that we are enemies with rather than go to war but he is suppose to alienate and isolate HIS OWN FELLOW CITIZEN. In other words you want him to be a HYPOCRITE like YOU and the thing is he is NOT. HE doesnt parcel out and decide to only listen to people that he agrees with in his own country but then listen to people he disagree with world wide. He is consistent and thats what some of you dont get. You think this is about you well ITS NOT. ITs not about you. Its about who he is but no surprise when Obama was talking about sacrifices progressives were loving it but when it comes to doing it no surprise they dont have the GUTS.

Carol

[vjoseph]

BRAVO. I have nothing else to add

[tigerlille]

It is a little difficult to make sense of your run-on sentences, Carol, but one of your comments really stood out to me. You make a reference to alienating and isolating fellow citizens. This is precisely what Obama has done to the gay portion of our citizens. In what was presumably an effort to reach out to the religious right, he has alienated and isolated a good portion of the gay community, who, incidentally, have had his back all the way. I don't object to his reaching out to the religious right, and I think that it is possible to do that with out insulting and alienating a group of his core supporters. That is what is so sad, and so telling, about this mess. It was unnecessary.