Paterson: Kennedy's Inexperience "Does Not Help Her"

New York Gov. David Paterson says Caroline Kennedy's lack of elected office experience "does not help her" in her drive to fill the senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton.

Paterson, as New York's governor, has the sole authority to name a replacement to fill Hillary Clinton's seat after she resigns, as expected, to serve as President-elect Obama's secretary of state.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Margary]

Caroline brings knowledge,­education,­political family ties,Can raise maney NY needs now, has a senators ear , has the Presidents ear,Manage charities/Manages huge sums of money and what more should she have/

[meko]

If you read the list of the other people under consideration, it is clear that they bring knowledge, education, and have "managed huge sums of money" in the course of their campaigns. Furthermore, they have experience enacting legislation, which is the purpose of having a senator. No matter how well one can raise money, if they can't propose legislation and work with their peers to get it passed, it doesn't matter how much money they have or who they know in the executive branch. It's the relationships with legislative members and staff that really matter when you're a senator.

Had Caroline Kennedy been a state senator or congressional representative, or even a state elected official, she would have had the experience of answering to constituents and dealing with the daily process and policy of government. Had she even had a job at a law firm, she would have had the experience of working in a job where she didn't write the job description and reported to someone else. She has strengths as a candidate, but she does not have these strengths, and it's only honest to call her out on them. Others have demonstrated these strengths, and it's in the best interests of New York to consider that.

[Doofus]

But, but, but... Caroline Kennedy is also someone that ordinary people
will vote for, state-wide, when it comes time to actually elect a Senator.

[meko]

The people who are up for consideration have won re-elections and challenged incumbents. Ordinary people have voted for them. There is no reason to assume they won't do so again.

Those who wouldn't know who the appointee is after 2 years of representing New Yorkers in the senate are not the kind of politically active and aware people who show up in off-Presidential year elections.

[glorialovelace]

Carolyn Maloney has even more money than Caroline Kennedy and is a kic k-as s public speaker who knows her stuff, to boot. You should watch Maloney on Youtube. She is an example of what a senator from New York ought to be like.

[rzan1]

Probably, most of us commenting here do not live in New York State and do not know the other candidates. They know something about Caroline, so support her. I myself think she would make a fine senator, but your arguments do make sense.

[meko]

It turns out Mayor Brown is in contention for the senate job: http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/544549.html

So that's Cuomo, Maloney, Nadler, Gillibrand, Israel, Suozzi, Higgins and Brown to consider (besides Kennedy).

There are a lot of accomplishments to weigh in this choice. And it's nice to see that ALL of New York is being factored into the deliberations.

[meko]

Updated list of contenders:

Joseph Crowley
Carolyn B. Maloney
Jerrold Nadler
Steve Israel
Kirsten Gillibrand
Brian Higgins
Andrew Cuomo
Tom Suozzi
Byron Brown
Adolfo Carrion
Caroline Kennedy

As Paterson said, they all bring different things to the table. Legislative experience is one factor being weighed, as it should if one hopes to be appointed to the legislative branch.

[Doofus]

Jeez, Byron Brown looks like a good choice. AA, with roots in NYC, experience
as a state Senator before becoming Buffalo mayor, allied with Andrew Cuomo.

[meko]

He might have attended a state school, but he went to college at 17 and completed a dual degree on time. He's achieved political power by working with others in all branches of government. Eyes have been on him for a while, so I'm not worried about scandal.

He understands the issues that upstate NY faces, while having an understanding of the issues of cities in general. He understands the challenges of economic redevelopment in the face of globalization and is doing something about it.

And if all that personal stuff is as important as the celebrity worshipers say: He is a father. I haven't heard Obama call him a "dear friend" but he did play JV basketball, and if you look at Obama's staff, being a good basketball player appears to be a good way to get to know him. (Not that I'm saying Arne Duncan or anyone else got his appointment just because he played basketball with Obama or anything.)

[glorialovelace]

Brown is also a good speaker. Listen to him being interviewed on Youtube.

[Opt1musPr1me]

I think Patterson should shock the h3ll out of DC and name former Gov. Elliot Spitzer to the seat. You think they Blocker Burris? They would have the military block Spitzer

[kid5rivers2]

"Experience" is what has America where sheat today!

[hortonhearsawho2]

Bubba tooka sheat, what ?

[Right-turn]

Paterson just said what you libs have been denying on this post for weeks! LOL

[dct1999]

Are you really so deluded that you haven't noticed the opposing points of view that Huffposters hold on Kennedy?

You make yourself look like a ragingidiot.

[Right-turn]

From you, I will take that as a compliment.....TYVM

[hortonhearsawho2]

He obviously sees better then you...

[Myshkin57]

I'm a liberal and I've been against Kennedy's appointment from the start.

[AnnfromCA]

Man, he's tactfully funny as heck. Talk about understatement!

[rogerze]

There are alot of better qualified people to be appointed than Caroline.

[Right-turn]

Exactly....many, many others.

[hortonhearsawho2]

listen up here, fellow prisoner...

[clearthinker2008]

qualified? That's funny because that's the same argument about Obama. Maybe what they need is someone who is smart and actually give a da*m in there. Being smart, a quick learner and someone who cares about people is what we should be looking at. If they are qualified and don't give a rats butt about folks who need them?

[glorialovelace]

Obama had a lot more experience than Caroline. And he's a brilliant public speaker, whereas Caroline can hardly say boo to a goose.

Since the Kennedys have always waved their checkbook to get what they want, how can you be sure that Caroline's degrees were not bought and paid for.

As Rose Kennedy famously said (after the family had been accused of buying the election),"It's our money and we're free to spend it any way we please."

[mssreader]

Gee but Reagan was just an actor before he was a gov as was the guy we have in there now. And what did bushie do before becoming a gov? Very little. So what 's the issue here or what does lack of experience have do do with it! Caroline will do a good job or she wouldn't ask to be considered. Kennedy's make sure they succeed at whatever they do and I am sure she would make her parents proud. As a matter of fact what experience did her father or her uncle have before becoming senators?

And I don't see that experience has enhanced the job that any senator has done over the years at least not in the present mess of them and I emphasize mess! Hillary is an exception. She is everything a working woman should be and should be president right now but I'll let that pass for now! At least the women aren't having affairs and being accused of corruption which ought to keep the alaskan whiner from getting any closer to DC.

[glorialovelace]

Some women are having affairs. Maybe you need to do a little research. Not that it should matter.

[hortonhearsawho2]

leave cindy out fo this...

[meko]

Ronald Reagan was the head of the Screen Actors Guild before becoming governor.

Furthermore, he's not up for the appointment. Nor is Sarah Palin or Ted Stevens. Caroline Kennedy should be considered against the other candidates. They are not a general stereotype, but specific people, and they have accomplishments of their own. Besides, enacting legislation in a lower house is relevant experience to enacting legislation in the senate. How could it not be valuable?

[Dayahka]

It would have been more accurate to say that Paterson placed Kennedy down among the long list of people who could be appointed--not that he knocked her. Paterson is in a difficult position because Kennedy has some strong support and he must be getting pressured, yet the fact is that she is not qualified to be senator; it seemed to be more of a sudden idea with no prior attempt to at least earn her way into the job. Paterson should appoint anyone by Kennedy. If she wants the job so badly, let her run for it in two years, which would give her enough time to develop an organization and learn some political skills.

[harriscrl3]

She is more than qualfied. Oh he'll pick her he is just not happy about it but he will. She has friends in high places. Learn political skills? If by that you mean integrity she has it in spades. Thats the most important qualfication I know she will fight for NY she wont be beholden to lobby or involved in scandal or be caught with a prostitute. She will work hard for the people of NY and she wont use it as some stepping stone to the Presidency.


Carol

[hortonhearsawho2]

You just let me know if anyone disagrees Carol...Vinny and the boys will take care of them...cement shoes are one size fits all.

[NYed]

The only important thing Andrew Cuomo has done in his life is come up with a memorable campaign slogan for his father. Mario was running against Ed Koch. The slogan was "VOTE FOR CUOMO, NOT THE HOMO".

I think Paterson should go with Caroline.

[kenstrstlsks]

We want Byron Brown........We want Byron Brown.....­........We want Byron Brown.

[glorialovelace]

Apparently, Governor Paterson did not send Brown one of those forms to fill out. At least, that's what Brown has told the press.

[Geranium]

gloria, did (or does) Caroline smoke? I know she is 51, but she looks like she is 65.

I ask you because I remember from a previous post that you had some inside scoops on Jackie and the Kennedys.

[meko]

Byron Brown got his application. He's got till January 16 to get his response in.

[randyjet]

I think that there are a LOT more qualified elected officials who have worked hard at their profession who deserve the seat a LOT more than an upper class princess. She may be a very nice person, and is well educated, but there are millions of those kinds of folks around.

[harriscrl3]

Lack of elected office I mean give me a break seriously. Stop making what the Senate do sound like Neurosurgery the woman is a lawyer. Sounds like Patterson is looking for an excuse to not pick her but go right ahead and dont pick her it will be a BIG mistake. I'd like to remind you she is a dear friend of the President Elect not to mention being able to raise the funds for her election campaign. So think long and hard before you pass her up.

Carol

[glorialovelace]

She's NOT a lawyer.

[harriscrl3]

I dont care John McCain isnt a lawyer he is a C student. Ditto for Bush. If they can do a three year old kid could do it. I'm suppose to believe that Caroline Kennedy shouldnt be there because she is inexperience. Its nonsense. SHe is an intelligent woman. But let him pick someone else he will committing political suicide. But he'll pick her cause he smart.

Carol

[rzan1]

I agree. Also, Hillary Clinton had not been elected to any office before running for the Senate.

[glorialovelace]

Hillary Clinton may not have served in elective office before she RAN -- important concept -- for election to the Senate, but she certainly had a long and successful career as a lawyer and an advocate for many causes, most of them involving children, and she was twice cited as one of the hundred most influential lawyers in America.

Caroline, on the other hand, has had no career.

[redhot200822]

She has a tattoo.

People with tattoos don't belong in the Senate.

[glorialovelace]

"Stop making what the Senate do sound like Neurosurgery the woman is a lawyer."

What exactly do YOU think that a senator's job is?

And Kennedy is not a lawyer. She is a law school grad who was admitted to the bar, never practiced law, and allowed her license to lapse.

[jtown]

She has just as much as anyone else running for the first time. GIVE HER THE SEAT!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!

[ESerafina42]

First of all, she's not RUNNING - if she were, we'd at least be able to see how she ran a campaign. Secondly, most people don't expect to come in at the top, unless they're spoiled princesses who think that they "deserve" it.

And for the people who brought up (or will bring up) Hillary, she DID run for the office and whatever you may think of how much influence she had in Bill's administration, we knew that she ate, slept and breathed politics. She could enunciate her position on issues - Caroline can barely enunciate a sentence.

[Purobi]

Caroline can barely enunciate a sentence? Which cave have you been living?

[meko]

Most people running for senate do serve in a lower house, if only for a term. Experience legislating is pretty relevant to being a senator. Kennedy may have other advantages, but her lack of experience can't be counted as one.

[savertime]

What electoral experience did Hillary Clinton have??? Those New Yorkers just ate her up.
I suppose one must be overly ambitious and phoney to be accepted in NY.

[glorialovelace]

For starters, one needs to be articulate to be accepted in New York.

It also helps not to have such bad manners that one thinks it's okay to push one's way to the front of the line because one has famous relatives.

[Carnacamarna]

She was ELECTED! She ran a campaign to be ELECTED. She was NOT APPOINTED. There is a DIFFERENCE here in the PROCESSES involved in reaching the Senatorial seat. You CAN NOT make the comparison because it's MOOT in that Clinton was ELECTED!