Paterson Must Appoint a Woman

During the election of 2000, some political watchers in New York State (and beyond) were treated to a rare, but not unheard of, series of events surrounding the race for the US Senate. A congresswoman named Nita Lowey was viewed by many as the presumptive Democratic nominee, set to replace Daniel Moynihan who was ill and retiring. Lowey had the good opinion of nearly everyone in the Congress, the New York delegation in particular and the state party apparatus. The New York Republicans, in 2000, had Rick Lazio. Then Hillary Clinton moved to New York.

Lowey stepped aside, graciously. Hillary ran and won. And now she will soon be gone and New York's "Celebrity Senate Seat" is in play again. Who would best represent the State of New York in that office? What criteria should be used? What effect does the current Illinois scandal have on this decision?

When Hillary Clinton ran for President, she ran as a woman, in my opinion, and I believe that is why she lost. She invoked her Glass Ceiling Sister Act whenever she found it useful while Obama made far less of his race during the campaign. (I did not say he made nothing of it, only less of it.)

Hillary Clinton might have won, if not for that. It isn't a good idea for anyone seeking a singular office like the Presidency to make that distinction. This country has been run for centuries by men only, and men named Adams and Wilson, Ford and Reagan, Carter and Clinton. To break that mold, you almost had to avoid the subject of breaking any mold whatsoever. (Witness some of Obama's recent appointments.)

But in a state like New York, teeming with talented, ambitious and dedicated women within its political circles, in a state like New York that has already elected a woman to one of its current US Senate terms, in any state wherein the Congressional delegation provides for two US Senators to hold office, Governor David Paterson must appoint a woman to replace Senator Clinton. It is not difficult to imagine that we are at the place in the history of New York politics where this is "the women's seat" of the two from New York.

There are names being tossed around now, but let's spare New Yorker's the Celebrity Senate Seat dynamic, in which Mrs. Clinton's former job is handled like some corporate board seat, traded to everyone's mutual benefit except the voters of New York. Most of the names thrown around now are smart, caring New Yorkers. But only one is both fair and makes real sense for our state. Nita Lowey doesn't want it. Appoint Carolyn Maloney.

Comments

[meko]

Forget diversity, we have dynasties. Just look over the list of people between 35-60 who have the same last names as former senators. If they've never held office, it means they're uncorrupted. If they've inherited an enormous fortune, they're uncorruptible.

[rckayla]

Thank you Alec for this excellent post despite me disagreeing with you about Carolyn Maloney!! Instead I feel Caroline Kennedy would make a wonderful Junior Senator and that she can always get on-the-job­-training; she won't need too much training since she's already quite familiar with politics. On another note, I would like to clarify for those on here wondering why Alec's heading said that "Paterson Must Appoint a Woman"... I think he wrote that because if a man was appointed by Gov Paterson, the women of America would cry foul that another woman wasn't picked to fill Hillary's Senate seat. Of course I could be wrong; only Alec himself can truly clarify why he wrote that for a heading on this great post...

[bonbk]

NY needs a Senator who represents the state as responsibly and efficiently as possible.

One could say the Senate needs another black Senator, but jobs shouldn't be filled on criteria like that.

[benne]

I guess I agree with you Alec. Sometimes when it comes to these issues, it's important to encourage diversity because otherwise the default position becomes another white guy. You're right, as well, that NY is blessed with many, many qualified female candidates. Why not, then, pick from one of them?

[JacquelineK]

Dear Alec,

I disagree that Hillary Clinton ran for President "as a woman." Despite the fact that she did of course mention that distinction about her campaign a few times, during the majority of the campaign she acted as if gender were a non-issue, non-existent in the campaign despite the enormous lack of respect she got from the media which in my mind, felt they were in safer territory being sexist rather than racist. To add to this, Bill Clinton's comments on the media's unfairness in reference to his wife were more than justified. The media of course just made him out to be "hot under the collar." So much for fair journalism. I think that Hillary should have actually made more of her gender, communicating it as cause for celebration for the democratic party to have such an accomplished woman running. Lastly, in my view Obama commented on what he felt made him unique as a presidential candidate again and again. Over and over again we were told of his young single mother raising him with limited financial means and his race and how it was possible only here, in America for him to rise as high as he did.

[fayemac]

Very Good!!! Finally somebody got it right.

[CulturaMia]

The first person I thought of when I learned of the vacancy was Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. I have read and agree with most of her policy decisions and initiatives. I also heard her speak last May and she seems to be a sincere, caring and hardworking member of Congress.

I hope Gov. Patterson will appoint her. Alec Baldwin, you are not only a wonderful, unique actor, but your posts are thoughtful, insightful and articulate. I almost always agree with you about everything (except your post on Imus...it was time for him to get the boot)

[66rock]

Just love Alex but hate the message in the title of this piece.

The gov Has to appoint who he thinks will best represent NY whether male or female.

[KNadine]

My sentiments exactly!

[USMC1980]

We all love Alec of course, (and particularly that hot little minx, Tina Fey he costatrs with on 30 Rock)
And it's a well known fact that everytime Alec Baldwin pimp slaps Sean Hannity, and angel gets his wings...however, their is only one woman that should fill Hillary's seat and that woman is Caroline Kennedy.

First off she is Caroline Kennedy, and that means something. Her father and uncle are two of the greatest Americans to ever live. Second, she is more then qualified and more then capable of doing the job, and of doing it well. and most importantly, she can win in 2010. It is pointless to appoint someone who doesn;t have a clear shot of winning election, and Caroline has the money, the name, and the ability to win any election on her own.

[glorialovelace]

It's pointless to nominate an unqualifed person on the theory that she is more electable because she has famous relatives. Even if Paterson were to appoint a complete unknown, that person would have nearly two years to develop a higher profile. New York is not such a patsy that we will accept a candidate with a thin resume and a pushy uncle.

In fact, Caroline might very well lose the election of 2010 if she is appointed now. Her cousin, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend has lost two elections so far in Maryland. In every state where the Kennedys campaigned for Obama during the primaries, Obama lost.

I think the so-called Kennedy magic has long since evaporated. People who have a serious interest in government -- as opposed to a jones for reading about the personal travails of celebrity politicians -- have begun to see the Kennedys for what they really were.

Maybe Caroline would be right for YOUR state -- if you have a dearth of qualified politicians in New Mexico. She's totally wrong for New York.

[rcwblessed]

In regards to the NY senate seat, Caroline has a 60% approval rating, with a very low negative rating of 9%. This Newsweek article says, if Caroline wants the job, it's probably hers. I hope they're right!

http://www.newsweek.com/id/174072

[customgreen]

Gov Patterson MUST appoint the best candidate for the job, be it man or woman. Gender should have NO BEARING and anyone who thinks it should is so horribly off track it's scarey.

[Fernando]

No Alec, you are mixing apples and potatoes, a female Junior Senator equals NOT a possible president of the US. And even as people are already speaking of C. Kennedy as a possible presidential candidate, let us remember she has NOT served in office before and it remains to be seen how she could perform, let alone win on her merits two years from now, were she appointed.

There are many qualified women and men who have left their blood, sweat and tears on the political trenches of New York politics and are more deserving of that post. It might be your Irish pride getting in the way (nothing worn with that, my own daughter is named Erin) but as a fellow New Yorker you have to agree that we're a state with needs not a springboard to be used to launch presidential candidates with famous last names. CK strikes me as an honest and decent person but if Obama's election was about anything it was about change. This ain't a monarchy.

[OperaDave]

Nydia Velasquez.

She's female, latina, and a small business scholar. She will be an imperative part of supporting new commerce in this country as the recession lifts in a year or two.

Plus, she's very liberal.

[SeanGardner]

I think she is the best person for the position. If Kennedy is not picked, Nydia should get it.

[glorialovelace]

Nydia has taken herself out of the running. I wonder if pressure wasn't put on her by you-know-who to withdraw.

[Rachel36]

Thank God she doesn't want the seat. She's allowed developers to suck the life blood out of our district of Williamburg, Brooklyn. She has a long history of tempermental fits and some mentally instability. I witnessed it first hand while I was driving across the Williamsburg Bridge where she stood on a platform and gave me the finger for no apparent reason. It was completely unprovoked. I wouldn't vote for her as dog catcher.

[glorialovelace]

Now that Nydia is not under consideration, it's moot, but where is there a platform on the Williamsburg Bridge, and why would somebody be standing on a platform in the middle of that bridge giving passing drivers the finger?

And if you were driving -- and presumably looking at the road -- how can you be absolutely sure the person on the platform was Nydia. I'm sure there is an explanation, but the way you have related it, your story seems implausible.

[hardybear]

I assert that until the '08 elections, many of my own gender felt it safe to indulge in the notion that we lived in a post-feminist society. Any who did indeed ascribe to that notion were disabused of it on levels too numerous to catalogue. My point being, I don't feel that women should ever have to identify, defend and somehow justify the role of sexism in anything. Particularly to those who lack the right body parts, but have bully pulpits, e.g. someone like Vanity Fair's Christopher Hitchens, a decidedly loud voice on this topic: "Her whole self-pitying campaign, I mean to say, has retarded and infantilized the political process and has used the increasingly empty term sexism to mask the defeat" (Slate http://www.slate.com/id/2193684/)

I certainly do not wish to tar Mr. Baldwin with the same brush. It's likely he and the erstwhile Mr. Hitchens would not agree on much ~ although that would certainly be Must-see Tee-Vee.

Yet do we not need to fear the same results no matter the degree?

Much like that mostly harmless, aging uncle we love to reference. The sweet codger that we know is a little racist, but doesn't get out often enough to embarrass us or offend any of our African American friends. Until that one holiday, when we glance over to see him quietly explaining to little Mikey what Barack Hussein Obama as President really means for "Us" ...

[MindyM]

I tried to support your earlier comment on this blog, but it disappeared. It's frustrating, especially when I see the same people's post come up over and over again.

I feel that you are right on target regarding the fact that Hillary Clinton was NOT the one guilty of playing the gender card. The media bears responsibility for that. I was frankly shocked at the level of mysogynistic behavior by the vast majority of the media. Hillary Clinton ran on her qualifications, which were estimable. Yes, she was trying to make history, but that does not give anyone the right to accuse her of using her sex to get elected. She didn't need to do that. She ran on her merits. Period.

[hardybear]

Thanks MindyM. You made some great points.

[darthdarcy]

What about Mark Green super progressive who has fought for consumers and the little guy all his stellar career..

Or Maurice Hinchey one of Bush greatest critics and who voted against the Iraq war...

Or Jerry Nadler

Or Louise Slaughter all great Congressmen and women...

This identity poltics is so shallow and the stuff of political amatuers...and neophytes...

[blujoon]

alec...i am curious for more opinion....why carolyn maloney?.

[legalclubs]

How about instead of narrowing the selection process to one-half of the population the Governor simply appoint the person who is best qualified to represent New York in the Sentate, the genitals of the individual not with standing.

I believe the election of Obama shows that the country (at least the vast majority of it) is over the concept of identity politics ("it's a woman's seat, a black's seat, a Cathlic seat, etc.) The Governor should take a clue from Obama's appointments, appoint the best regardless of race, gender, and religion.