The Kennedy Heir

There is something deeply moving about this weekend's news that Caroline Kennedy had endorsed Sen. Obama and that Sen. Edward Kennedy would be endorsing him later today.

After all these years and all the tragedy and all the scandal, the Kennedy's have found their heir and he is an African-American man named Barack Hussein Obama. It is a satisfying, beautiful, appropriate culmination of the Kennedy story. It is, in many ways, the great victory of the Kennedy story... even the Kennedy myth.

It is, after all, an epic story.

The Kennedy brothers were groomed to lead America. But then death happened. The one destined to be the greatest, in their father's eyes, died in World War II. Then the next was assassinated in Dallas. Then the next was assassinated in Los Angeles. And the youngest one, Edward, bounced between greatness and self-destruction.

The beautiful heir, John Jr., was felled too.

Now Edward Kennedy, the patriarch, and Caroline Kennedy, that little girl from Camelot, are handing their mantle to a man who bears little resemblance to the Kennedy clan.

But it is fitting because, ultimately, Sen. Obama is the embodiment of the social justice and civil rights that the Kennedy family fought for. He is an African-American man, raised overseas, who has achieved success based on effort and merit. He is the Kennedy dream and that is what makes the endorsements fitting and not, ultimately, surprising. That his middle name is Hussein is as appropriate for our age as was the fact that John Kennedy's middle name was Fitzgerald.

For all the debate about the reality of the Kennedy myth versus the myth of the Kennedy myth, there is the central truth that their story was about hope and optimism and equality and social justice -- things found in abundance in Sen. Obama's campaign.

Read Caroline Kennedy's endorsement:

I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.

I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president -- not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.

No matter your political affiliation or orientation, it is hard not to love this story.

Comments

[Tellmethetruth]

We no more need another JFK impersonator than we need another Elvis impersonator.

Democrats need a "change" and a new "identity."

Enough!

[RAVEN13]

This is a big endorsement for Obama. I have read where it was under consideration before SC. However, this, along with the Senator's newly reformulated driver's license proposal
to appeal to Latino's in California should
cause a stir: it includes licenses for undocu-
mented workers. This is the campaign's strategy
to differentiate themselves from Clinton where
they have deep roots in the community and hold
a lead in the polls.

[JimReed]

David,
The time has come. Will you endorse him too?

[happycat]

I am voting quite happily for Edwards next week. I find his message to be very inspirational. He is my Camelot! He is the only one who can rally the Democrats to a win in November.

[Boadicea]

Nicely said.

I'm old enough to remember. And it's true that Obama has that quality of vision that Jack Kennedy posessed. They both speak to our heads and our hearts.

But Obama, while he shares the ideals of the Kennedys, is not an idealist, he is an inspired realist. Without that, he would not be able to inspire today's generation, who are much more informed and educated than we all were in the 60s.

[Moncar]

Senator Obama is a brilliant and decent man, but he's no JFK. And, I never knew JFK.
But, JFK and RFK were tough, rock 'em sock 'em politicians with a heart. The very models of pragmatism modulated by decency. Senator Obama has the heart and the decency certainly, but appears to lack the sometimes brutal toughness the Kennedys could display when the occasion demanded it. FDR, Lincoln and even Washington had loads of decency and heart but could be, and were, shrewd politicians and harsh leaders.
While neither of them has yet to be tested in the crucible of the presidency, Senator Obama appears to be more in the mold of Wilson and Carter, decent but failed presidents, while Senator Clinton, no matter her so-called shortcomings, appears to have the potential of being closer - closer but not identical - to Washington, Lincloln and JFK.

[HeadScratcher]

What a great blog. Well done.

[cowboyfan88]

that photo of obama and teddy is going to be a great campaign boost....for the republicans.

[SamanthaJaneSalem]

I have probably heard more negative stories about President Kennedy than positive stories. Gore Vidal's accounts (if somewhat skewed) are not exactly flattering. He wanted to be a "War President" because war presidents are remembered. His private life. And his rejection of Frank Sinatra-- staying at Bing Crosby's house instead of Sinatra's after Frank had campaigned with all his heart and soul for Kennedy (and built him his own wing on his house to stay in!).

Yet JFK always remains greater than the sum of his flaws. Even Republicans can't bring themselves to criticize him. He had style. Every time they play a speech of his you sit up straight as a chill goes down your spine. He represents the hope of the World War II generation, of an immigrant America. Much like the even more heroic MLK, you *want* to believe in JFK, and that desire to believe is what you guard and cherish.

America doesn't have that anymore. We investigate every corner of a famous person's life. Babe Ruth would be testifying before Congress. FDR would have photos published of him with Lucy Mercer.

No Obama supporter is deluded into thinking he is a saint, or even wants him to be. But Americans want to have a president they admire again. We want him to be smart and decent. And when it comes time for the State of the Union, we want to feel our hearts beat a little stronger, the love for our country and its causes of peace, justice, equality flow faster through our veins with each sentence he (or she) delivers so beautifully.

We haven't had that president since JFK-- maybe never again. But it sure would be great to find out-- could it really be?

[sleepless]

I live in San Francisco and I will vote Edwards next week. I will vote for the democratic candidate in November only because the supreme court is almost shattered. I am so tired of hearing about the american dream.
I was in high school when JFK was assassinated, on my way to college when RFK was downed. I believe that our government killed them. I believe that our military killed MLK. A president Obama will need lots of security. His rhetoric is beautiful. One of his advisors is Brzezinski. There is so much we don't know about him.
After 8 years of Bush we have, no anti-war candidate. Dennis Kucinich may lose his house seat. We have few courageous progressives in congress.
Let's hear it for the Enrons, the Haliburtons, the Greenspans. Huge transfer of wealth, again and again. It won't matter much who wins, but any democratic will be less worse than any republican.

[jason10006]

Anyone old enough to remember the Carter vs. Kennedy 1980 primary battles (and I am sure most Obama supporters on this board are NOT) know that there was FAR FAR FAR more rancor between those two than between Obama and Clinton. So much so that Kennedy REFUSED to shake Carter's hand at the 1980 convention. It was bad enough that he ran against a sitting President from his own party - but I distinctly remember the pundits of the day, including Dan Rather and Peter Jennings saying that there acrimonious primary battles, complete with Ted not conceding UNTIL THE CONVENTION, may have cost the party the election versus Reagan.

Lord knows JFK was for more aggressive toward his fellow dems in his 1960 race than even TK. So for people to now equate Obama with those two is rich, and utterly revisionist history. Obama is a far nicer campaigner than the two Kennedy brothers. (RFK played dirty two, so make that the three.) Hell, HILARY plays nicer than the Kennedys did.

[stammdm]

Would someone 'splain this to me? Is the Teddy Kennedy endorement good or bad for Obama!

[RobTornoe]

Here's a link to a cartoon I did today. Love to hear your thoughts:

http://www.politickernj.com/new-generation-offers-leader-15844

[LeonBNJ]

I don't think is is so much passing the torch to Sen. Obama, as it is to recognize a new generation of Americans to be leaders. It includes other than middle aged white males, people who speak of unity not division, people who get to office on their own not using family connections,people who are faithful to their families and people that have supported those trying to get some measure of fairness in America. In the end, Sen. Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy saw that Sen. Hillary Clinton represented the worst of the Democratic Party, and Sen. Obama a lot closer to the best. They want to see Democrats win the President post to try to undo the horrors of the Bush Administration.

[JaneBecker]

A president like her father, huh? How about a president like my ex-husband??
http://thedamedomain.blogspot.com/2008/01/president-like-my-ex-husband.html