So, If Not Caroline Kennedy, Then Who?

New York state could soon be represented in the U.S. Senate by a woman with more respect for and understanding of democratic representation, the Constitution, and the rule of law than we've grown accustomed to finding in Washington, D.C., a woman who has done more to oppose the abuses of power of the Bush administration than have most current members of the House or Senate.

Elizabeth Holtzman has asked the Governor of New York David Paterson to consider appointing her to fill a seat that may be vacated by Senator Hillary Clinton, whom President-elect Obama intends to nominate for Secretary of State. I encourage you to ask everyone you know in the state of New York to contact the Governor and ask him to choose Liz.

Liz Holtzman served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and was the youngest woman elected to Congress, where she quickly took a leading role in the impeachment of President Richard Nixon. She served two terms as the first woman elected District Attorney of Kings County (Brooklyn) and served as the first woman elected New York City Comptroller.

Before any of that, she co-founded Law Students Civil Rights Research Council, which recruited law students to work in the civil rights movement in the South. In 1963 she worked for a civil rights lawyer in Georgia. In 1964 she interned for the NAACP and helped write a brief on the first anti-miscegenation case.

Holtzman entered Congress in 1973 and took a seat on the House Judiciary Committee, just in time to pursue the impeachment of a lawless president. She gained national attention for her work on that impeachment, and for her questioning of President Gerald Ford about his pardoning of Nixon. She then gained international attention by exposing the presence of Nazi war criminals in the United States and forcing the creation of a special Justice Department unit to bring them to justice. Holtzman led committee work and passed legislation on a wide range of issues in Congress, but in the area of justice alone it is worth noting that she co-authored the special prosecutor law and brought a lawsuit challenging Nixon's unauthorized bombing of Cambodia.

Serving as District Attorney in Brooklyn from 1982 to 1989, Holtzman played a key role in ending racial discrimination in jury selection, led the effort to reform New York's rape and child molestation laws, persuaded the Court of Appeals to allow prosecution for marital rape, and created the first environmental crimes bureau in the state.

I didn't know Liz for most of this history, but I can understand how she got so much done everywhere she went, because I have seen her advocacy work during the Bush-Cheney era. She has been one of the most articulate, authoritative, persuasive, and energizing speakers, writers, and agitators against warrantless spying, torture, the occupation of Iraq, and the erosion of the rule of law in our federal government. In 2006, she published, together with Cynthia Cooper, "The Impeachment of George W. Bush: A Practical Guide for Concerned Citizens." Whether or not you want Bush impeached, this book is worth reading for a refreshingly different view of the law and the balance of power in our government. Here's a video clip of Liz testifying in Congress on this topic earlier this year:

If you would like to see her in the United States Senate, please send your comments and your name and New York address to Governor David A. Paterson, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224, or call 518-474-8390 or Email at http://161.11.121.121/govemail.

Comments

[lisakaz2]

This is an interesting pick. The background certainly shows she is qualified. What has she been doing in recent years?

I have no problem with Ms. Kennedy, though. She's not a dumb woman and her behind-the-scenes career close to politics has not been undistinguished. I always thought she'd be a better person for high office than her brother (and I didn't dislike him, either).

I think the NY governor has at least several solid choices, female and male. Whomever he picks will likely be good imo.

[Zia]

Can she raise $100 million for 2010 and 2012?

[NikkiT]

Carolyn Maloney or Kristen Gillibrand

[PaxEterna]

Anyone who has actually done something on behalf of others, can speak coherently, answer questions, and articulate substance would be better than CK.

[karela]

Elizabeth has apparently done a lot of good work and I'm sure that she will continue to do so. However, she will be 68 this year which means that about the time she was able to build up enough seniority to get any good committee assignments, she would be retiring. Caroline Kennedy has the prestige to serve New York state and the country for a very long time. She is young enough to have many effective years of service after she gains seniority. Caroline also has something else that most do not. She is a tremendously gifted fund raiser who has the ability to raise enough funds to win the back to back elections that whoever is appointed will have to face. There is no doubt that there are others who could also do the work, but in order to do the work, the person has to hold the seat and gain seniority. Caroline has absolute integrity. She will never sell her votes in order to get campaign money. She has the Lion of the Senate for a mentor and the President for a close friend who will take her calls. She may not be the only one, but she's the best one if we want to hold that seat and get things done for New York. Obama showed us that you don't have to be in your face aggressive to get things done. You have to be smart and it doesn't hurt to have good friends.

[glorialovelace]

What difference does it make to you? You don't even live in New York. And as for Caroline being a "gifted fund raiser" that has been shown to be further Kennedy malarkey. It seems that Caroline was pole vaulting on work that was actually done by others. The Lion of the Senate is just a load of Kennedy hype. The term was dreamed up by one of EMK's flacks. And he won't be a mentor for very long, as you probably know. It is not a Senator's job to be in the President's pocket either. A Senator must be able to look at what the President proposes very critically and not function as a rubber stamp. The concept is known as "the separation of powers." You should read up on it before posting balderdash about how Caroline and Obama are such close pals.

[frustratedinohio]

Are you a Kennedy, Karela? I ask that because CK's only support, after that disastrous interview, seems to be coming from the Kennedy family. People who are actually paying attention aren't taking her request to be senator very seriously. Her name will not be enough this time.

[meko]

I've been away for more than a week. Liz Holtzman appears quite qualified and has been committed and involved in politics for a long time. NY doesn't need a neophyte and doesn't need a senator who is there more to fill newspaper articles than to represent her people.

[ballsmuch]

jerrold nadler is both educated and passionate enough to represent the state of New York

[wilfredbox]

Look how many comments this post has had. Is there any doubt now that if Ck is not appointed, NY will fade in the background? Anyone?

Admit It ! NY needs her more than she needs us! I pray to God as a political junkie that she appointed.

[frustratedinohio]

New York will fade into the background without CK? LOL!!

[glorialovelace]

I agree. Liz Holtzman's advance to a seat in the Senate is overdue. She'd be a great pick -- far, far better than Caroline Kennedy.

[BarryWolk]

Liz Holtzman has run for the Senate twice in the past and the voters of New York declined to elect her BOTH times. This alone excludes her from consideration. Plus, we have an excess of extraordinary candidates such as Andrew Cuomo and Jerold Nadler. These are people who are currently in elected offices voted in by NY residents. Also, if you are not a resident of the State of New York, please stay out of this debate as it has NOTHING to do w/you. I'm sure your own state has enough problems that would merit your attention. Please stay out of our affairs. We don't come to your house and tell you what color to paint YOUR livingroom!

[glorialovelace]

To be fair, the races Holtzman lost were three-way races that split the liberal vote against Al D'Amato. I don't think she should be excluded from consideration because she was the victim of an electoral anomoly. She is certainly a superior candidate to Caroline Kennedy. For more about Liz Holtzman's career, see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Holtzman

[glorialovelace]

Oh, and by the way, I live in New York now and have lived here for virtually my entire life, except when I was away at college and graduate school. So I know from Liz Holtzman, okay?