Confidence in Caroline

If selected by Governor Paterson, Caroline Kennedy would make an excellent United States senator from the great state of New York. She has lived in New York since she was six years old, has contributed to public service for years, is the author of books on the Bill of Rights and the right to privacy--and is brilliant. She is, also, a mother who cares about the kind of country and world her children and grandchildren will inherit. The state of New York and the nation would be fortunate indeed to have Caroline serve in the US Senate.

The naysayers, who claim that she is not in touch with ordinary Americans and doesn't understand our problems, are the descendants of those who thought Columbus would fall off the edge of a flat world when he embarked on his westward voyage across the sea. In other words, they are mistaken. For example, during the nearly two months between the Ohio and Texas primaries and the April 22nd Pennsylvania primary, volunteers from across the US and countries from Sweden to Australia travelled to Pennsylvania to work alongside locals for the Obama campaign. Many came with their children during spring break in order to participate. I was volunteering in the main headquarters in Center City, Philadelphia--a large, open space on the top floor of a four-story building on Sansom Street, nine blocks from Independence Hall. The place was packed every day, a beehive of activity. One day, I came in and was looking for a chair. I walked to one side of the room where volunteers were making phone calls urging people to register, vote and volunteer. When I found a chair and pulled it to the table where I was working, the woman sitting next to me said, "Didn't you see Caroline Kennedy? She's here with two of her kids."

I had not only walked by Caroline without recognizing her, in my search for a chair I'd looked directly at her without realizing who she was. Why, because Caroline, her daughter, Tatiana, and her son, John, were sitting inconspicuously with all the other volunteers and working the phones. They fit in with the crowd, didn't ask for special treatment, didn't sit apart from the motley gathering of Obama supporters, but instead were one with us. They rolled their sleeves up (to borrow an Obama phrase) and worked hard. Yes, they were perfectly as ease with us--we "ordinary" people.

When Caroline was on her way out to buy coffee, she passed my table and I said softly, but with enough resonance for her to hear, "Caroline." She stopped and turned and we chatted for a few moments. I'd never met her before, but a dear friend of mine was a friend of Caroline's mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and I mentioned this to her. Also, I told her how her mother had inspired me. I head a historic trust and I explained to her how, when I was in elementary school, I was mesmerized by her mother's televised tour of the White House and her knowledge of the history of the place and its artifacts. Jackie's tour was my introduction to historic preservation and in my present work, I've often thought of her. I explained to Caroline that when I visited the exhibition of her mother's White House couture, I spent as much time reading Mrs. Kennedy's handwritten outline on yellow legal paper, of her plans for the White House restoration--in a glass case at the exhibition--as I did admiring the simple beauty of Jackie's sartorial style.

Caroline was gracious and more significantly, she expressed interest in my preservation work, a part of which we are doing in partnership with the Public Archaeology Facility of State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton, although the historic site is across the border in upstate Pennsylvania.

Caroline Kennedy is living history. Politics is her family business and she has learned and absorbed it from a unique perspective. Imagine having Ted Kennedy, the most revered statesman of our time, as one's mentor-uncle, an incomparable font of knowledge and experience. Imagine a senator who seeks public office not for fame and fortune (which Caroline has had since birth), but because she wants to serve the public. Caroline wants to be a part of the solution to the challenges facing our country and the world right now. Read her books on the Bill and Rights and the right to privacy. She knows the Constitution and will work to uphold it.

Finally, to those pundits and political rivals of both parties who argue that she hasn't paid her dues, I say Caroline has more than paid her dues. Her father gave his life in service to this country. Anyone who doubts that she understand the rough and tumble arena of politics and the cost it exacts--doesn't know history--and greatly underestimates Caroline. She has been tested in ways that few of us can begin to imagine--and has prevailed. Those who would hold her background against her are disingenuous, envious perhaps, and fundamentally undemocratic.

Comments

[meko]

There seems to be a "give the girl what she wants. If she makes a mess of it, someone else can run later" attitude among Kennedy supporters. They overlook the many talented people who've demonstrated an ability to put forth legislation that benefits New Yorkers. If anyone who had her resume asked to be given this appointment wasn't named Kennedy, they wouldn't even be able to get the attention necessary to be a laughingstock.

[rckayla]

I disagree with AnnMG on Caroline Kennedy NOT being a known quantity, she IS a known quantity and has been since she was a little girl; she just isn't known in the Senate. But didn't anyone ever hear of on-the-job training, similar to what Hillary Rodham Clinton had as First Lady and then as a two-term Senator for New York? Hillary Rodham Clinton had "no experience" as a Senator yet New Yorkers voted for her twice! And I feel that Caroline may do a much better job by getting "on-the-job training" like Hillary did rather than the crooked and corrupt "experienced" politicians. Plus Caroline knows and respects the Constitution along with our Bill of Rights. I think Caroline would make a great Senator because of this. The only thing that bothers me about Caroline being appointed by Governor Paterson without actually being elected into office by the American people is that it smacks too much of the English "aristocracy" our Founders wanted no part of! However the same can be said for Hillary Rodham Clinton except that although her husband was our former-President Hillary actually was voted into the Senate by the American people. So I say "Let Caroline run for the office of Senator for New York rather than Governor Paterson appointing her!" That would be the fair and democratic thing to do.

[AnnMG]

The remarkable Hillary had a long career as a lawyer, partner and activist for the rights of children prior to becoming First Lady, and using this opportunity as an unpaid working position to promote such initiatives as universal healthcare, for which she was severely criticized. Despite her considerable accomplishments, excellent education and resilience, there were naysayers that did not consider her qualified. This was probably because the limelight of Hillary;s excellence made such losers as Chris Dodd and Harry Reid look pathetic in comparison. There was extreme jealousy about the accomplishments and credentials of this fine woman. How dare she be so qualified and spunky? How dare the people love her? Who does she think she is (Flager and Wright but also Patrick Leahy).
Caroline Kennedy may be as well educated but she has not practiced law or held a job. I can't understand how you can compare these two people other than by gender or education or the fact that they are good mothers. Credentials and experience should count for something, The NY Senate seat is too important to be used for an OJT program.

[Solange]

Good grief! What a double standard. You have no problem with Hillary, but you criticize Caroline. We do not know whether or not Hillary would have become a senator, presidential candidate, or secretary of state nominee if she had not been married to a man who was president. She was a young--not yet established lawyer--when she moved to Arkansas as a Yale-educated attorney. In Arkansas she was married to the governor who later became president. We have no way of knowing for sure what she would have accomplished on her own--we can only speculate. Hillary has benefited a great deal from her husband's success (yes, I know she helped him) but except for the Monica scandal, she has not dealt with much adversity. Much has been given to her and to her credit, she has made the most of it. So why can't you extend the same faith in Caroline that you have extended to Hillary. Your comments reflect your own shortsightedness. You are biased against Caroline Kennedy because you perceive her as privileged. She would be an asset to the Senate and will help President Obama get his programs through. You need to look at the bigger--more broad--picture. Credentials, Dick Cheney and "Rummy" had great credentials abd experience--where did that get us? Sarah Palin had credentials and experience--maybe you would prefer her, AnnMG.

[meko]

Absolutely right. A partner-track job at a law firm is a 90-hour a week gig. This demonstrates more of a work ethic than Kennedy's one-day-a-week fundraising job for the NYC schools that Bloomberg appointed her to.

More than anything I'm bothered by how all of the experienced, committed congresswomen from the state of New York are being overlooked because she has a famous male relative.

[Laine]

Beautifully put. I think it's obvious that Obama's campaign has inspired Caroline to "come out" in public, to have the courage to take on political life. This is not about nostalgia for Camelot (which Caroline did not experience), this is putting one's energy where one's beliefs are -- from a person who has had every reason to avoid the harsh light of an active, public political life. It's the Obama Effect -- everyone wants to be actively involved in making America the best that it can be! I say, more power to her!
Laine

[Solange]

Thank you, Laine. I agree with what you said completely. Caroline is inspired by Obama and want to help him by serving in the Senate. As senator, she would be in the position to help Obama get his programs through. She has probably already learned more from Ted Kennedy than most senators will ever know when they enter the senate for the first time.

[AnnMG]

Every debutante is on her best behavior when introduced to society at approximately 18 years of age. The issue with Caroline Kennedy is that she is 32 years late to the party. Cryogenics has run amuck and some of us are looking for the Camelot legacy of her late, great father. This woman has lived her life as a recluse. Regardless of her lineage or her academic qualifications, she does not have real world experience, let alone any employment experience. This is not to say that she is not a good person or a wonderful mother and fundraiser. Indeed the importance of motherhood is underestimated in our society. Her qualifications for the position of Senator are the issue. She is an unknown quantity.

[SeriousBlack]

Eloquently said, Ms. Dennis.