Did Sharpton Seal the Deal for Caroline Kennedy?

The instant that Caroline Kennedy faintly hinted that she was interested in Hillary Clinton's possibly soon vacant senate seat she got pounded. Kennedy was take your pick: just an inexperienced part time education consultant; an Obama shoulder rubber; a Park Avenue dilettante; her senate bid was nothing more than a crass and naked grab to cash in her JFK blood tie. The point in the attacks was that she was a political novice using her famed name to vault over a pack of far more worthy, seasoned, and political dues paying elected officials to get the seat. None of the other presumed more deserving candidates would need OJT in the senate seat. Kennedy would.

The attacks, rightly or wrongly, stung, and Kennedy quickly looked around the political landscape to find the right someone to burnish her admittedly paper thin political resume. The someone she latched onto was the Reverend Al Sharpton. This brought a fresh volley of criticism of Kennedy for picking Sharpton. He is to some critics the wrong someone to give her the needed political luster.

He's still widely regarded as an ego driven, media hogging race baiting agitator and opportunist who will jump on any cause to get some TV face time. Some news blogs took giddy delight in skewering Sharpton for emailing a public statement puffing himself up as so important that Kennedy would personally call him and ask for a meeting presumably to talk politics and her candidacy. There were more guffaws when Sharpton cracked that his meal jaunt with Obama during the presidential campaign somehow helped him win the White House. Obama dined with him at Sylvia's, the famed black restaurant spot in Harlem.

The personal hits on Sharpton are nothing more than the ritual anti-Sharpton name calling stuff. They tell nothing about why a Kennedy met and dined with Sharpton at Sylvia's let alone what she felt Sharpton could do to help her nab Clinton's seat.

This is a hard pill for some to swallow but Sharpton has been a pathway for a lot of Democrats and would-be Democratic politicians to go through for years to get and stay on the political radar scope. That's in part because of who many perceive Sharpton to be and the influence that he has on the street with many blacks, Latinos, the poor and community activists. This is a constituency that no liberal or moderate Democrat can afford to ignore or alienate.

In other part Sharpton's appeal is his media pull and image. The lines between the two are hopelessly blurred. A sound bite, photo-op, rock star and Hollywood celebrity allure can mean as much if not more in determining a candidate's political fate than what they have to say about global warming, the deficit, the Iraq war, campaign reform, or the Wall Street meltdown.

Sharpton is instant media and image. Kennedy's meal with him at Sylvia's was a paparazzi delight. The bank of TV cameras and photographers elbowing each other to get a quote, quip, and shots of Kennedy and Sharpton coming, going and sitting inside Sylvia's was the best proof of that.

This is not to say that Sharpton is the consummate political king or queen maker. Kennedy will still have to sell herself. She'll have to kiss the obligatory rings of the political and financial deal makers, spell out to voters what her vision and program is, and how she'll arm twist Congress and the Obama administration to help New York dig out of its crushing revenue shortfall. Sharpton can't help her there. She's on her own. This is the true test of whether her senate talk is just a whimsical fling, or if she really wants it and has the right stuff to handle the job.

This is the only way that she can stand the inexperience rap against her on its head and maybe even in a quirky way turn that into an asset. Legions of voters hold their nose in disgust at the sex, corruption and deal making antics of career politicians. Oddly, in between the photo ops and food munching Sharpton didn't actually say that Kennedy's the one. He touted her as an attorney and praised her for her work on behalf of children. That hardly qualifies her for the seat.

But that didn't much matter in the glare of the cameras. A beaming Kennedy standing before the bank of TV cameras with Sharpton in tow was a win win for both. It showed for the moment at least that the man that many love and many more love to hate is in her camp. It was a win win for Sharpton in that it showed that he was important enough for her to want him in her camp.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His new book is How Obama Won (Middle Passage Press, January 2009).

Comments

[Yurdelite]

She is just as qualified as HRC was when she ran AND she is a hel lu va lot more qualified for anything than Palin is. You all wanted Palin to be VPOTUS and potentially POTUS AND YOU ARE STILL ringing up that wo m a n. Caroline's resume runs circles around anything Palin can do AND she can afford to buy her own clothes.

So get over the double standard already.

BTW at least Caroline behaved a heck of a lot better than Bill O'Reilly did when Al took him to Sylvia's.

[meko]

I campaigned for Obama, not Palin, not Clinton. That doesn't make me want to support Caroline over far more qualified people like Carolyn Maloney, Kirsten Gillibrand, Fernando Ferrer, Liz Holtzman, Nydia Velazquez, Nita Lowey, Jerry Nadler, Byron Brown -- and others.

I don't like the idea that people who've dedicated their lives to public service are dismissed because they didn't inherit wealth. This isn't an aristocracy. One's parents don't make one more honest, more sincere in one's commitment to society, or better able to serve.

[Ergon]

She doesn't need the money.
She isn't a corporate or special interest toady or, thank heavens, an elected official.
She clearly is inspired by the chance for public service.
Can she be reelected in 2010? Yes, more so than any other candidate.
What's the problem

[MagisterLudi]

She never ran for office before
She will never ran for office again, if doesn't get this freebie.
We have a President coming in without any experience whatsoever. Ditto for most of the Cabinet.
This is not the right time for another Mary. Bono.
This is a crucial time in the history of U.S.
If she feels she's entitled to a payoff for a few weeks of work she put for Obama-- give her a Cultural Commission appointment. NOT a Senate seat.

[meko]

I hate the implication that anyone who works for a living is unfit to serve because they cash their paychecks. Wealth doesn't guarantee honesty - I Wall Street has demonstrated that over the past few months.

I'd like to know what crimes Ergon is suggesting the other more qualified public servants have done. Why has serving the state of New York made them unfit to do so at a higher office?

Why must we assume that any of them are any less inspired by public service? Many have dedicated their lives to it. If they'd just wanted money, they could have cashed out and become lobbyists.

[WritusMaximus]

To add to the silliness some pundits swim in, Mr. Gergen, who obviously loves Caroline, on a tv show had the nerve to say that Caroline's inexperience would be no problem, because it is the president and not the senators who set policy. The thought never crossed his mind that senators introduce pieces of legislation, vote on legislation (yup, no doubt Obama will introduce legislation), may sit on and chair committees, etc., etc., etc. We need thoughtful, knowledgeable congresspersons and senators. We've had enough of a rubber-stamp congress that is part responsible for the past disastrous eight years. Which shows you that most in congress are NOT knowledgable, NOT thoughtful. Imagine the risk of adding more of the same!

[MagisterLudi]

She clearly is inspired by the chance for public service.
She' inspuired for a chance to get somethin' for nothin'.
If this position involved actual campaigning and kowtowing for campaign contributions , she would do it. Ain't got the resolve.
Proof?---well, she never did it before. And most likely never do it again.

[arthuride]

I can think of no one less-deserving, less-qualified, and less-prepared for the US Senate than Caroline Kennedy. As for her playing on her father's reputation--what reputations? He was responsible for the abortive Bay of Pigs fiasco, he drove the USA to the brink of a nuclear war with the USSR (the "missile crisis"), he opened the doors to more civilian killings in Vietnam, etc. etc, when he was not womanizing (Marilyn Monroe, for example). JFK was no grand knight of Camelot--and he knew it, realizing he would most likely lose in 1964--which is why he went to Texas with LBJ (only LBJ could carry that state for JFK, as most Texans were already disenchanted with JFK;s smokescreen and lack of imagination, not to mention his open dynastic plans (getting a temporary stand-in to fill out his Senate term so his brother Ted [the only good and dedicated public servant of the entire clan] could win it) and more. Caroline has written six books, but of substance? She has served admirably on charity committees--as she has the resources. But she knows nothing about up-state New York, and only the peripherals of NYC. While there are thousands who condemned Hillary as a carpetbagger, at least Hillary proved she was one of the best senators NY ever had--and Caroline did not even bother to vote for (or against--she did not vote at all) for the seat Hillary filled. In fact,

[chewie2008]

Hate it or love it,but John F. Kennedy is a legend and there`s nothing you can do about it.His biggest mistakes were the Bay of Pigs Invasion,which was planned by the Eisenhower Administration and the CIA and the escalation in Vietnam.If you knew your history books you would know that he wanted to withdraw from Vietnam after his re-election(watch "The Fog of War" with McNamara).Kennedy`s success was the Cuban Missile Crisis,since he didn`t back down.He wasn`t the perfect President,but his achievements outweigh his mistakes by far for the short period of time he was President..He is loved by the Germans and especially by Berliners and seen as an American symbol for freedom in the world. Being a womanizer didn`t stop Hillary Clinton to ride the coattail of Bill,while he was getting a b.j.

p.s.Hillary lost,get over it.

[jcutbirth]

No. What sealed the deal for Caroline was the 15 positions she unveiled today, including her support for the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, the old equal protection under the law thing, which would allow lesbian and gay people marriage equality, which apparently the president-elect has yet to buy into.

[glorialovelace]

It probably sealed the deal for gays and lesbians. It probably blew it for upstate voters. Which is the bigger voting block do you suppose?

[AggravationKills]

Sealed it for me. Residing here in Western NY. And I am meeting more and more like myself everyday. You might be the bigger voting block now, but there are alot of people who are non baby boomers, I am 35 and straight, and we see this as a civil rights issue.
I hear this from people much older than me to those much younger than me, more than I ever imagined I would hear so often or so freely in this area. And this is from the younger people who havent left upstate NY. I could be wrong. But I dont feel that anti gay marriage will always be the bigger voting block. And boomers are aging.

[ricland]

The writer is just articulating what we all see. They're were no revelations in this article, nothing that delivers what the headline promises.

He didn't talk to anybody on the inside.

He's just offering opinion.

ricland

[bubbuh]

Okay, enjoy some news:

"Among the political class, Ms. Kennedy"s directness " along with her celebrity " is clearly helping her gain momentum. On Friday, for example, Assemblyman Vito J. Lopez, chairman of the Kings County Democratic Party, endorsed Ms. Kennedy after meeting with her, praising her as personable and knowledgeable, and vowing to gather support for her."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/nyregion/20cuomo.html

[tbone99]

Just one question - how many tears did Caroline Kennedy shed for the victims of Katrina?

isn't that the barometer JJJ required the A.A. community use for supporting Hilary?

[bubbuh]

Too easy:
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education+and+Public+Programs/Profile+in+Courage+Award/Award+Recipients/Bill+White/Award+Announcement.htm

[tbone99]

What? she handed out an award ?

The decision was made by the Profile in Courage Award Committee , not caroline kennedy , who as usual was just used a celebrity icon.This story makes no allusion to her involvement in anything other than crossing the stage.

[Doofus]

Ok, so today there's an NYT article which says that
Andrew Cuomo does indeed want the Senate seat
also, but he is really 'stymied' about how to convey to
Gov Paterson that he wants it *more* than CK does.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/nyregion/20cuomo.html

Who would've guessed?

[ricland]

this article may miss the real reason Kennedy sought out Sharpton.

I think it has something to do with Sharpton's pull with the NY Governor.

ricland

[bubbuh]

Very much forgotten in the CK contretemps is the fact that CK was apparently first approached by the GUV, not the other way around. This doesn't mean he was serious; but, it does mean the thought crossed his mind as an answer to some of the political difficulties the Dems of NY will be facing in the next couple of years.

http://leftwingescapee.blogspot.com/2008/12/report-caroline-kennedy-mulling-ny.html

[MagisterLudi]

I suppose that's why she wrote a demand letter to Obama. Because she didn't want the freebie seat.. Right. Are you anywhere never the Brooklyn Bridge?
I might get you a decent offer on it.

[glorialovelace]

Sharpton is anathema to many Jewish voters. She probably is so ignorant of New York politics that she is unaware of much of Sharpton's spare baggage.

[larry278]

Like it or not being seen at Sylvia's with Rev Al gives you instant street cred as Earl points out. You need street cred to be a NY Senator. Check that with Senator Schumer.

[bubbuh]

But, does it one GUV cred? That's what she needs right now.

[larry278]

Wait & see. The name Kennedy is known among politicians & voters. The matter of Ms Kennedy's future in politics bears watching.