Let me start by saying I don't live in New York and I'm not an expert on the sharp elbows world of New York politics. But what I do know, after 30 years in the public relations and image management business, is about people's public and private lives and how they intersect.
Caroline Kennedy has been straddling a fine line for decades--she has managed to live a remarkably private life while being a scion of one of the most public families in history. Her father, her uncles, her brother and many of her relatives relished life in the public eye. She seems to taken after her mother by limiting her public appearances and attempting to seek a measure of privacy while living in a fishbowl.
Think about it--we knew everything about her late brother--his love life; his test scores; his professional endeavors and ultimately, his death. Ironically, most people can't even picture Caroline's husband; don't know how many children she has; and can't recite her professional resume. And from one who spends his professional life managing public images, let me assure you--this is no small feat.
Most Senators are public people who adore meeting people, shaking hands and the human interaction that is a necessary part of the political game. In just the handful of times I have had the pleasure of spending time with Senator Clinton she has been exquisitely prepared, always remembering my name, and amazingly engaging when in private conversation. You truly feel like you are the only person in the room when you are conversing with her.
Senator Schumer is equally impressive. I met him once briefly at a fund raiser a few years ago and two years later when I ran into him at a private function, he not only remembered my name, he recalled our discussion topics. I didn't and he did. That's what a true public figure and political animal is and does.
I met Caroline Kennedy once backstage at Good Morning America when I was accompanying one of my clients to the show. Considering what I do for a living, I got over the star struck thing decades ago, but this was a Kennedy and I took the effort to introduce myself.
After apologizing for the intrusion I said that I wanted to thank her for all her family had given to this country and tell her that when I was four years old I heard her father speak and not only was it one of my first memories, it was something that would stay with me the rest of my life.
She looked at me like I had just shit on her shoe and mumbled something incomprehensible as she turned her head and walked away uncomfortably.
I am not here to judge her--we all have bad days and perhaps I caught her on one.
But what I can tell you is that her reaction was not that of someone who would enjoy the public demands, ass-kissing and glad-handing required of a U.S. Senator.
My judgment is broader than that of just my own experience. Historically speaking I grew up with Caroline Kennedy--we are roughly the same age and her family has held a dominant place in American politics for my entire life.
Until she announced her intention to seek the soon to be vacant Senate seat, I respected the path of privacy she chose and believed that she was in touch with herself and the kind of life she wanted to craft for herself and her family. Recent events have caused me to question how well she knows herself. If she truly becomes the junior Senator from New York, she will risk the private life she has worked so hard to forge.
My judgment is not political--I agree with most of the positions she has expressed and applaud her courageous support of gay marriage in particular.
I don't like to be too simplistic but you either love life in the public eye or you don't. I don't believe she does. One celebrity once said that privacy is like your health--you take it for granted until you no longer have it. She is putting something she worked hard to create at great risk. Once her wall between public and private comes down, there's no turning back.
There are many paths to public service and knowing of her many accomplishments and low-key activism I hold nothing but respect for her. But, I would implore her, for her own sake and for the sake of the citizens of New York, to look deep within her soul and make sure this is something that she not only wants, but that she is prepared to pay the heavy price required.
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"I was really surprised and dismayed by my voting record," she told AP. "I'm glad it's been brought to my attention.
All I heard was evasive answers, at times Palin -esque. Yeah, I know she went to Harvard (same arguement can be used that Bush went to Yale, JFK is a little more well known than Prescott Bush) I really was dead set against her appointmen
She is being picked for "star power." Unfortunat
In an ideal world, the ability to pass laws and get stuff done for one's state would be the measuring stick of a senator. Unfortunat
I guess we should put Sarah Palin there instead. Hell, by 2016 she'll be able to construct a coherent sentence so I guess she'll be president instead.
the past, and an encounter subjective
then judged all the same. I am continuall
presence of articles with a lot of words yet nothing to say.
Let's leave it at that.
This is not the person who should be in my state senate. Especially when there are more qualified representa
A government belongs to it's people, especially in a representa
Which is what we are told that we have.
But apparently not, since a trust fund baby can just announce that she wants to be a politician and she is taken seriously to boot.
Oddly, Sarah Palin has that "a stranger is just a friend I haven't met yet" quality down pat.
A senator is not supposed to be in the President'
But she has surprised me ever since she came out and endorsed Barack Obama in the Democratic presidenti
I have to believe that Caroline Kennedy knows what she will be giving up. If she is okay with that and feels ready to handle a more public life, then she should go for it.
Few celebritie
Even her fiercest admirers like to point out that she is more the product of her mother's influence than she is of the Massachuse
The level of privacy Ms. Kennedy has enjoyed is unique, a product both of her desire for it, and the willingnes
When I read her stirring endorsemen
But Howard, you are absolutely right, after spending a lifetime using her name and position to do good without drawing too much attention to herself, it is odd that she is doing this now.
The people who pursue a life in politics and do best at it tend to be those who not only tolerate that contact with the public, but crave it and who develop that ability to withstand anything to be in the public eye. John McCain has it. Cindy McCain does not. Bill Clinton has an enormous amount of it. Chelsea Clinton, none.
And certain things, like Caroline's thin-skinn