The Success of Kirsten Gillibrand and the Trashing of Caroline Kennedy

The good news is that a woman, and a young woman, at that, has been appointed to Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate seat. Kirsten Gillibrand is a good choice on many counts, in addition to her gender. She comes from upper New York State which seems to be a plus for the Governor, and she has proven her electability having recently been elected to her second term. More importantly, she will be a powerful role model for young women with young children, sending the message that; they too, can serve in public office.

The bad news is that Caroline Kennedy got trashed in the process. She did not deserve to experience such public embarrassment. Why did an anonymous aide to Governor David Paterson allow himself to be quoted "she was never under serious consideration"?

Caroline Kennedy deserved serious consideration. She may have made mistakes in the way she rolled out her candidacy, but the constant refrain that "she wasn't qualified" does not compute. What are the qualifications for a United States Senator?

Do you have to be a traditional politician to make the grade? I cannot help but conclude that a man with her credentials would have been given serious consideration.

She would have brought a passion for public service to the United States Senate which can always use an infusion of that rare ingredient in its mix. She has proven herself to be a skilled writer, an intelligent person, and a committed reformer for education.

She deserved better treatment than she received from politicians. the pundits and the press. It is my hope that she will find another avenue to express her desire for public service, not only as a volunteer, but also as a significant player.

In the meantime, congratulations to Senator Gillibrand. Her appointment allows the Senate to maintain its meager percentage of women -- 17 percent. In addition, her appointment makes a powerful statement about the ability of young women with young children to serve in public life. We need more.

This was originally posted at Chelsea Green.

Madeleine M. Kunin is the former Governor of Vermont and was the state's first woman governor. She served as Ambassador to Switzerland for President Clinton, and was on the three-person panel that chose Al Gore to be Clinton's VP. She is the author of Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead from Chelsea Green Publishing.

Comments

[renatam]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/did-paterson-lie/audacious/

Did Patterson Lie?

[renatam]

Mike Bloomberg: "Cheap Dirty Smears"

http://www.wowowow.com/post/bloomberg-cheap-dirty-politics-behind-kennedy-smears-out-patersons-office-185498?promo=news

Bloomberg knows a HIT JOB when he sees one, as the owner of a huge media empire.

[glorialovelace]

He owns a big media empire, but he neither reports for it nor edits it. Most likely, he has no idea about the bogus way that the NY Post -- with its irresponsible Fleet Street editors -- does some of its sourcing.

Perhaps Bloomberg is looking to be a beneficiary of this mess. Governors get into more history books than mayors do, after all.

[chocolatecity]

Kennedy and Patterson both ended up looking like they weren't ready for prime time.

[barackobama4prez]

Caroline wasn't ready to be NY Senator, period. She still has some blossoming to do politically. She's still alot further ahead than Palin, but she ain't ready to stomp with the big dogs.

[who38]

Caroline torpedoed her chances with her "you know" punctuated interview. She came across as being a Palin family member. Certainly, someone on her staff should have discussed this "tic" with her and helped her overcome it. Remember in the primaries how Obama was criticized for his "ums". He took care of that in a hurry. MIchele needs to work on that as well.

[glorialovelace]

It would be a good thing, IMO, if people stopped using Palin as a paradigm for everything bad about politics, women and the human race.

Palin was shaped by a combination of circumstances very different from those which shaped Caroline Kennedy, Kirsten Gillibrand or Hillary Clinton.

Sometimes, people who don't sit around talking about Plato have other, more valuable skills and assets. Sadly, it's too easy to label somebody as "stupid" "greedy" "attention-seeking" or "envious," because we are unable to understand that the differences between us and them are cultural.

[johnnynyc]

It was reported this morning Gov. Blagojevich was considering Oprah Winfrey for Obama's seat.

A reasonable person could make the case that Winfrey despite not being a member of a politically connected family is much more qualified to be appointed senator, based on her very real accomplishments against the odds, than Caroline Kennedy will ever be.

A reasonable person could also admit its a good thing neither of them were appointed

[JJK]

I think that Governor Kunin, in her typical fashion, is bending over backwards to be fair to all involved in what became a sorry mess. I do, however, disagree with her that Caroline Kennedy was qualified to be appointed to the US Senate, when there were so many dedicated and experienced office holders available, who had proven their abilities to connect with voters and the very difficult NY media. To the Governor's point, I believe that Ms. Kennedy was more than qualified to run for the Senate, but not to be handed the office.

And, I do disagree that a man would have been treated better. New York is a bit tougher than the Green Mountain State on our politicians and she was actually treated pretty well by the local media. I think Speaker Pelosi has it right; politics is a brutal business, especially when the Arena is the United States Senate.

[My10cents]

Thank God for ending the Kennedy Dynasty and hopefully the Bush dynasty forever.
Now, if we could just rid the ilk in Washington of all the sons and father's, uncles, aunts, etc.
This country would be much better off.

[cgk]

really? nobody who's related to anyone who's served the country can ever run for office?

[dhfsfc]

Running for office is one thing.

Acting as though a Senate seat is yours for the asking is another.

She couldn't even explain why she wanted to be in public office. That alone should disqualify someone.

[marignymitch]

Republic 1
Monarchy 0

[Turtleposer]

Amen.

[melponeme k]

We, the people, have not yet begun to fight!

[cgk]

not a monarchy. A well-meaning woman who has served her country and her city for many years. Why so mean-spirited?

[nana4g]

I am sure she was considered, by the Governor, the press, the people of New York, and the people across the country. On her own merits, she did not present well, as a politician or even as someone with a defined mission, other than being placed in the US Senate. She was invigorated to enter political life because it would be "easier" with a popular President and because Uncle Teddy wanted to position her for the White House next time around. Much of her "failure" at this attempt to be appointed was her own doing, because as smart and accomplished as she is, she did not handle the political very well, not with her voting record, past involvement, or her public presence.

The Governor's office was too much involved with her name and family connections and made it an issue, joining with the press and others. Even in the withdrawal of her interest, she handled it badly. There should have been a "no comment" all along, from start to finish, from the Governor's office and they should have left the press and the hopeful nominee duke it out.

But, the responsibility for all of this fiasco lies with Caroline, herself, and with her uncle. She can still run for election, if she is motivated enough, if she really wants it, if she is prepared to prepare herself and earn it. She will be more acceptable if she earns it, the old fashioned way.

[cgk]

New york magazine has an interesting article this week. the Gov put a series of ridiculous restrictions and rules on what to say, not say, etc. kennedy, unfortunately, chose to be respectcul and try to follow them. big mistake.

[cgk]

I don't thinkshe thought it would be easy. I do agree that she was invigorted, like many of us, by Obama.

I, for one, will always be very grateful to her for her well-timed and very helpful endorsement of Obama, and for all the campaigning she did for him. She did her best to get him elected. She chose him over Clinton early in the primary process, as did many of us. Clinton is out to get her as a result.

[Ides]

To those who put their feet in their mouths by arguing that Caroline Schlossberg has never held a real job and is unqualified:

She graduated from Harvard University and Columbia Law School. Unlike Hillary Clinton, who failed the bar 6 times, she is a member of the NYC and DC bar associations. She's an attorney, a writer, and an editor and she sits on several non-profit boards, some of which she is paid nothing for.

She is imminently qualified for the job. She's just not a politician. Now, what has amazed me the most is the absolute ignorance of many people in the press who have outright attacked her for daring to put herself up for consideration and now for stepping down. Some have even made up reasons to attack her, like claiming she is using her uncle's illness even though she has never brought it up.

This is nonsense and she deserved a lot more respect than she got. She didn't deserve to be the frontrunner perhaps, but she deserved to be considered, and it's the media's own fault for ignoring the FIFTEEN other candidates Paterson repeatedly said he was considering and putting it all on Schlossberg's shoulders.

[OtayPanky]

Ides: To those who put their feet in their mouths by arguing that Caroline Schlossberg has never held a real job and is unqualified:

===

She never held a full time job. Period. Not even close.

Read this week's New Yorker article to see, in great detail, exactly what she has and has not done in her life:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/02/02/090202fa_fact_macfarquhar

You're entitled to your own opinion, but you're not entitled to your own facts.

[tigerlille]

I merely scanned this article, but I believe that it states rather clearly that for two years Caroline worked as the executive director of the Office for Strategic Partnerships fr the New York City school system.

[lincheryl]

I agree and found that she hadn't spent her time in the spotlight, but rather quietly serving the country in other ways refreshing and indicative of a lack of ego. While she was blasted for the number of "you knows," were any other candidates examined so closely?

The fact that her marriage and tax problems were brought up by the governor's people after she dropped out is awful.

[DDK]

Paterson made the process into a circus and let it go on far too long. I am not a resident of New York, but I hope voters there show him the door.

Let CK run in the primary. That will show if she has the requisite fire in the belly, political acumen, and public support for the seat.

[OtayPanky]

DDK: Let CK run in the primary. That will show if she has the requisite fire in the belly, political acumen, and public support for the seat.

===

Exactly. If she's as committed as she says she is to spending the rest of her adult life in public service - and is willing to deal with the ouchies that such a life entails - we'll see her battling Gillabrand in the 2010 primary season.

For now, what say we stop shedding crocodile tears for an outcome that was entirely due to her disastrous decision to wage a public campaign for the position, rather than speak privately to Paterson and keep a low profile.

Her few weeks in the limelight were Palin-esque.

[cgk]

your facts are wrong. She did speak to Patterson, and he asked that she go around the state meeting political leaders and so forth. He also asked that she not speak to the press, although she soon realized that was a very bad idea.

I believe that she is a woman of substance. She is not glib, and she is not ruthless. Good for her, and too bad for us.

[OtayPanky]

Madeleine M. Kunin: Caroline Kennedy deserved serious consideration. She may have made mistakes in the way she rolled out her candidacy, but the constant refrain that "she wasn't qualified" does not compute. What are the qualifications for a United States Senator?

Do you have to be a traditional politician to make the grade? I cannot help but conclude that a man with her credentials would have been given serious consideration.

===

Oh please! Don't pull the sexist card nonsense here.

Kennedy never held down a 40 hour per week job in her entire 51 years.

Here's the truth: We don't have a House of Lords in this country. No man who had never held a real full-time job would have been seriously considered by the voters either.

[WRPrintz]

I dont think someone with 100% approval from the NRA is a fair representitive of the people of New York.

And I am betting that the Democratic Primary will echo that view.

She seems like a decent choice for the Senate, but she is off a few notches from political reality, thus you saw the change in her views for Gay Marriage. To keep the seat, she is going to have to work very, very hard, to say the least...or she will wind up as Ambasidor to Italy or Ireland, or Assistant Sec. of (Insert here) in the Obama Admin.

[who38]

Good point. We will see if Caroline primaries her. Hope the field does not become so large that Gilly prevails.

[noamjunior]

Whats the big deal- the candidate with more legislative experience got the appointment, as it probably should be