Senator Caroline Kennedy: An Inspired and Inspiring Choice

Let's see now, Caroline Kennedy is a graduate of Columbia Law School, she has been deeply involved with and committed to public education in New York City, raising millions of dollars for the city's public schools, she has co-authored two outstanding and readable books on the Bill of Rights and the Right to Privacy, she has edited several volumes of poetry, she married a New Yorker, and she has raised her daughters and son right here in New York City. She is also an inspiring woman of whom both her legendary parents would be justifiably proud. She is a role model, not just for young women but for all young people who, born to even a modicum of privilege, seek to forge an independent, productive and constructive identity for themselves.

She is also the symbol of what is best in politics. More than any other child in American history, her smiling face alongside her father in the White House reminds us not so much of a mythical Camelot, but of the hope that was assassinated on November 22, 1963, and then again on June 6, 1968. Her uncle, Senator Edward Kennedy, kept this hope alive for the past 40 years, and now the Kennedy torch may truly be passed to a new generation.

Caroline Kennedy has formally expressed her interest in succeeding Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate seat once held by her uncle, Robert F. Kennedy, but rather than applauding her for her accomplishments, her potential, and her willingness to serve, she is being attacked as somehow unqualified and less capable than a host of professional politicians known primarily to the voters of their electoral districts.

New York has been well-served by a succession of well-known, well-connected "celebrity" Senators who used their prestige to benefit their State and their constituents. Robert Kennedy, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and Hillary Clinton are three prominent examples. Caroline Kennedy would bring to Washington not just star power but a fresh, untarnished personality and a sharp unconventional intellect.

This is not to say that other possible candidates are any less qualified or capable. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, and Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr. would make excellent senators, but then again, Congresswoman Nita Lowey would probably have been an outstanding Democratic candidate for Senator in 2000, but for the emergence of Hillary Clinton as an even more viable and credible political superstar.

Representative Anthony Weiner has criticized Caroline Kennedy for not having demonstrated a proclivity for simulating a superficial enthusiasm for agricultural photo-ops. I'm not kidding. "I do think you have to not only be willing to be milking cows at the state fair, but you've got to like it or at least be very good at acting like you like it," Mr. Weiner observed. "If she has the gift of milking cows, it's been utterly hidden from people of the state of New York." What about caring about and working on behalf of hundreds of thousands of public school students? Doesn't that count? And when has faking interest and enthusiasm become a prerequisite for public service?

Another New York Congressman, Gary Ackerman, has dismissed Ms. Kennedy as just another celebrity. "I don't know what Caroline Kennedy's qualifications are, except that she has name recognition, but so does J.Lo," Mr. Ackerman said. "I wouldn't make J.Lo the senator unless she proved she had great qualifications, but we haven't seen them yet." This is a wholly unwarranted putdown. I don't remember Mr. Ackerman criticizing Mayor Michael Bloomberg when he enlisted Caroline Kennedy to serve as head of the Office of Strategic Partnerships for the New York City Department of Education.

We have yet to hear a single substantive criticism of her ability, her intellect, or her political views. As Senator, she would most probably make education her signature issue. She would also continue Senator Clinton's commitment to women's and children's health issues. This is not only commendable, but would be of enormous value to New Yorkers and Americans alike.

When Caroline Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama last January in her powerful New York Times op-ed article, she reminded many of us that the ability to inspire is a powerful force for good. "I have spent the past five years working in the New York City public schools and have three teenage children of my own," she wrote. "There is a generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative. But too many of them are also hopeless, defeated and disengaged. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children to believe in themselves and in their power to shape their future. Senator Obama is inspiring my children, my parents' grandchildren, with that sense of possibility."

As it happens, Caroline Kennedy has demonstrated during the 2008 presidential campaign that she, too, inspires many New Yorkers who have become disenchanted with politics as usual.

"I want a president," she continued, "who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved."

Those are also the qualities we should all want in a United States Senator. Based on her accomplishments, her words and her example, Caroline Kennedy has the potential of being an outstanding advocate for and representative of New York in the tradition of Jacob Javits, Robert F. Kennedy, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton. This New Yorker, for one, would love to see her in Washington next year alongside President Obama.

Menachem Rosensaft is a lawyer in New York City.

Comments

[meko]

Seeing someone from a wealthy, well-connected, famous person appointed to high office is only inspirational to other heirs and heiresses.

"Look what you can do, Junior, if you just... well... if you just want. All you have to do is make the call."

[Rockerbabe]

An aweful lot of people would not vote for Senator Clinton because they didn't want to continue with dynastic politics as a second Clinton in the White House would be no better than the second Bush to occupy the position.
Ditto for the Kennedy's in the Senate and House. If she wants the position, let her mount a campaign to garner citizen votes - just like Senator Clinton did when she first ran for the Senate.
I am sick and tired of all these pundits giving the kids of former politicans a "pass" so they can ascend to high levels of political power, but won't consider the rest of us well qualified citizens without a good vetting. I am sick of the Kennedy's and all their drama; we don't need another one in the Senate, unless she is actually voted in, not appointed.

[MagisterLudi]

Well said.

[politmuse]

Thank you for a fresh of breath air and sanity. After all the Caroline bashing of the last few days, this column restored my faith in liberal blogging. As both Obama and Hillary Clinton supporters ought to know, a fat political resume is not always the magic formula. Ability to inspire is. Caroline Kennedy has served New York and her country in countless ways. Let's not hold her extraordinary legacy against her!

[glorialovelace]

She inspires us to yawn.

[rcwblessed]

You, my dear, you.

[NotMcCain]

Exactly! All the people who've been criticizing Obama for picking highly experienced insiders should be APPLAUDING Caroline Kennedy as a senator.

She is familiar with politics but not an insider. She is fresh, untainted by political wheeling and dealing, unbeholden to anyone.

She is also smart and has worked (privately and modestly) in the public interest for years. She'd be a great choice

[jadeba]

Great blog. Thanks!

[jadeba]

Great blog - Caroline Kennedy would be a wonderful Senator. As for all the griping and whining about her qualifications - what qualified Hillary to be New York's junior senator? 8 years in the WH. Also, seems Hillary was barely a resident of the state. It seems a good many people have expectations of Ms. Kennedy they don't seem to have of others.

[meko]

There was that whole "running for office and being elected by the voters" thing. If Caroline Kennedy had held any elected office, ever, I'd be behind the appointment.

[ElBruce]

I'm no starry-eyed Camelot-er, but this post makes good points. She's at least as qualified as many people who have done very well for New York. She's got about as good a resume as you can expect without being a career politician. And name recognition does count for a lot when it comes to the prestige and effectiveness of the seat.

[Niambi]

Quite a bit of bitterness~Gov. Patterson has to make an appointment and she is an upstanding New Yorker with a history of good work in NY education, not to mention her educational background.

Where is the venom coming from?

I supported Hillary in 2000 (and 2006) when she was called everything from a carpetbagger to things that are NSFW-- she was also extremely intelligent and capable, but demonized for her 'last name' and being a 'frustrated/bored rich wife'. These charges were offensive then as they are now when applied to Caroline.

[glorialovelace]

"Where is the venom coming from?"

Anger at inherited privilege.

Concern lest our Senate seat be handed to an inexperienced person for thirty pieces of silver.

Annoyance that Ted Kennedy is trying to interfere in local New York Politics

Resentment of the chutzpah it takes to ask for the appointment, thereby pole-vaulting over others who are far more deserving.

That's where the venom is coming from, okay?

[darthdarcy]

Why not Congressman Maurice Hinchey of New York who is one of our most progressive daring independent members of the Congress and very Senatorial and would easily win re-election..?

I guess because he's not a Kennedy...he's not a Lord, and it is the House of Lords after all...!

[MagisterLudi]

Hinchey is OK. But he's too independent and too progressive for Obama's team liking. Whereas K would most likely be a yes-women to the President.

[r11]

Let me simplify it for yall :

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This nation owes her a giant one.
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As simple as that. If she doesn't do a good job, we elect some1 else.

[MagisterLudi]

6 weeks of campaigning for Obama does NOT entitled Mrs. K to Senate seat to represent 20 millions New Yorks.... ya all.

[meko]

I know a lot of people who lost parents and brothers serving our country in the military. Do they all get to be senators without ever having been elected?

Can't we just make them all Earls?

[glorialovelace]

We owe Caroline Kennedy nothing.

[Blue in NH]

Or put an other way, "bored upper west side housewife wants to move on."

[MagisterLudi]

[I do not know ] what Ms. Kennedy"s qualifications were, "except that she has name recognition " but so does J. Lo." Gary Ackerman, Queens Democrat.

Ms. Kennedy ONLY qualification for the Senate seat---- she spent six weeks campaigning for Barack Obama.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/nyregion/16qualifications.html?_r=1&hp

She declined an interview with New York Times.
Only reason I can see- because she hopes to be appointed in a royal tradition, away from the public eye.

[standard]

"Only reason I can see- because she hopes to be appointed in a royal tradition, away from the public eye."

How fortunate for New York, then, that an elected official who CAN see a rather wide range of actual reasons is the chap who gets to make the decision!

And good lord! How is this taking place "out of the public eye'? I understand it to be front page news on upwards of three major newspapers in New York City alone.

[MagisterLudi]

The fact that newpapers write ABOUT her is no substitute for actually standing the scrutiny of voters and especially other Democrats!!!
1. She refused an interview with NY Times. Why? desire to be appointed without public scrutiny of political views.

2. She never ran for office... ever. . To have some hoi polloi actually challenge her ( hitherto unkown) political views. How plebeian!
Why suddenly now? --An opportunity to be appointed without being vetted by the voters.

LET THE VOTERS DECIDE!!!

[liliperl]

Caroline Kennedy may be a qualified celebrity, but she is not qualified for representing NY as a senator! Her record of public service is just one among the many celebrities who support public initiative through their charities etc. In the current social, political, and economic climate I find it absolutely outragious even to consider Mrs. Kennedy as a serious candidate. Citizens and residents of NY deserve to be taken seriously when it comes to their representation in the Congress. Let Mrs.Kennedy to be a celebrity and enjoy her social millieu and let someone be the next NY senator who has political and executive qualifications/accomplishments. It's time to stop moral, social, and economic corruption in this country.

[MagisterLudi]

Touche.

[standard]

"Citizens and residents of NY deserve to be taken seriously when it comes to their representation in the Congress."

The citizens of New York (mere residents don't get to vote) have elected celebrities such as Bobby Kennedy, Pat Moynihan and Hillary Clinton in the past--to this very Senate seat!. Who are you--who are any of us--to second guess their collective wisdom that being celebrated doesn't make you toxic? This isn't Lindsay Lohan we're talking about, here!

[MagisterLudi]

Standard,

The 3 great politicians you mentioned were ELECTED. NOT APPOINTED in a back room deal.

New York Democrats deserve better than a political favor appointment to an upper class celebrity.

[BSERIUS]

How is she a symbol of what is best in politics? This is a symbol of what is worst .... She will get the seat for no other reason than her maiden name....And ,yet she is a better choice than any being mentioned for Obama's seat including the previous holder

[intelliwoman]

See George W Bush

Similarities anyone?

[mayahbird]

Her complete lack of experience is what I have been hearing all over the news. I have a question. How much experience does it take to get in the Congress and get yourself thrown in jail for all kinds of crimes? Was it experience that got these crooks elected and then into a jail cell? What kind of experience does that take?