"Caroline: Pull a Cheney!" An Open Letter to Caroline Kennedy (Head of the Obama VP Search Team)

Dear Caroline,

We've never met, so I hope you don't find this letter too presumptuous or inappropriate. As its contents involve the public's business, I am sending this to you via the public on the Internet. I knew your brother John. He was a great guy, and I know he would've had a ball during this thrilling and historic election year. We all miss him dearly.

Barack Obama selected you to head up his search for a vice presidential candidate. It appears we may be just days (hours?) away from learning who that choice will be.

The media is reporting that Senator Obama has narrowed his alternatives to three men: Joe Biden, Evan Bayh and Tim Kaine. They're all decent fellows, but they are far from the core of what the Obama campaign has been about: Change. Real change. Out with the old. And don't invade countries that pose no threat to us.

Senators Biden and Bayh voted for that invasion and that war, the war Barack ran against, the war Barack reminded us was the big difference between him and Senator Clinton because she voted for the war and he spoke out against it while running for Senate (a brave and bold thing to do back in 2002).

For Obama to place either of these senators on the ticket would be a huge blow to the millions that chose him in the primaries over Hillary. He will undercut one of the strongest advantages he has over the Hundred-Year War senator, Mr. McCain. By anointing a VP who did what McCain did in throwing us into this war, Mr. Obama will lose the moral high ground in the debates.

As for Governor Kaine of Virginia, his big problem is, well, Obama's big problem -- who is he? The toughest thing Barack has had to overcome -- and it will continue to be his biggest obstacle -- is that too many of the voters simply don't know him well enough to vote for him. The fact that Obama is new to the scene is both one of his most attractive qualities AND his biggest drawback. Too many Americans, who on the surface seem to like Barack Obama, just don't feel comfortable voting for someone who hasn't been on the national scene very long. It's a comfort level thing, and it may be just what keeps Obama from winning in November ("I'd rather vote for the devil I know than the devil I don't know").

What Obama needs is a vice presidential candidate who is NOT a professional politician, but someone who is well-known and beloved by people across the political spectrum; someone who, like Obama, spoke out against the war; someone who has a good and generous heart, who will be cheered by the rest of the world; someone whom we've known and loved and admired all our lives and who has dedicated her life to public service and to the greater good for all.

That person, Caroline, is you.

I cannot think of a more winning ticket than one that reads: "OBAMA-KENNEDY."

Caroline, I know that nominating yourself is the furthest idea from your mind and not consistent with who you are, but there would be some poetic justice to such an action. Just think, eight years after the last head of a vice presidential search team looked far and wide for a VP -- and then picked himself (a move topped only by his hubris to then lead the country to near ruin while in office) -- along comes Caroline Kennedy to return the favor with far different results, a vice president who helps restore America to its goodness and greatness.

Caroline, you are one of the most beloved and respected women in this country, and you have been so admired throughout your life. You chose a life outside of politics, to work for charities and schools, to write and lecture, to raise a wonderful family. But you did not choose to lead a private life. You have traveled the world and met with its leaders, giving you much experience on the world stage, a stage you have been on since you were a little girl.

The nation has, remarkably (considering our fascination with celebrity), left you alone and let you live your life in peace. (It's like, long ago, we all collectively agreed that, with her father tragically gone, a man who died because he wanted to serve his country, we would look out for her, we would wish for her to be happy and well, and we would have her back. But we would let her be.)

Now, I am breaking this unwritten code and asking you to come forward and help us in our hour of need. So many families are hurting, losing their homes, going bankrupt with health care bills, seeing their public schools in shambles and living with this war without end. This is a historic year for women, from Hillary's candidacy to the numerous women running for the House and Senate. This is the year that a woman should be on the Democratic ticket. This is the year that both names on that ticket should be people OUTSIDE the party machine. This is the year millions of independents and, yes, millions of Republicans are looking for something new and fresh and bold (and you are the Kennedy Republicans would vote for!).

This is the moment, Caroline. Seize it! And Barack, if you're reading this, you probably know that she is far too humble and decent to nominate herself. So step up and surprise us again. Step up and be different than every politician we have witnessed in our lifetime. Keep the passion burning amongst the young people and others who have been energized by your unexpected, unpredicted, against-all-odds candidacy that has ignited and inspired a nation. Do it for all those reasons. Make Caroline Kennedy your VP. "Obama-Kennedy." Wow, does that sound so cool.

Caroline, thanks for letting me intrude on your life. How wonderful it will be to have a vice president who will respect the Constitution, who will support (instead of control) her president, who will never let her staff out a CIA agent, and who will never tell her country that she is "currently residing in an undisclosed location."

Say it one more time: "OBAMA-KENNEDY." A move like that might send a message to the country that the Democrats would actually like to win an election for once.

Yours,
Michael Moore
[e-mail]
MichaelMoore.com

[Get Michael Moore's brand new book, 'Mike's Election Guide.']

Comments

[Old Writer]

Well said.

[SurrealPumpkin]

Kennedy is currently President of the Kennedy Library Foundation, a Director of both the Commission on Presidential Debates and of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and Honorary Chairman of the American Ballet Theatre. Kennedy is also an adviser to the Harvard Institute of Politics, a living memorial to her father.
from Wikipedia

Sounds like experience to me.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

I have always held the deepest regard for the Kennedy family, had the priveledge to talk with her late brother, even get a gift sent to me from his magazine George that John Jr. was publisher. That said, I don't think it would be wise for Caroline to run for VP, at least, not now. The woman is incredibly bright, funny, honest, doesn't just talk the talk, but walks the walk her father did. The problem is that too many undeducated people would not see how adding another greek tragedy to the arena would improve things for them. They dont' understand that while she is worth more than GOD, she is still a down to earth person in touch with the poor and middle class. To her credit has faught hard for programs to benefit everyone, except the rich. But even that, you have to have a background in diplomacy, domestic and foreign, which she doesnt' have. Perhaps in time she could get an ambassadorship, but to be VP? Not now.

[pupbayer]

This has to be a joke.

[GhiaccioPronto]

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

[mattheweste]

LOL. I can't tell if it is meant to be comedy....­. but I'd like to live in a world where it wasn't.

[Bagger]

Michael Moore,
I appreciate every movie of yours but seriously this is dreaming. Obama's biggest problem for some is his "experience". Caroline Kennedy has zero Washington experience except for those years as a little girl while her father was in office. I love Caroline but she's done nothing politically. Dick Cheney was entrenced in Washington D.C. when Bush chose him. Caroline has stayed away from politics. Not enough experience for Obama to be able to win.

I still say Hillary is the smartest pick.

[jubei]

CLARK,CLARK, NUMBER 1 AT WEST POINT,GOT A RHODES SCHOLARSHIP AT OXFORD UNIV,GOT A DEGREE IN ECONOMY,PHILOSOPHY AND POLITICS,SAVED 1.6 MILLION ALBANIAN LIVES IN KOSOVO TOOK 4 ROUNDS IN HIM AND NOT 1 AMERICAN SOLDIER WAS HURT AND HE SPEAKS SPANISH FLUENT,SERVED IN THE MILITARY FOR 38 YRS,CHECK OUT WWW.OBAMAC­LARK.COM.O­BAMA/CLARK 08!!!!!

[condawg]

Took 4 rounds in him and not one American soldier was hurt?

Hmmm, gotta ponder that conundrum.

On the other hand he speaks Spanish! ( I got George Carlin's voice in my head right now for some reason).

OK, you made the sale. 0bama/Clark 08 it is.

See how easy it is? You just got to be logical.

[Barbyrah]

This choice...w­ould bring me back on board. The others...p­robably not. Bold, creative, intuitively brilliant. Ms. Kennedy represents, in many ways, the values Obama first presented himself as embracing.­..before somehow losing them after clinching the presumptive nominee thing. And...an awesome, simply awesome way to move our country "outside the box" it's been stuck in for decades. Yes.
Thanks ffor writing such a kind-hearted, thoughtful, respectful letter to her, Michael. Much appreciated.

[ShadowfaxinUT]

The first time I heard of this possibility, I said "Whoa!" That would be a bold move, and would be a winner in many ways.The last really fresh ideas from the White House, IMHO were those of her father, and frankly, Obama's philosophies, policies, and position are very reminiscent of JFK.

Now, I'm going to throw a monkeB wrench into this. I don't thin anyone has brought up this possibility, but how about Donna Brazile? Just a thought.

[JoanAustinblack]

I am one of the millions just like you. So don't speak for me. Do I have to remind you that we need to win? If you can just relax and come back to planet earth and understand that we are going to have to compromise to win this thing. Yes it is true that Biden voted for the war, but he has come very clean with his regret for that vote. But we can't always get our way 100% of the time. Would you rather Obama pick some one that would suit your profile and then lose? I hope that the part of our party who are so self righteous and so pious can bend a little bit. We have got to win this thing and we have got to support whom ever Obama picks or we will lose. Don't be a whiny baby. You can't always have your way. Now saying that I do love your idea about Caroline Kennedy. Now that would be a dream ticket.
Don't cause trouble we have enough trouble with the crazy ass republicans who would see your problem with Obama's choice as a wonderful thing. Let's don't let them win.

[ShadowfaxinUT]

I'm sorry, where did you get the idea that I think I'm speaking for you? I said nothing abot Biden or any other of the "front runners." I was only responding to the idea of Caroline Kennedy and throwing in another possibility noone else mentioned.

[ShadowfaxinUT]

I just reread your post, and I have a question. Were you thinking that I'm African American. Just to clarify, as if it should matter, my ethnicity is mostly English, with a touch of Irish, a whisper of German, and rumors of maybe a bit of Native American. I didn't propose Donna Brazile as a black candidate, but as a really wise and "in touch" American who happens to be a Democrat.

[ShadowfaxinUT]

Sorry about the typos. I plead old fat fingers and a really touchy laptop.

[imagine0594]

I would love to see an Obama - Kennedy ticket. The only thing is, I don't know a whole lot about her. I know she has edited a few books ("Profiles in Courage for Our Time" I have read all the way through) and she co-wrote a book about privacy with another lawyer that was pretty good. But I can't just vote for somebody because they're a Kennedy, and I have no idea where she stands on any issue. By the way, John McCain is in "Profiles.­.." and gets a really good review by Albert R. Hunt.

[Pupster]

The one thing Caroline Kennedy has that so many politician don't is that she seems honest. Not completely corrupted as so many of them do.

[condawg]

"seems honest"...­."Not completely corrupted".

Now that's a real example of being damned by faint praise.

On the other hand you might have just been messing with our minds.

[jubei]

CLARK,CLAR­K,CLARK,CL­ARK,CLARK,­CLARK,CLAR­K,CLARK,CL­ARK,CLARK,­CLARK,CLAR­K,CLARK OBAMA/CLARK 08!!!!

[Keith52]

Caroline Kennedy? Uhhh. The Republicans would have a field day with that. She REALLY has no appropriate experience.

[poppaculture]

she'd do worse than the folks in power these last eight years?

[Mando78]

For a parent of small girls, the idea of Caroline Kennedy is the most attractive option jawed about to date. What a great example it would be to show girls and boys that if you focus your energies on helping other people with zero expectation of recognition, you might end up helping to run the country!

I'd love to see what kind of negative ads would surface from the GOP on her -- it would be hard for McCain to look like the traditional family guy and take pot shots at a lady as well respected as her. Great idea Michael.