Send Caroline Kennedy to Court of St. James

(UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown receiving bust of John F. Kennedy from Caroline Kennedy)

Caroline Kennedy is having a rough time convincing fellow New York-based Dems that she's good for them. If she really, really wants to be in the rough and tough of hard scrabble politics -- and show us all what she is made of -- I wish she had decided to enter the political fray via election rather than appointment.

George W. Bush and Richard Cheney abused this democracy, built an imperial presidency, emasculated Congress, launched an illicit war, spied in massive proportions on American citizens, authorized torture as a tool in interrogations. They ruined what "democracy" means in the eyes of many American citizens -- but also for many around the world who want to knock back their totalitarian governments and achieve some form of real democracy and self-determination.

To succeed the Bush era with a high profile appointment of the untested, iconic Caroline Kennedy does not bolster the Democratic Party's message that democracy at home needs to be rebuilt and revitalized.

Caroline Kennedy's first efforts to sell herself to New Yorkers -- but also to make herself look like a compelling choice other than having a good "brand name" to Americans at large -- has not gone well.

Barack Obama should stop this grilling and torment that is being prepared for Kennedy and all who helped push her candidacy for "appointment" by offering Kennedy the Court of St. James, the U.S. Ambassadorship to Great Britain.

Kennedy has an outstanding record of public service to those in need, and she is savvy about the who's who of the political world. In fact, she's playing the role of Ambassador on behalf of her father's memory and her clan for a long time -- while maintaining a tight lid on her private affairs. She's incredibly "ambassadorial" already.

Caroline Kennedy would perform well in London and could help to bolster Obama's relationship with the UK and with Europe more squarely -- something that is vital. If she did a superlative job in her role, she might be able to translate that into some kind of compelling campaign to later "run" for public office.

But seriously, Obama should make Caroline Kennedy his ambassador to Great Britain.

There have been rumors that outgoing Senator Chuck Hagel has been discussed by some close to Obama for this role in London -- but in my view, this would be a waste of Hagel's considerable talents at a macro-level on American foreign policy. Hagel should wait for appointment as Secretary of State or as a top envoy for some form of global negotiations.

Kennedy would be perfect in London.

-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note

Comments

[Jake88]

GOOD IDEA!!!! I really think that she doe NOT have the bona fides to justify the appointment to a very high profile senate seat. And such an appointment would smack of the "old boys network" in action.

[meko]

I was thinking that an appropriate reward for 6 weeks of campaigning on behalf of Obama and a bit of fundraising would be ambassador to Bermuda or some island in the Caribbean.

[dgscol]

If she mentions concerns about "privacy" for the common man, and a concern about non-representation of politicians in Washington, as a prima facies abrogation of the US Constitution,

I would be for her.

[meko]

And this differs from people with more experience how?

[onedirector]

I can't believe that so many people got sucked into the "Caroline's not qualified" crap-ola.
1) Who on this planet would refuse to take her call?
2) She knows everybody,
3) and almost everybody owes her a favor.
. . . If that's not qualified, what is?

Congress and the Senate are full of eunichs with outsized egos who cannot seem to put 2 and 2 together unless sum means a campaign contribution for themselves. (That brings up another qualification: Caroline doesn't need the money.)

She might flop, but hell, let her try. At least she has a potential to succeed. Shut up all the ignorant and jealous commentary. It only goes to distract from the important questions about the crooks on Wall Street, the incompetents in Detroit and the war criminals in Washington--or is that the idea?

[meko]

The reason not to go with the newbie? There are people who are better qualified who've demonstrated their abilities. Being able to get people to take her call is important in fundraising, but being a senator is not just about fundraising. It's supposed to be about advocating legislation. It's supposed to be about representing your state.

Caroline Kennedy couldn't even be bothered to vote in many recent elections.

The other people being considered aren't vague politicians. They are specific people. Byron Brown, Carolyn Maloney, Elizabeth Holtzman, Thomas Suozzi, Nydia Velazquez, Kirsten Gillibrand, Steve Israel. They aren't embroiled. They aren't war criminals. They've proposed legislation that benefits all of us. And they've gotten it enacted. In short, they've done something and they've achieved results.

There's no need to go with a neophyte.

And I really resent the idea that people who don't need the money are inherently more honest than anyone else. I think that the recent crises on Wall Street have demonstrated that greed can be found in all social classes.

[Grubstreet]

The point isn't that the rich are honest. The point is that they can afford to vote for what they believe, not what will boost their campaign funds. I'm not sure it's particularly persuasive (since some rich people believe in and will vote for quite alarming things) but it's an opinion that deserves to be recognised, not deliberately misconstrued.

[bignerd]

Caroline Kennedy belongs in the Senate. Any thinking Democrat should get in line for this one.

She doesn't need the money - so she can't be bribed.

She has lived in the bubble since day 1 - so she should have no problems dealing with the morons in the media.

Her bloodlines are as good as it gets. With Ted Kennedy passing away before us. She should be the one to take the torch.

The Kennedys have had their issues, but no family means more to the Democratic party than this one.

This party has set the tone for the liberal agenda fo decades.

The party needs her as part of the brand name.

[RealityCheque]

Congrats, you get the party over principle award! Qualifications and policy don't matter. Branding is what we are after and the Democratic Brand must be put above policy or even the nation.

[JJK]

Correction to my immediately preceding comment: Joseph Kennedy was Caroline Kennedy's Grandfather. Typo. Sorry.

[corwin]

If CKS were appointed by the governor,NY state Republicans-after first pinching them selves to make sute they were awake,would start plans for -taking the seat in 2 years.She really doesn't seem very erudite,hasn't been able to frame a reason why she wants this and wouldn't be able to duck the press and possibly a debate or two.Given the fact NY is going to be in more trouble than most,those in office will be vulnerable.Having a mega rich,accomplishment free senator would be a recipe to lose the seat.

[noneIn2008]

Good fit to have her work with other royalty. When did the Democratic party become the party of royalty and big money?

[gigimn]

I don't know why all of you just can't leave Caroline alone..sorry the days of waiting your turn
ended long ago ask Obama.
Che sera sera....

[ivyhouse]

It's St. Jamses's, not St. James,

[Grubstreet]

St Jamses's? If you're going to be pedantic, at least get it right. Try St James's

[TommyMcCarthy]

correct

[ivyhouse]

You are right -- sorry, it was late, I am old, and I was typing on my lap . . Wish they would fix it!

[kimleehan]

Everybody was wondering why he picked Hillary for secretary of state, well its obviuse now, he was freeing up the senate seat for Caroline Kennedy, in appreceation for indorsing him. I guess he thought she would be a shoe in. Well The best laid plans of mice and men.

[VictorLudorum]

Gordon Brown's a non important person, who was trade minister of uk while the trade went embezzle trezzle and banking frauds and official corruption reached highest point!

[gevan]

Caroline K. Schlossberg to London? Wouldn't that be even more of a "legacy" to appoint her to Grandpa Joe's old job?

[squander123]

Hmm. Leaving aside the debates about Caroline Kennedy's appropriateness for a Senate seat, this column does lead to another important debate, which is whether the US ought to reform the way it runs its diplomatic corps. It is almost unique among developed countries in using diplomatic appointments as a reward system for political loyalty/fund-raising, rather than maintaining a professional non-party-political diplomatic corps as part of its senior civil service.

Could this be one of the reasons that American foreign relations are - shall we say - not what they ought to be? Over the last decade, I've met one or two of the US ambassadors to the country I live in. Some of them have been pretty polished and sophisticated individuals: and some haven't. One particular individual, the CEO of a company and member of a family dynasty long associated with political fund-raising for the Bush family, springs to mind as a horrifying example of what this system can lead to.

Among the many, many other things Obama needs to do, he might consider creating a professional diplomatic corps comparable to those of other western countries...

[texun]

For the record: most ambassadors are career diplomats, in part because some of the postings are so bleak that no fat-cat donor would want any of them.

[billw8017]

This is a bit unhinged, and reminds me of Dick Morris' prediction that Condi Rice would be the Republican nominee for President. People who take this so seriously that they find a conspiracy of some sort in it are, of course, modeling their tin foil hats.

Caroline Kennedy would make a good ambassador to a major embassy. The foreign leaders would know, in contrast to the secretaries who make appointments, schedule the points of discussion, and carry in the tea and cookies, she has a personal relationship of mutual obligations with the President.

Does she want it? What would it mean to her family? Would her appointment undercut the Secretary of State whose Presidential campaign she opposed? Possibly she considers the Senate a good post to continue her activism on behalf of the New York schools and being sent out of the country brings that to an end.

[billw8017]

My start (above) is not clearly what I meant. Squander123 enters the discussion seriously though i disagreed just a little on his side point. Steve Clemons' recommendation was the one I thought to have no particular relationship to realities. Even that was the kind of thing that though it is foolish to call it news; say, you were in a meeting where such things are decided, it would be a choice worth raising.

[TommyMcCarthy]

I enjoy Steve Clemons writing even when we don't agree point-by-point.
This piece however puzzles and even disappoints me im afraid.
However one feels about Ms. Kennedy for the U.S. Senate Steve has made several assertions here that....well... simply are not borne out by the facts

Steve claims that Ms. Kennedy's efforts to win over New Yorkers "has not gone well". Let's leave aside the fact that New Yorkers are already "won over" when it comes to Ms. Kennedy.
Following Steves link..we come to a story in one of THE most conservative (pronounced Re-pub-li-can) papers in America; The Washington Times...quoting a story in the N.Y. Daily News (motto: "New York's Picture Newspaper") that claims that "many Democrats" are concerned with Ms. Kennedy's lack of donations to local Democratic candidates...having contributed a mere $30,000 over the last decade or so.

The only DIRECT quote is from one John Liu D-Queens running for something called public advocate who finds Ms. Kennedy's "Democratic credentials fuzzy" as says he would be more "comfoted" knowing Caroline was "truly upholding Democratic Values"! (I'm not making this up)

A link in Steves assertion that Ms. Kennedy is having a "rough time" convincing what he calls "N.Y. based Dems. leads to a WaPo article largely concerned with Mayor Bloombergs recent campaign a and a quote from (you guessed it) Councilman John Liu ,...who the Post describes as having "clashed with Bloomberg.


continued....
Tm

[TommyMcCarthy]

continued....

I will admit forthrightly that I have been a great admirer of Caroline Kennedy's for many, many years.

It is only my high regard for the achievements of Mr. Clemons and the many postings of his I have previously enjoyed that tempers what I can only describe as OUTRAGE at what I take to be his central thesis here.

Steve expresses the wish that Ms. Kennedy had proposed herself for the Senate via the electoral process rather than appointment partly in order to " show us all what she is made of".

He then proceeds to eloquently excoriate the outgoing administration for it's manifold missdeeds and correctly summarizes this lawlessness as having "ruined what Democracy means"...for millions of Americans and millions more worldwide with Democratic aspirations.

He then suggests.....no.... he baldly staes that the appointment of Ms. Kennedy "..does not bolster the Democratic party's message that democracy at home needs to be rebuilt and revitalized"!!!

To say the least ...I could not POSSIBLY disagree more. The appointment of SOMEONE by the governor is precisely that....part of a PRE-existing democartic mechanism that predates Ms. Kennedy putting herself forward, the President-elect's selection of Sen. Clinton for his cabinet, or this election cycle. This is why elections matter...even Gubernatorial ones.

And to equate the appointment of Caroline Kennedy with the lawlessness of the outgoing administration is simply an outrage at which I (and I'm sure Ms. Kennedy and many other Democrats)take great umbrage.

cont'd
tm

[TommyMcCarthy]

Like Ms. Kennedy, I'm a native of the Empire State...But I've lived elswhere for many years...ulitimately it's up to Gov. Paterson and New Yorkers. I should add here that I'm also an admirer of AG Cuomo as I was his father and believe he too would make a fine Sen.

If "N.Y.-based Dems" is defined as registered Democrats in NYS...the Ms. Kennedy is the overwhelming favorite..despite the grumblings of a handful of machine pols. and with good reason...she is best equiped to represent the interests of the empire state.
(See the EXCELLENT comment by "Tilden"..just below)

And if Mr. Clemons is interested is sending that message of revitalivation to the millions beyond our shores...there is no better candidate than Caroline Kennedy.

WE don't need her to "show us what she is made of"......we've known her for nigh on a half-century....and we don't find her committment to democratic principles "fuzzy" at all.....In fact ....they are in perfect order. On that score...she is more qulified than AT LEAST 42 incumbent Senators right now!

I hope New Yorkers will not miss this historic opportunity to have an effective representative and a great ambassador; not to the Court of St. James but to the world.

For now, Steve and I will have to agree to disagree
Regards
tm