Caroline Kennedy, in an interview over a cheese and bacon sandwich at a New York diner, speaks of her motivation for seeking the Senate seat of Hillary Clinton. (AP photo by Stephen Chernin)
by Mark Silva
In that limited gene pool that has fueled American politics for several decades now - the Kennedy, Clinton and Bush clans - Caroline Kennedy maintains that she represents an "unconventional choice'' for the New York Senate seat of Hillary Clinton.
"I am an unconventional choice,'' the 51-year-old daughter of President John F. Kennedy told the Associated Press, in her debut on the "sit-down interview'' circuit as she seeks the seat that Clinton is forfeiting to serve as secretary of state for President-elect Barack Obama. "I understand that,'' Kennedy told the AP. "I haven't pursued the traditional path. But I think that in our public life today, we're starting to see there are many ways into public life and public service.''
She is a mother of three, an attorney, best-selling author and activist for education reform. Her children, she says, have been her highest priority for the past two decades. The nation's economic crisis, she says, will consume leaders for years.
"This is going to be a multiyear effort to fix this economic crisis. So in order to be effective, I would plan to stay at it," Kennedy said in an interview at the Gee Whiz diner not far from the World Trade Center in New York. "Between bites of a grilled cheese and bacon sandwich,'' the AP's Larry Neumeister reports, "Kennedy said the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and her work for Barack Obama's presidential campaign inspired her to act on her public service impulses.''
She has asked New York Gov. David Paterson to appoint her to the Senate seat that Clinton will leave if she is confirmed as secretary of state. ""He encouraged me,'' she said. "He said he has a lot of qualified candidates.''
More than a half-dozen elected officials are vying for the seat, including New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and several members of Congress. Kennedy has fielded criticism that she is cutting in line ahead of career politicians, for acting as if her political lineage is an entitlement.
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"Anybody who knows me knows I haven't really lived that way,''' she said. "And I think that in my family, I come into this thinking I have to work twice as hard as anybody else. Nobody's entitled to anything, certainly not me.''
She is heeding a call to service inspired by her father, she says.
""Many people remember that spirit that President Kennedy summoned forth," she said. "Many people look to me as somebody who embodies that sense of possibility. I'm not saying that I am anything like him, I'm just saying there's a spirit that I think I've grown up with that is something that means a tremendous amount to me."
She has only gingerly fielded questions from the press since making her intentions known, for fear of acting as if she is campaigning for the post.
"I was trying to respect the process. It is not a campaign," she said in the interview with AP and New York 1 televsion. "It was misinterpreted. If I were to be selected, I understand public servants have to be accessible."
She offered no excuses for not voting in some elections since registering in New York City in 1988, including in 1994, when Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan was up for re-election for the seat she hopes to take over. "I was really surprised and dismayed by my voting record," she said. "I'm glad it's been brought to my attention."
Comments
Dream on.
Posted by: larrywilcox | December 27, 2008 2:28 PM
The Kennedy family once owned the Merchandise Mart in Chicago.
There is also a John F. Kennedy High School located in Chicago.
Caroline Kennedy is nothing more than a Chicago Machine hack with ties to Blagojevich and Tony Rezko.
Posted by: MJ Logic 101 | December 27, 2008 2:53 PM
Her and Uncle Ted-No way-
Posted by: Inky | December 27, 2008 3:12 PM
Those who feel they aren’t “entitled to anything” normally start off on the ground floor - like alderman, city counsel or a seat in a state legislature - and not at the level of a U.S. Senator. Caroline Kennedy’s late father served three terms in the House of Representatives before running for the Senate. He stood for election for every office he held. The fact that Caroline is attempting to parachute into a Senate seat without running for it tends to belie her claim that she doesn’t feel “entitled.” If she really didn’t feel “entitled to anything,” why wouldn’t she be content to vie for the office of the person appointed to replace Hillary?
Posted by: John W. | December 27, 2008 3:17 PM
Give me a break. Who is she kidding - Caroline Kennedy had no interest in political office unless it is handed to her on a silver platter. Gov. Paterson should appoint a more qualified candidate and then if she is interested, she should campaign for the senate in 2010 and earn it and let the people decide. Hilary Clinton had to earn and campaign for the senate seat and so should Caroline. The fact is she is not qualified and knows she would not be elected by the people. Your uncle and history cannot help yoiu on this one honey but I suppose the Gov. will be pressured by Obama to pick Caroline. Does not deserve it, should not have it. Is not qualified. Does not even vote most of the time. Get real. Good Luck Hillar;y Clinton, we'll miss you in the Senate but we are lucky to have you as Secretary of Sate. Caroliine will never and should never fill your shoes.
Posted by: Jaqueline Burke | December 27, 2008 3:34 PM
Ms. Kennedy would be a very conventional choice in New York politics. There are so many politicians who got where they were by being from political families here.
It's banana republic politics, but it certainly is not unconventional.
Posted by: libhomo | December 27, 2008 3:44 PM
Yes. She is unconventional as a politician. (That means we will have one honest politician in US government.) HORRORS!
"...she is cutting in line ahead of career politicians..." (She has not had the chance to be corrupted - she owes nothing to anyone.) Go Caroline!!
Posted by: Pete Fuller | December 27, 2008 4:05 PM
Hi,
it sounds like Caroline's humility is sincere so she could be an inspiring political figure that can motivate everyday people to get involved which is the highest goal of a public figure
Posted by: Jens Landwehr | December 27, 2008 4:24 PM
The brief snippet of interview I saw on TV was loaded with "uhs" and "y'knows" and "ums" and disjointed sentence fragments, and she came off as a dummy. I'm not saying she's dumb necessarily, but she doesn't do well extemporaneously.
Posted by: MJ | December 27, 2008 4:36 PM
Mark Silva...you are a nut. "she's a best selling author?" Nobody bought her books...look it up! Are trying to compete with Don Fitzgerald...from Chicago?
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | December 27, 2008 7:02 PM
Let's do a poll! How many Swamper's made a bee-line to the book store to get Caroline Kennedy's "best selling--co-authored book" when it hit the stores, 5-4-3-2-1..let's poll!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | December 27, 2008 7:41 PM
Paulo-
Just because your google skills are less sophisticated than your political analysis doesn't mean that you have to inundate the rest of us with your ignorance.
If only one of her books has been on a best-seller list, then she is by definition a best-selling author. I introduce to you evidence A: "The Right to Privacy".
Also, as long as you are being reeducated please check your faulty inductive reasoning at the door: not a single Swamp reader could have bought a Kennedy book, but she could still be a best-selling author.
Paulo, are you trying to compete with Bruce for inane Silva-bashing-comments?
Posted by: FuzzBall | December 27, 2008 8:32 PM
Look it up yourself dumb dumb. Most of her books spent time on my list. And plenty of people bought them.
How did "My Pet Goat" do?
Posted by: New York Times Best Seller List | December 27, 2008 9:09 PM
I don't buy them Paulo, I check them out from the library. Better than those comic books you read.
Posted by: mort | December 27, 2008 9:11 PM
Hey, " FuzzBall ", don't waste your time on a bean-counter, and Bush worshipper.I guess, it's breaking his heart to see his equal, leaving our White House. The best he can do is name-call and take cheap shots, concerning Caroline Kennedy. He's been playing with his google too long. I wouldn't be surprised if he'll be singing President-elect Obama's praises, before his second term !! See, that's what happens, when you champion the Moronic Presidency, you tend to start imitating them !!
Write another book, Caroline and put him in charge of counting the sales, that's his speed !!
Good luck, President-elect Obama !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | December 27, 2008 10:14 PM
You morons are the best! Caroline Kennedy's (best selling author) latest book ranks 793,345 in sales. Drum roll please...ta da!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | December 28, 2008 12:32 AM
Dame Caroline's aristocratic presumption is breathtaking. I've commented about her on my blog:
http://thepurplecenter.blogspot.com/2008/12/dame-caroline-deigns-to-represent-us.html
Posted by: John Burke | December 28, 2008 3:18 AM
Yes, Caroline is unconventional. She donated $2300 to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, then endorsed Obama (Hillary at least has the integrity to have returned the money). Yes, Caroline is conventional. She waited like a good girl to seek public office - heaven forbid that she would seek to serve while raising children - how selfish would that be. Yes, Caroline is conventional - she's trading in on her family name for a public office over those with more distinguished records - and avoiding having voters decide (yeah, just as conventional as Todd Stroger). Caroline, I respect your family's public service, but you need to go back to your Park Avenue home and stay there. You turned on Hillary - you stayed silent on the issue of sexism against Hillary and Palin - you avoid voting - you don't deserve this plum. Let's see if Swamp censors this one, too. I know the authors don't like to hear about sexism on their big boys blog.
Posted by: Bemused | December 28, 2008 6:26 AM
It appears that the media is failing the American people again.
The media should make the same demands of Caroline Kennedy that they made of Sarah Palin.
The media should demand that she sit down to penetrating interviews and release her financial records and tax returns. They demanded this of Governor Palin and they should demand this of Ms. Kennedy.
Posted by: Pat H | December 28, 2008 7:33 AM
After reading these comments, all Caroline would be good for is a rubber stamp for Obama, if ths is what America wants well and good.
Posted by: Inky | December 28, 2008 8:04 AM
Everyone on here has forgotten that it's an appointment she's seeking.
Is she part of the oligarchy? yes. That's who becomes a public official at the national level unless and until we get some campaign finance reform and some publicly funded races.
And at any rate, it's not a vacant position just yet, is it?
Posted by: Untwist thy knickers | December 28, 2008 8:35 AM
I have little doubt that her heart is in the right place, but her timing is horrible.
New York has been hit hard by the downturn. Manufacturing left upstate long ago, and now even the once nearly recession-proof financial community of NYC has been hit hard. The New York electorate has little tolerance for another "celebrity" candidate (as was the case with Hillary, who made the right noises but got little done before turning her attention to her own Presidential bid).
NY needs help, and Caroline's not the answer. And she is presenting herself amazingly badly (the fruit did fall far from the tree) in interviews and is obviously uncomfortable with the attention. She doesn't present herself and/or isn't being handled well.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport ✌ | December 28, 2008 8:47 AM
It appears that the media is failing the American people again.
The media should make the same demands of Caroline Kennedy that they made of Sarah Palin.
The media should demand that she sit down to penetrating interviews and release her financial records and tax returns. They demanded this of Governor Palin and they should demand this of Ms. Kennedy.
Posted by: Pat H | December 28, 2008 7:33 AM
You've got that right-congrats--
Posted by: Inky | December 28, 2008 11:32 AM
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport ✌ | December 28, 2008 8:47 AM
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Yes to all that. But I'll bet a bottle of Laphroaig 10 yr Old Cask Strength Scotch that she gets the appointment.
Posted by: MJ | December 28, 2008 11:36 AM
MJ,
Not a good bet. I'm saying she's not a sure thing like she would have been several years ago, plus her first public performances haven't helped her. There certainly are other candidates keeping a lower profile because they have less to prove -- Andrew Cuomo among them, who ironically, was recently divorced from a Kennedy.
My guess (or maybe wishful thinking) is that she'll get named to a Presidential appointment (after all, she was active in the Obama campaign) to save her any further embarrassment.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport ✌ | December 28, 2008 1:47 PM
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport ✌ | December 28, 2008 1:47 PM
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Yes, I was frankly amazed at how badly she comes off in public. Plus she's reputed to be a very private person, so her heart probably isn't fully in this. Definitely better choices out there.
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On the other side of the ledger is the unique star power of her name (and she's not just any Kennedy, but THE kennedy... JFK's daughter.)
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Not a sure thing either way, i guess.
Posted by: MJ | December 28, 2008 3:17 PM
She actually said "I was really surprised and dismayed by my voting record. I'm glad it's been brought to my attention."
Did she not know there were elections or did she simply forget to vote? Either way this statement makes her seem an idiot. Then on today's news I heard that in her interview on NY1 she used the phrase "you know" 196 times.
I read the transcript of that interview and am now convinced that Caroline Kennedy is intellectually impaired.
Posted by: CAROLE HAGEN | December 28, 2008 3:58 PM
Pat H
The media only makes demands and mocks Republicans, like Sarah Palin.
Democrats, such as Caroline Kennedy, are given free passes by the media.
Posted by: Joe Jankovic | December 28, 2008 5:06 PM
Ms. Kennedy would raise the average intelligence of the senate and lower the average age. We wouild be lucky to get a Senator that has not been bought yet. Ms. Kennedy can be booted out in two years if she is not satisfactory. My opinion is that she is superior to about half the current senators.
Posted by: c. perry | December 28, 2008 6:52 PM
The best post I have seen on Caroline was by radio host Kevin Price of the Price of Business Show. At his www.BizPlusBlog.com he provides one of the most funny and clear explanations of why she should not be chosen Senator.
Posted by: Brent Whitfield | December 29, 2008 1:00 AM