Caroline Kennedy has apparently decided she should be the successor to Senator Clinton when it comes time to fill her soon-to-be vacant U.S. Senate seat.
Kennedy has been taking a lot of criticism for the manner in which she has expressed her interest in the position, criticism that includes the suggestion that she believes she’s entitled to the seat out of deference to her noteworthy political pedigree. Many have fumed that she has no business receiving the job ahead of more seasoned professional politicians with significantly more experience.
While there is some dispute over how much Kennedy has really been “campaigning” for the slot (because of the circumstances, the seat will be filled by NY Governor David Paterson through his appointment selection, rather than through a special election), the truth is that many simply find it audacious that she would even see herself as a viable choice to begin with. The audacity is considered to be all the more offensive precisely because this is not a slot that will be contested through the election process, but rather one that will be filled by the governor’s hand-picked appointment.
I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments of those who so strongly object. What’s funny is, Kennedy has further injured the perception of her by others with respect to this matter by making statements like, “I came into this thinking I have to work twice as hard as anybody else.” Apparently, then, Kennedy herself accepts she’s abjectly unqualified to be a senator – why else would she profess to need to work twice as hard as the rest of the senators?
For Republicans, I think the timing of Kennedy’s quest is great. On the heels of Sarah Palin’s utter drubbing by the mainstream media on the basis of her own perceived lack of experience and qualifications to be vice president, we now have Kennedy who, although taking some shots here and there on the same basis, is by no means absorbing the pounding administered to Palin. That double standard has been ridiculously easy to spot, and has even been noted by many Democrats. Look, we can use all the good ammunition we can get for future engagements.
(In the end, Palin has come by her political credentials honestly and transparently on the field of battle. Kennedy, mystifyingly, has determined that it’s perfectly OK for her to claim a high-profile U.S. Senate seat simply because she wants it, and because she’s, well, a Kennedy.)
I believe the implications here are bigger for Democrats than many may otherwise think. Their savior-elect has yet to formally take office, but must nevertheless now wear, for at least the foreseeable future, the stench associated with classic backroom Illinois Democrat politics. Now, if Democrats (Gov. Paterson, specifically) appoint the neophyte Kennedy to Senator Clinton’s empty throne, it will further embed in the minds of Americans the idea that Democrats are all about nepotism, special favors and backroom deals…right at the outset of the Obama administration. As a Republican, I hope it happens; 2010 is not that far away, and I would love to see as many of the lunatic left thrown out on its collective ears as possible in the mid-term elections; anything to help that come to fruition is just dandy with me.
Caroline Kennedy for U.S. Senator!
Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large – www.ChristianMoney.com
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