This is a very tough question. I feel like I should agree with Kennedy’s critics but then I like the idea of Senator Kennedy so much. Have I fallen victim to the Kennedy mystique? Is there anything to be said for a Senator Kennedy that doesn’t involve some sort of nostalgia for RFK and JFK?
Perhaps – it might make sense to bring in someone trusted as a national figure yet removed from the corruption of politics until now. Caroline Kennedy may be inexperienced, but we should be able to feel confident that she won’t sell out to the highest bidder when controversial issues are on the table, not least of which because she’s rich but also because she has the good Kennedy name to defend.
Of course there’s always higher ambition and I seriously doubt Caroline Kennedy would be interested in just the Senate seat. Might Caroline have her sights on the presidency, as the first female president? It’s way too early for speculation to that effect, but I doubt she hasn’t considered it. In that case, New Yorkers might have a right to be suspicious of Senator Caroline Kennedy.
Nevertheless, I think all candidates for higher office ultimately have some even higher office in mind. Caroline Kennedy seems like a responsible, well-intentioned politician that might pleasantly surprise in the Senate.
To be honest, I haven’t been following this appointment too closely. As a citizen of Illinois, I have had my own senate appointment mess to keep track of. However, my initial concern about a new Senator Kennedy would be that the state of New York has so many qualified and seasoned candidates for the position, that appointing Caroline as the Senator will appear to be nothing other than a quid pro quo for her role in helping Pres. Obama. She may be perfectly qualified, but appearances count.