Count me in
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I’m claiming this as a local story because New York is technically the East Coast. Not only that, Caroline Kennedy comes from a storied Massachusetts family. It’s mine. So, yes, count me in with the rest of the political junkies that think David Paterson is a royal screw up. Tell the GOP to take heart, if he’s a part of the future of the Democratic party there may be hope yet.
Ultimately, I think Caroline Kennedy would have done a fine job. Now, I happen to be a believer that people should be qualified to be in government, but let’s be realistic about what qualifications we’re talking about. What qualifications did Mitt Romney have when he ran for Governor of Massachusetts? What? He was a corporate raider for Bain Capital? Great. That ‘qualified’ argument doesn’t wash for me in this case because, what I’m hearing is that people want candidates whose lives and experiences haven’t been wrapped up in Washington. If that’s the case, then Caroline Kennedy fits the bill.
Now, it was David Paterson’s duty to give this position to the person he felt was most qualified. He made his decision and that was fine. At the end of the day, it’s not who he chose but how he went about doing it. If Caroline Kennedy wants to be on Capitol Hill, she’ll run when she’s ready. What prompted David Paterson’s people to smear Caroline Kennedy even after she had pulled out of the race? You’ve got to wonder what side of the rainbow he and his political allies are working to make false claims to the media about problems in Caroline Kennedy’s taxes and marriage, and some type of issues with a nanny. It’s just another example of what a colossal screw up this guy created out of something that could have and should have been so simple.
Paterson kept this whole process secretive, like something out of the Manhattan Project. The only way anyone could know who had thrown his or her hat in the ring was if it somehow slipped out. Of course it would slip out that Caroline Kennedy was interested. She’s got star power. Then, he complained that Caroline Kennedy didn’t take her case to the people. Well, neither did Kirstin Gillibrand, or Andrew Cuomo, or anyone else who might have been in consideration for the job. That’s because he kept the entire process under wraps. Now, Paterson can use the excuse all he wants that he was protecting the process in case Hillary Clinton wasn’t confirmed, but that’s hooey. The Clinton confirmation was never in doubt. And in the end, this wasn’t just Paterson’s process. It belonged to the people of New York whom Hillary Clinton served.
If David Paterson was trying to boost his star power in the Democratic party, he may have just blown it.
Comment by Tough Call on 3 February 2009:
Gov Patterson of NY seems to be one of the few amongst the Democrats who dictate what happens on the east coast and are really dragging it down,who any real vision. Rather than continue the incestuous rich same name game, look for some talent, like Gov Patterson rather than another elite with “star” power.
Comment by harveymudd on 4 February 2009:
Either way, I think Caroline Kennedy would have done a fine job. People either want an outsider or an insider. They can never make up their minds. The one way to be sure is to support the recent attempts by lawmakers to require special elections to fill these seats rather than gubernatorial appointments. That’s the way to go. Why shouldn’t the contenders have to make their case to the people?