Home > Opinion > Bonnie Erbe > Caroline Kennedy Lacks Senate Qualifications, but Her Critics Are Still Sexist

Caroline Kennedy Lacks Senate Qualifications, but Her Critics Are Still Sexist

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the difference hardly implies sexism, obama and the governor were both criticized for their similar light records, not that i even believe a heavy resume is required to be a politician, get some new material

of MA 10:03PM January 05, 2009

Who cares. Its only a two year appointment.
To the writer and other commentators: Who do you think Govenor Paterson should appoint to the temporary position? Most of you dont know the first thing about NY much less its political machine. Name names, or shut the f*k up already.

Michael Cur of NY 1:31PM January 02, 2009

We can debate her qualifications all day long, but I want to know how "prepared" is she to do anything more than vote.; If people think she is prepared for the broader aspects of this job - like articulating her positions and answering questions at a press conference - as well as evaluating and providing solutions to our country's problem]s. I guess I would like to know how she prepared herself.
Right now, she doesn't look too prepared to me. I think her life experiences prepare her more for office at a more local level.

Mary Ok of IL 7:29PM December 31, 2008

I don't have a problem with her "life experience" as a qualifier for public office. What I have a problem with is the assumption that because she's a Kennedy, she deserves more serious consideration for one of the most important political offices in the country before she has ever been elected BY THE PEOPLE for any office whatsoever. I agree with many others who respect her work for the people of New York through her NGO activities, but even if other states have a habit of electing famous people for office just because they're famous, doesn't mean NY should. Especially since she doesn't seem to have much connection with the average citizen of NY state outside of NYC and it's wealthy circle. There are too many capable and deserving people who should be at the front of the line before another Kennedy is handed a Senate seat.

Transplanted Yankee of FL 12:07PM December 31, 2008

And there’s no need to suspect underlying racism, sexism, ageism, or any other kind of “"ism"”.
Hillary Clinton became the Senator with no experience, only the “Clinton Pedigree” - And what a pedigree that was.
Ahnold was a super hero and California is famous for encouraging novelties - Look at San Francisco, the city is a perpetual bacchanal of hedonism.
I seem to recall that Barbara Boxer had little or no experience when she gained her lifelong Senate seat - When we Californians elect a socialist wing nut as a Senator - They stay elected. We’ve got a pair of ‘em - for life.
Take a look at Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Absolutely over the top secular progressive liberal, socialist - But she has company in Breyer and Souter.
Palin was crucified, not because she was a women, but because she did not abort her Down’s baby and believed in the right of the unborn to survive the womb.
Lady Kennedy is being considered for the Senate, not because she’s a woman, but because of her name.
What all these examples have in common is that the sex of the individual wasn’t the issue... and it never should be.... Well, unless we’re talking about “marriage”.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 11:53AM December 31, 2008

Caroline Kennedy could have spoken out on issues important to Democrats and New Yorkers for decades but instead chose to remain silent.
Where was she when people were calling us Anti-American for speaking out against the war?
Where was she when the same people were offering to curb-stomp us for opposing The Patriot Act?
Even when Hillary Clinton was parachuted into NYS to run for the senate, she ran.
She took herself from one dinky upstate town to another. From high school gyms to state fairs to senior citizens homes to town hall meetings with average attendance of 25.
This year Ms. Kennedy found a candidate that excited her and she wants to be rewarded with a senate seat merely because her name is Kennedy.
As a lifelong New Yorker, I'm offended by this and it's got nothing to do with her being a woman.

MysteriousTraveller of NY 11:34AM December 31, 2008

There are only three requirements for being a senator: 1) 30 years old upon being sworn into office, 2) a U.S. resident for at least 9 years previous to being elected, and 3) a resident of the state in which you are running for office. There are no qualifications for previous experience.
By those standards Caroline Kennedy IS qualified to be a New York state senator.
I am so tired of the fuss over Caroline Kennedy wanting to serve her country. She is media shy, that's how she was raised. So what if she overuses the term 'yanno', a habit that can be broken; annoying but NOT an indicator of lack of intelligence or moral character. I am disappointed in her voting record; but again that is not a requirement for the office.
Caroline Kennedy's motives are civic and her desire is to serve. So, let her...

TamaraB of WA 11:26AM December 31, 2008

Didn't Gloria Steinem make the same point about Obama back during the campaign and she was attacked for being racist? You're right -- no one tolerated that argument about Obama, but I fear it will be decades before women get cut the same political slack.
PunditMom
http://punditmom1.blogspot.com

PunditMom of MD 11:10AM December 31, 2008