Ever since it was learned that Caroline Kennedy inquired about the Senate seat vacated due to Senator Clinton's appointment to the Obama administration, many have had their say on the issue and what they have had to say is mainly a disparaging caricature of Caroline's inquiry. Suddenly, a famous name and wealth deems one unfit where previously, it was a positive in the name of Hillary Clinton. Suddenly some were concerned about being represented by a native New York City dweller (not representative of the whole state) when previously, not even being in New York state was of no concern. And finally, the caricature of an empty suit unfairly possibly getting a seat she didn't earn (a free one) was born though whomever is appointed will not have gone through an election process either (never mind the hypocrisy of the argument) in order to fill out the term.
Well let's take a look at her and see if she has qualifications or is an empty vessel of star power. She is daughter of a popular former president and the member of a political family (nepotism you want to scream or does this mean in some bizarre way a disqualification?). She is an author and an attorney (and member of the bar of New York and D.C.) which is hardly a disqualification given how many there are in office. She is a co-founder of the Profiles in Courage Award given annually to persons that exemplify courage in the face of obstacles in keeping with her father's book (is this supposed to be akin to ribbon cutting?). She has raised private money for NY City Public Schools (just a $65 million bake sale or is there more to it?) to ease the money crunch. She is also President of the Kennedy Library Foundation, a director on the Commission on Presidential Debates, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and an adivisor to the Harvard Institute of Politics (is this as much of an experienced background as pest control or owning a baseball team?). It doesn't sound as if she is an empty suit to the average ear.
Caroline might even be better qualified than most elected Democrats already serving. What's that you say? Well let's look at two books she co-authored with Ellen Alderman, In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights In Action and The Right to Privacy. It seems she understands the Constitution and the Bill of Rights which would be a big improvement over the many Democrats that allowed and even voted for violations of these rights by the Bush Administration and now refuse to discuss accountability. That would be a Democrat that I would prefer to the weak kneed ones in both Houses of Congress we have had to endure recently. And in this age of governance by think tanks, corporate interests and the revolving door of self enrichment when many leave office and lobby, there would be no inclinations of temptation of this for her given her status. But what she would bring in addition is a desire of public service for the common good. If we are to bring change, it will be through persons such as her that have soundness of soul and rightness of mind.