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Photograph of Caroline Kennedy, with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown at left, by Don Heupel/AP
Caroline Kennedy, currently angling for Hillary Clinton's soon-to-be vacated Senate seat, has answered questions from Politico, the New York Times and the Buffalo News about her political views. Kennedy expressed her support for gay marriage, the Roe Vs. Wade ruling ("which prohibits third-trimester abortions except when the life or health of the mother is at risk") and allowing undocumented workers to legalize their status in the U.S. She also voiced opposition to the Iraq War (and support of President-elect Obama's plans to withdraw from the region) and noted that Nafta "had unintended, negative consequences in some regions of New York."
Some highlights are after the jump, but the Times notes that her "answers described views similar to those of other New York Democrats, including New York’s senior senator, Charles E. Schumer, and Mrs. Clinton," though her apparently support of gay marriage is different from Clinton and Obama. The Buffalo News found her stance on immigration vague (she mentioned the "need to do more to control our northern border"). And Politico writes, "her answers also demonstrated her precarious political position as a Democrat who's also a protégé of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who left the Democratic Party to chart a smoother path to City Hall and for years generously funded the local Republican Party in exchange for their ballot line."
The NY Times also has an article about how some young voters might not know who she is. A twenty-something Borders clerk said, "I’m like, ‘Is she a Kennedy Kennedy, or is this one of the cousins?’ She’s the one with the brother who died in the plane?” At any rate, Rep. Peter King (R-Long Island) believes he'd be able to beat her in 2010, should Governor Paterson choose her for Clinton's Senate Seat. The Daily News reports that King is probably smart to avoid trying to run against Schumer—Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens & Brooklyn) says, "Pete King is not suicidal. It would be a fool's errand to run against Chuck," while Baruch College's Douglas Muzzio says, "Chuck Schumer is a heavyweight, he's a champ."
- The Times asked if she supported the auto bailout passed by the House—"Yes, Caroline supports the auto industry bailout package passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month."
- When asked by the Times, "Do you believe that an undivided Jerusalem must be the national capital of the State of Israel?" the response, "Caroline believes that an undivided Jerusalem must be the national capital of the State of Israel."
- Politico asked, "Do you think Israel should negotiate with Hamas? Do you agree with Israel's Gaza Strip embargo? Would you support an Israeli airstrike on Iran if they felt Tehran's nuclear program represented a threat to their survival?" The response was, "Caroline Kennedy strongly supports a safe and secure Israel. She believe Israel's security decisions should be left to Israel."
- Discussing health care, the Buffalo News reports, "Kennedy, like her uncle, Sen. Edward Kennedy, says expanding the availability of health insurance 'is one of the nation’s most urgent priorities.' Without saying how she would pay for it, Kennedy believes a program must ensure lower costs for all payers and improvements in quality."
- Politico asked, "Do you think Senator Schumer made a mistake when he successfully pushed to have the Glass-Steagall Act repealed, breaking down barriers between securities firms and banks? What priorities would you set for restructuring New York's financial services industry? And which of the current financial regulatory plans would you support?" Her response, "At this time, Caroline does not have a specific plan to fix New York's financial services industry. But, if selected, she will work with President Elect Obama, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Chris Dodd to pass laws that protect investors and working families across New York and the country."
- She told the BUffalo News that she opposes the death penalty.
- Politico asked, "Will you commit to supporting your party's nominee for mayor against Michael Bloomberg in 2009? Did you back the mayor's efforts to suspend term limits?" and Kennedy, who has worked closely with Mayor Bloomberg, declined to answered.
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Uncle Teddy, can I have a Senate seat to play with for Christmas?
Why is it that with every new photo of her during this whole brouhaha, she seems to have aged like 5 more years?
She looks godd for 61, unfortunately she's 51. A little makeup will go a long way. It's one thing to do the natural look when you're young, but cosmetics do help as you age.
She is an amateur with a sense of entitlement.
Americans have a Royalty complex when it comes to the Kennedy's. We see what the British have and we want to emulate that here with the Kennedy's, the Bushes and now with the Clinton's.
I won't bash her credentials though. She's a very smart woman, but this sense of entitlement the Kennedy's have is annoying.
Yeah, she sounds smart when somebody tells her what to say. This state is so fucked
#5 She has no credentials to bash. Good thing she's a democrat; only republican women get grilled over pesky details like qualifications.
She's like an uglier, better educated Sarah Palin. See the strings?
Blah blah blah Israel blah blah blah bailout blah blah blah Uncle Ted blah blah blah working families
She doesn't look bad for 50-something. Yes, caucs do show lines more than the less pigmentally challenged, but what are you going to do? I don't think people would appreciate her appearing in blackface, although the idea has a certain appealingly surreal humor to it. Anyway, a senator should have some maturity. And some other qualifications, like having ever campaigned for election or served as a legislator.
I am especially concerned about the campaigning for election part. What if Giuliani should rise from the undead and begin stalking that Senate seat? Brrr.
I'm intrigued by the TIMES report that younger voters confuse Caroline Kennedy with her late sister-in law. While her charismatic brother dated movie stars and celebrities, he was, according to many published reports, under pressure from his mother to marry a Catholic woman with a professional life of her own. He eventually married a woman with a biography very similar to his mother's and the same name as his sister.
Fate intervened and we have no idea what life might have brought the other Caroline Kennedy. Nonetheless, it's disturbing to see that Ms. Kennedy's Senate "campaign" is so visibly haunted by the ghosts of both her father and her brother's wife. I don't doubt that she would be an effective advocate for New York, but I would prefer to see this prize awarded to an official with proven electoral skills.
Anyway, a senator should have ... some other qualifications, like having ever campaigned for election or served as a legislator.
You mean like Hillary when she ran in 2000?
I would prefer to see this prize awarded to an official with proven electoral skills.
Isn't this how we got to this country's sorry state, that we keep looking for professional politicians?
Isn't this how we got to this country's sorry state, that we keep looking for professional politicians?
So instead we look to political dynasties?
Difference between her and Hillary was only one person decides whether she would become senator, while the entire NYS decided Hil's seat. SAY NO TO NEPOTISM!
Anybody think she would have won an actual election?
Hello? She didn't bother to vote in half the elections. 'nuff said.
A dilettante debutante.
[14] You really should look up the definition of "nepotism" one of these days. It's embarrassing to misuse the word so badly.