[Rhodes22-list] Political- Caroline's disappointing day.

[Ben Cittadino]

Folks;

In the article posted below a reporter is said to have asked Ms. Kennedy
what she would say about her qualifications for the job of US Senator from
NY. Surely she knew the question would come, and surely she must have
thought about her answer. It is reported that "an aide" stopped her from
responding. What's up with that?

I was 14 years old when her father was killed, and a sophomore in high
school. I was just getting interested in politics and government. I know now
he was deeply flawed, but we loved him and were terribly affected by his
death.  I wanted so much for her to do well, but I must say this is not an
auspicious beginning.

Somebody joked that this was just a strategy to keep her cousin Kerry's
ex-husband Andrew Cuomo from getting the job. I dimissed it, but now I'm not
so sure.

How do you not answer reporters who ask the obvious question in this
circumstance? Who the heck is advising her? What a letdown.


NYTimes Online 12/17/08
In Appearance Upstate, Kennedy Says Little 
By JEREMY W. PETERS and NICHOLAS CONFESSORE
SYRACUSE — In a carefully controlled strategy reminiscent of the
vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, aides to Caroline Kennedy interrupted
her on Wednesday and whisked her away when she was asked what her
qualifications are to be a United States senator.

In her first public appearance since letting it be known that wants to
succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ms. Kennedy emerged from a closed-door
meeting with Matthew J. Driscoll, the mayor of Syracuse, where about a dozen
reporters were waiting. 

She offered a 30-second statement saying that she would respect the process
undertaken by Gov. David A. Paterson to fill the vacancy.

Then, as reporters asked why Ms. Kennedy was seeking the Senate seat and
whether she was ready, she did not answer, then walked away, heading toward
a waiting black sport-utility vehicle.

When one reporter asked what she would tell New Yorkers who question whether
she has the qualifications for the job, Ms. Kennedy, 51, started to respond.
But then an aide stopped her from saying more, and led her to the waiting
vehicle.

“Hopefully I can come back and answer all those questions,” she called out
as she got into the S.U.V.

It was the first stop in an orchestrated tour of upstate New York. Ms.
Kennedy has plans to visit with officials in Rochester and, possibly,
Buffalo, a first stab at getting skeptical upstate voters used to the idea
of being represented in Washington by yet another down-stater.

The area has already expressed wariness of her, with some officials and
newspapers questioning her abilities.

The tour has been kept somewhat secretive, reflecting, in part, the delicacy
of the situation. No schedule was given, though details percolated rapidly
through political circles in New York. An aide accompanying her said she was
headed to Rochester after Syracuse, but declined to say where.

Technically, there is no seat open, since the current holder, Senator
Clinton, has not yet been confirmed to be secretary of state. And there can
be no true campaign, since there is no true election: the only vote that
counts if that of Governor Paterson.

In her brief statement, Ms. Kennedy said: “As some of you may have heard, I
told Governor Paterson I’d be honored to be considered for the position of
United States senator. There’s a lot of good people in this community that
the governor is considering. He’s laid out a process and I’m proud to be
part of that process.”

As the S.U.V. pulled out of downtown Syracuse, she gave a wave and a smile
to the disappointed reporters who had gathered. 


Ben C.
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