It is funny, unsurprising and (as usual) irritating to watch Hillary Clinton supporters demean and ridicule Caroline Kennedy. I predict Sen. Clinton will soon have kind words for Caroline, since she is in the "Cabinet of rivals" of Obama and would not want to be seen supporting unfair attacks on Caroline because Caroline supported the man who named Hillary as secretary of State. But let’s be honest, these attacks are not about the Senate. If Caroline is elected and performs well, as I predict she will, Caroline Kennedy would be a very credible candidate for president in 2016, as Hillary was in 2008.
Truth is, I always credited Hillary's experience as first lady as having some experiential value for the presidency. Equally, I credit Caroline Kennedy's experience with similar value, plus her longstanding support for constitutional rights and educational reform, among other things. These cheap-shot attacks on Caroline are both ridiculous and offensive. I would put her qualifications to be senator as strong by comparison to many senators and equal to Hillary's qualifications (I supported Hillary for the Senate when she first ran).
Caroline is a diligent worker, with many years of experience on issues of importance, with a dignity and integrity and idealism that is unquestioned. She has all the qualifications to be a strong senator, as Clinton did, and was. She will have enormous influence in the Senate and the clout to get things done for New York. She will be a powerful fundraiser and vote-getter as a candidate and a compelling voice for many who are voiceless today.
These cheap-shot attacks on her are annoying, but not surprising. I hope the governor names her, and if he does, all of the critics can run against Caroline in 2010 if they choose. I predict if this happens she will blow them all away, but they have every right to run against her, and let the people choose.
This article first appeared on The Hills' Pundit Blog. Click here to see the Hill's comments to this article.
