Why is Caroline Kennedy on Obama's search team?

[Onlooker]

I have nothing against her, but she is a dilettante. She holds various prestigious positions, but I'm not under the impression she does much of the real work. She's a figurehead. She's lived the life of a very rich person and dabbles at her leisure in various interesting activities. I don't understand why Obama would have her on his search team. If anything, he should have made her honorary head of his search team. That's the kind of thing she's good at.

Any thoughts why he chose her?

On edit: Do people know about her? Why the kneejerk defense of her? I have nothing against her, but it seems to me she's mostly written books about how great family is, wrote a few specialized books that have little to do with American politics, and sits on some boards of important organizations. Why would he choose her to be on his VP search team? I think there are zillions of better choices.

[Shakespeare]

1. Dilettante? You don't know a thing about her, do you?

This, for starters:

http://www.amazon.com/Right-Privacy-Ellen-Alderman/dp/0679744347/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213225917&sr=1-6

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Defense-C-Kennedy/dp/0380717204/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213225917&sr=1-10

[Onlooker]

9. Exactly, look at her books

She's mostly involved in preserving the family legacy, which is fine, but it hardly qualifies her to choose Obama's VP.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=caroline+kennedy&x=0&y=0

[Shakespeare]

14. You think the couple of Kennedy-oriented books somehow negate her books on the Constitution?

Okay, then. Don't even know what else to say to that.

[Onlooker]

23. I don't understand why he chose her to be on his search committee

She has not done much to my knowledge since the early 90s with Constitutional Law and, besides, I'm not sure what that has to do with selecting a VP. She has not struck me as someone who's been especially visible and active in the necessary political circles. Maybe he's doing this to give her visibility. Maybe she's thinking of running for office? I think she lives in New York. Maybe she's going to run against Clinton? But, I do think she's a strange choice for the VP search committee.

[Shakespeare]

25. Again, she's a constitutional scholar, as well as a working attorney, writer and editor.

She's also the president of the JFK library, which is a serious job. She probably knows more about presidential politics than anyone around.

Just because YOU don't know much about her career doesn't mean she's not qualified to be on the search committee. Really, you should educate yourself a little before you post stuff like this.

[saracat]

47. She isn't a "working attorney". Just for the record

[Shakespeare]

51. In her capacity as a president and board member, she is.

She's not practicing on an attorney/client basis within a law firm, but she's still a working attorney.

[saracat]

59. As both my parents were "attorney's" that is a fine line. I like Caroline but

she is more of a "legal scholar" than a "practicing /working attorney.Oddly the one who actually "worked" as a "practicing attorney " was JFK Jr"The hunk that flunked" in the Manhattan DA'a office. Go figure?

[saracat]

69. I think it is a "vote getting " PR move on his part. And pretty smart. She doesn't

have to DO anything. They just want the name out there.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

96. Maybe he wanted Teddy on there and she's representing him....

n/t

[cali]

2. You have chosen the most negative possible interpretation

of her, and put her down in a nasty, petty, ugly way. I wouldn't even bother trying to discuss her with you. You don't know her and Obama does. And she's been very active in choosing who to give the Profiles in Courage award to for many years.

[Onlooker]

6. Well that's at least an answer

She has done good work there, but I'm really not sure what makes her especially qualified to choose Obama's VP. I live in Massachusetts and I do know a thing or two about the Kennedy's (and I'm huge fan of Ted), but Caroline has basically shied away from the limelight and lived a fairly quiet life. Whenever I read about her, her name seems to come up in passing, not for some specific achievement.

[Shakespeare]

10. She's a scholar of constitutional law.

And a very good one.

[romana]

97. Not really

There was nothing ugly, nasty, or a put down directed at either Obama or Caroline Kennedy in the OP. The OP asked the same legitimate question I had when I heard he'd put Caroline Kennedy on his VP search committee. I assumed he'd put her there as a stand in for Teddy, but it still seemed an odd choice.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Because she is an educated and knowledgeable person

who has worked all of her life, even if you don't think so...without you having given any backup for that statement, I would add.

I find your entire approach disparaging and filled with an agenda, no matter that it is veiled.

Kennedy is an attorney, editor, and writer. She is one of the founders of the Profiles in Courage Award, given annually to a person who exemplifies the type of courage examined in her father's Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name. The award is generally given to elected officials who, acting in accord with their conscience, risk their careers by pursuing a larger vision of the national, state or local interest in opposition to popular opinion or powerful pressures from their constituents. In May 2002, she presented an unprecedented Profiles in Courage Award to representatives of the NYPD, the New York City Fire Department, and the military as representatives of all of the people who acted to save the lives of others during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.<3>

Kennedy is currently President of the Kennedy Library Foundation,<4> a director of both the Commission on Presidential Debates and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and Honorary Chairman of the American Ballet Theatre. She is also an adviser to the Harvard Institute of Politics, a living memorial to her father.

Kennedy and Ellen Alderman have written two books together on civil liberties:

In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights In Action (1990) and
The Right to Privacy (1995)
On her own, she has edited these New York Times best-selling volumes:

A Patriot’s Handbook
The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children
Profiles in Courage for Our Time
She is also the author of "A Family Christmas" a collection of poems, prose and personal notes from her family history.

She took the New York Bar and Washington, D.C. Bar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Kennedy

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TheWraith]

4. She probably knows almost everyone in American politics personally, for starters.

She's also a lawyer who's highly versed in issues of civil rights and civil liberties.

[saracat]

63. She has tried to keep a really low profile and isn't really politically oriented.

I doubt she "knows everyone in American politics personally" nor would she want to. I think John Kerry was the first candidate ashe ever campaigned for. Jackie didn't want her kids involved in politics and Caroline inherited her lack of enthusiasm.She herself has often stated both her lack of enthusiasm for the political arena and her own abhorrence of the spotlight. And who could blame her?

[dailykoff]

77. She gave a bang up speech at Kerry's convention,

Gore's too if I recall correctly. Keep meaning to check but I'm pretty sure she spoke both times, and really well -- better than Teddy in fact!

[TheWraith]

78. Having a low profile doesn't mean she doesn't know people.

She's part of a very famous political dynasty, and her uncle is one of the longest serving Senators in American history. I imagine that even avoiding politics in general, she'd be personally familiar with a huge number of people in the political arena, on a social level if nothing else. That could tell you a lot about a person's character, and how they act, beyond just their resume.

[saracat]

88. So are a lot of people. And many know a lot of people on a "social level "too

My guess is a lot of her cousins know a lot more about these folks than she does and my guess is she doesn't socialize with them all that much.

[karynnj]

92. She worked on Kerry's 1972 campaign

and spoke of bicycling from school to do so. She has spoken at Democratic conventions before. It really doesn't matter if she knows everyone - it does matter whether she is a good judge of character and knows the right questions to ask. Not to mention, they know her and, for most Democrats, have a positive opinion. She might actually do better than the people who did the job in 2000 and 2004. (In 2004, the problem that someone outside the beltway might have picked up was that Edwards really had difficulty acting as a number 2. This did lead to things like him refusing to use the campaign slogan. It is important that the VP understands the role and is comfortable with following. The problem in 2000 was Leiberman.)

At any rate, in addition to the team - they are investigated and I'm sure the combinations polled. I'm sure Kennedy would be as competent looking through that as anyone.

[Connie_Corleone]

5. You could've looked on a google and found out a little about her.

[MasonJar]

7. That analysis of Caroline Kennedy is so far off base as to be laughable.

She is a recognized expert in museum art and has worked diligently in the field as well as the author of at least one book. What of that quality have you done to criticize her?

[Onlooker]

12. What does that have to do with selecting a VP?

Most of her books are about how great the Kennedys are, and early on she wrote a couple of specialized books. Like I said, she dabbles in things that interest her.

[hokies4ever]

18. She isn't selecting a V.P.

just doing a lot of work investigating the lives of the different candidates. Looking through tax returns, potential October surprises, finding out what their political peers REALLY think about them. Obama will be selecting a V.P., plain and simple.

[az chela]

8. I think she will be out in front for Teddy as he

can be advising her on his behalf and Obama thinks very highly of Ted

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

71. Bingo, we have a winner! n/t

[Drum]

11. I vehemently disagree with your portrayal of her,

for the same reasons that others have more eloquently put forth---and with more patience than I could---elsewhere in this thread.

[Mike Nelson]

13. I though it was an odd choice, too...

she always seemed "above' coming out for someone early on.
Why did the Kennedys all declare for Obama or Hillary...
maybe she's going to seek a stronger profile for herself in the party.
I'd welcome that.

[EffieBlack]

86. Among all of her other accomplishments, that have been laid out here, Caroline Kennedy is probably

one of the most discreet and least politically ambitious person anyone could imagine. Given her knowledge, contacts, observations and keen intellect, these qualities probably make her an IDEAL person to assist Obama in his VP search.

[hokies4ever]

15. "Discrete tasks"

It's pretty clear that they are kind of like information gatherers. Tasked when talking to lots of people about the V.P. candidates and investigating their financials amongst other things. It's not like he's named her to his cabinet or something. This is a great opportunity to get the Kennedy's involved in his campaign.

[KoKo]

16. CREDIBILITY? So we wouldn't get that the other two were "sort of folks who have some problems?"

:shrug: Maybe it was felt that Caroline might be able to "over ride" their Rec's? :shrug:

[Name removed]

17. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[grassfed]

19. phony post with a slimy agenda

[me b zola]

57. I believe that Caroline is on the "enemy" list

;)

[crankychatter]

94. thank-you - it's bait - it's an attack on the nominee's judgement bringing up a Primary resentment

a primary, which is OVER

[Cha]

21. Just because you say she's a dilettante doesn't make it so.

I trust Obama's judgement.

[TahitiNut]

22. "zillions of better choices"??? Do you mean "brazilians," George?

:eyes:

[wpelb]

24. Wikipedia article on her

According to Wikipedia, these are the works she's published:

Kennedy and Ellen Alderman have written two books together on civil liberties:

• In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights In Action (1990) and
  
• The Right to Privacy (1995)

On her own, she has edited these New York Times best-selling volumes:

• A Patriot’s Handbook
  
• The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
  
• A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children
  
• Profiles in Courage for Our Time

She is also the author of "A Family Christmas" a collection of poems, prose and personal notes from her family history.
She took the New York Bar and Washington, D.C. Bar.

She doesn't seem to have done a lot that qualifies her to be on a running-mate selection committee. On the other hand, what exactly would qualify a person to serve on such a committee?

[dailykoff]

26. Replacement for Ted who is sick?

That's my guess but she's also got a sterling rep so why not?

[fadedrose]

87. Taking Ted's place is what I thought too... nt

[MonkeyFunk]

27. What qualities do you think she's lacking

to perform this job?

She's smart, capable, well-known, well-liked, well-respected, well-connected and personally above reproach.

What quality is she missing?

[Onlooker]

30. A relevant area of expertise

Perhaps expertise in history, in political circles (such as the kind of expertise an ex-Congressperson might have), in the workings on the White House, etc.

[JuniperLea]

36. You can't possibly think...

She doesn't have a massive political personal contact list! All roads lead to a Kennedy.

[MonkeyFunk]

38. are you serious?

this is a joke, right?

[grantcart]

32. Again you have completely missed . . . oops sorry 100% correct and well said

Its going to take me a few days but I will adjust.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

82. Can she make balloon animals?

I don't know that it's relevant, but it IS a skill.

But seriously, I've never actually seen a job description for Veep Vetter, so I really can't say if she's qualified or not. I would think that political knowlege and being perceived as impartial are two top qualities - and I think she has both of those.

But being able to make balloon animals would really put her over the Obama's kids...

[blondeatlast]

28. So someone found the "Occupational Outlook Handbook" 'Vice-Presidential Choice

Vetter' entry at last! Do I still have a chance? Could you critique MY resume?

[hedgehog]

29. Good question because I was wondering myself. The answers here show her to be a good choice.

She is someone used to evaluating people who doesn't owe any favors and who has an insider's knowledge of who's who.

[Raven]

31. My dear, you have this all wrong. C. Kennedy was the daughter

of a President who was brutally gunned down when she was very young and hardly knew him. She grew up in a fishbowl with the mega rich and had the good sense and grounding to make something of herself in her own right. My father was on the original Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Library, in fact, he incorporated it. He was a close friend of JKF and spent many hours with C after her father died. They used to walk in the Boston Common together and she would share the trials of her life with him. She picked the Boston Common because she didn't want the Press attention. She struggled to live a normal life, away from the limelight. She was especially concerned that her kids would grow up normally. She has done better that most of us could have done. She is a good, solid woman and someone whose judgment I would trust. Her scholarly work is excellent, well researched and documented. Can you or I say the same for our accomplishments in life so far?

[H2O Man]

37. Best answer.

Thank you.

[dailykoff]

40. I wonder if she's in charge of the women?

Signaling that he's actively considering one as a veep?

[Raven]

43. Good question! I think she would certainly be good a vetting

people and Obama needed a woman on his search team...none better than C.

[dailykoff]

80. I think her kids are in college now or nearly

so maybe she's decided to take a higher profile nationally.. I hope so!

[JuniperLea]

42. Well said, Raven

I can't imagine someone, anyone, NOT taking a call from Caroline Kennedy. The name alone will open doors to information for this vetting process.

[Stephanie]

52. And Bloomberg appointed her to head up fundraising for the NYC public schools

A job she's done brilliantly, for no pay.

[blondeatlast]

53. Best. Reply. Ever. Thank you, Raven. nt

[Onlooker]

58. Thank you

That's a very convincing response.

[saracat]

66. Amen. You have made the point I was trying to make very succinctly.

Caroline is not a political animal but is a "solid citizen" none the less and very accomplished.And is a very "private person".

[madrchsod]

73. well your post saved me from being very rude

to the author of this thread....why would anyone doubt her and obama`s judgement

[Forkboy]

76. Can't put it any better than that.

[JuniperLea]

33. She knows everyone... absolutely everyone...

And during this vetting process, she is very valuable (and would be to any candidate) asset for research. She probably already has all the phone numbers in her personal contacts.

Despite your stammering objections to the otherwise, you obviously do have something against her, or you would have bothered to think about this a bit, and do a little Googling.

She's not "choosing" a VP... she is on the team that will vet all the VP candidates.

Jeez.

[Tatiana]

34. Great thread

:popcorn:

[JuniperLea]

45. Indeed!

The OP is a POS, but the responses are rockin'!

Here... you'll need more than that!

[Life Long Dem]

35. You just said it yourself

She's honorary head as a figurehead of his search team because she is a dilettante. Besides maybe Obama has a crush on her? :shrug:

[Blue-Jay]

39. ?

[jumptheshadow]

41. She is a brilliant choice

She is a brilliant and deep woman who has inherited the Kennedy passion for community service as well as her mother's grace.

She is deeply respected by many of the Democrats and independents who will be needed to open their pocketbooks and hearts for Obama.

She has lived a well-rounded life as a mother, a lawyer, an author and a committed internationalist and philanthropist.

She has stayed away from the partisan fray while taking stands on issues -- and a candidate -- she believed were pivotal to our nation.

Her presence on the selection committee gives Obama's selection more credibility simply because she has not been part of the factionalism of the past 15 years.

Her dedication to community service might be a throwback to "older America," but it is a concept that needs to be revisited.

She would make an amazing Supreme Court justice.

She has the potential for being the greatest Kennedy of them all.

[JuniperLea]

44. Another wonderful post!

Well done.

[Raven]

46. Boy! I second that! Great post indeed! n/t

[dailykoff]

48. That's a good argument for putting her on the ticket

Which would make me very happy!

[TahitiNut]

61. She also has a track record of placing character and integrity above partisan zeal.

Even though well-oriented in an ideological sense, she's not blind to personal integrity and character. That's a trait that's altogether too rare in political circles.

[woolldog]

49. because he trusts her judgment.

Isn't that enough? Do you need some other special qualifications I'm not aware of to vet VP candidates?

[Oleladylib]

50. You are absolutely correct...It's all in name recognition.

[Raven]

54. All name recognition? No substance? You obviously haven't

followed this woman's life. I guess we all have to be media freaks to get some attention and respect?

[Oleladylib]

101. ummmmm....watched her stand at the foot of her father's casket..

and have followed her closely...respect her ...she's just not qualified...yet. Hero/Heroine worship is going to come back to haunt democrats.

[Blue-Jay]

55. Tell us what you know about her.

Or is that what you just did?

[blondeatlast]

60. You too, found the ethereal "Vice Presidential Choice Vetter" job description;

I've Googled it to no avail. What's the secret? :shrug:

Would you share it with your fellow libs?

[muryan]

95. You should read some of the previous posts

They destroy your argument by showing what an astounding woman she truly is.

[Oleladylib]

102. I don't dipute her astoundingness..just her ability to fill the position AT THIS TIME

[Carrieyazel]

56. Good question. I respect Caroline, but is she qualified to do this?

This VP search team has put Obama on the defensive. I don't get the choices on this committee.

[blondeatlast]

62. Yet another one with the job description. Will someone please provide a link?

I'd very much like to see the info as well...

Your concern is appreciated, however. Hope you saw Skinner's post.

[DevonRex]

64. Yes, I'd like to see that job description, too. I'm pretty curious.

And yes, the con=cern is deeply felt, I'm sure, from the 4 or so who seem to have that job description which nobody else can find.

[blondeatlast]

65. Several people seem to have this ethereal "Vice Presidential Choice Vetter" job description.

Where can I get one--or could the m$m be getting some people in a froth over, I dunno, NOTHING?

Nah, they'd MEVER do that, would they? :eyes:

[Smarmie Doofus]

67. Celebrity. Period. The same reason Bloomberg picked her....

... to head NYC public school system fundraising: Celebrity. Period.

If Caroline is knowledgable about about NYC public schools I'd like to know when and how she *became* knowledgeable. Did she attend public school? Did she send her kids to public school?

Laughable. The world we live in.

[dflprincess]

68. I imagine we may have seen more of her in public,

but she made raising her children a priority. Unlike many parents in her position she has been quite active at their schools - not sending in the nanny to do the work. Yet she's had the time to write some very good books on Constitutional issues and had voluteered her time with various groups (not just honorary positions.)

[Lucinda]

70. I dunno. I got the impression she wasn't particularly political when

she said that it was her children who informed her about Obama.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

72. knee jerk reaction? Hello -- that's the way everyone here responds

to people's honest efforts to have a discussion. It didn't used to be that way around here.

I hope she's on to steer toward someone like Ted. I don't think she
would pick Hillary in a million years. That's what I hoping, anyway. Hopefully, she
would take Ted's ideas into consideration. I trust him explicitly.

[LittleBlue]

74. Legitimacy and femininity

A woman will make the choice, which is good. And an endorsement from a Kennedy is practically heavenly sanction for Democrats.

[barack the house]

75. A female perspective to the choice especially with trying to reach out to former Hillary supporters.

[saltpoint]

79. Because she's a class act.

Born to wealth but commited to public service.

A class act, start to finish.

Had Obama not named her for this role, it would have been understandable to ask why not.

[onenote]

81. do you even know what a "dilettante" is?

It hardly fits someone who went to Harvard undergrad, Columbia Law, passed the NY and DC bars (they don't give you a passing grade on the bar exam because of who your father was, by the way). Among the various things she has done during her career (in addition to co-authoring books on constitutional law and privacy): President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation; member of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award Committee; a director on the Commission on Presidential Debates; a director on the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

[breakaleg]

83. As accomplished as she is, it may also have been a nod to Ted Kennedy and his support for

Obama.

[Hieronymus]

84. Not very well thought out post .. certainly no idea of how the other half

lives.:eyes:

[gort]

85. Ask Neil Diamond

Written by: neil diamond

Where it began
I cant begin to knowin
But then I know its growin strong

Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Whod have believed youd come along

Hands, touchin hands
Reachin out
Touchin me
Touchin you

Sweet caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Ive been inclined
To believe they never would

But now i
Look at the night
And it dont seem so lonely
We fill it up with only two
And when I hurt
Hurtin runs off my shoulders
How can I hurt when Im with you

Warm, touchin warm
Reachin out
Touchin me
Touchin me

Sweet caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Ive been inclined
To believe they never would
Oh, no, no

Sweet caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Ive been inclined
I believed they never could
Sweet caroline

[karynnj]

89. She is not a dilettante, but a lawyer who wrote an excellent book

on the Constitution --- showing she understands it. The others were and are party insiders. I actually think Caroline Kennedy may have a fresher view of who people want and may be able to see through the artiface better.

Who do you want on the team - pollsters, handlers etc. Caroline has been one of the classiest people in the party and from her speeches, she has very clear ideas about the values that we should have. I loved the speech she gave in the general election when she appeared with Kerry. (It was also nice to hear of how as a 15 year old she biked from school to help on his 1972 campaign.) I would imagine that Caroline Kennedy on Gore's or Kerry's team would have helped.

[Duder]

90. Why not vp?

[lynne]

91. I've wondered pretty much the same thing -

- while I think she has achieved much, her achievements have not been in the political arena. She has been a very private person and has actually avoided the political spotlight. It appears that she was chosen solely for her name which - IMHO - isn't much of a qualification for such an important job.

[Cha]

99. Obama would't do something merely

for the name..maybe you should read some other replies and get a real sense of who Caroline Kennedy really is.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

93. I didn't get it either - probably just a symbolic gesture.

Much as I like her.....

[Trajan]

98. After all you read about this woman ...

That is your response ?

Hmmmm .... You have to wonder what it takes to get off the D List with some here ....

I would venture that Caroline is MORE astute than even Hillary is .... Her scholarship is excellent, her heart is golden ....

There is no pleasing some people (Hence why I dont even try)

[Stinky The Clown]

100. Hi there! Nice to see you tonight.

[McCamy Taylor]

103. Because Ted is too sick and she is taking his place?