Ted Kennedy's Circle Upset By Caroline's Awkward Exit

[Beacool]

By Karen Tumulty / Washington Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009



Of all the many ways in which Caroline Kennedy's brief and unofficial candidacy for the U.S. Senate was mishandled, one final ungraceful note is striking particularly close to home. Sources close to Senator Edward M. Kennedy tell TIME that his circle — including his immediate family — is furious that his brain cancer is being cited by some in her camp as the reason for her decision to withdraw her name from consideration for the Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton in New York.

"It looks horrible," says one former aide to Ted Kennedy. "It makes him look like he is at death's door." In fact, those close to Kennedy, 76, say that while the Senator is suffering occasional seizures, like the one that sent him to a hospital on Tuesday during the celebratory Capitol lunch for the newly inaugurated President, he is generally doing well. And they add that Kennedy is fully engaged in the effort to pass universal health-care legislation — a cause for which he has fought for decades, and one in which he will play a crucial role as chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

"He is crazy about her. He encouraged her" in her bid for the Senate seat, one close associate says of Ted Kennedy's relationship with his niece. "But using him as an excuse, as though things were on the downward spiral, is not going to be O.K. with him ... This will get in the way of health reform" — by suggesting that a key legislator involved in putting the bill together may be incapacitated.

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1873328,00.html

[sohndrsmith]

1. This is not a surprise. Anything else would have been. It probably

would have lifted his heart (even improving his health as a result, if only temporarily) had she taken the seat had it been offered (and it sure looked like Paterson was likely to appoint her... ).

[girl_interrupted]

3. Can Caroline be appointed to Ted's seat, should he resign?

She does own a home in Mass. Anyone know?

[cali]

6. No. And she wouldn't even be considered for a moment.

MA has a deep bench. No way on earth would she be named to replace him- even were she an actual resident.

[girl_interrupted]

7. Thank you Cali!

Was curious about that, appreciate your response!

[Onlooker]

35. Though the Kennedy name still carries a lot of appeal

If this had happened in MA (and she was a resident), I think she would have had a real shot, but probably would have suffered the same fate as in NY.

[kskiska]

9. She has a summer place in Martha's Vineyard

formerly owned by Jackie, but her official residence in in NYC.

[BluegrassDem]

10. Massachusetts has special elections for Senate vacancies

The governor doesn't appoint in Mass. This is the John Kerry law designed to thwart Mitt Romney from appointing a GOP'er to replace Kerry if he had won in 2004.

Ironically, she would do better in a special election cause name recognition matters so much due to the short length of the campaigns. Also, money matters a lot too.

[Beacool]

19. That's how it should be in EVERY state.

No more cronyism, let the voters decide. We could have avoided Blago and now the Caroline mess.

The governor should appoint a seat holder for 6 months, enough time to organize a special election and let the people decide who they want to represent them in the senate. There are only 100 senate seats and they shouldn't be doled out like party favors.

:(

[SoCalDem]

21. I always hoped that Marty Meehan would get a chance to be senator

but with the Kerry/Kennedy juggernaut, he never had a chance to move to the senate..

I like the special elections so much better than giving ONE person so much power to appoint a replacement.

Since replacements are so rare, it would be nice to "re-set" the 6 yr "clock" when a special election occurs though, since campaigns cost so much.. The HRC replacement is the worst case scenario, since whomever is chosen, must immediately start loading up on cash to run in '10, and then again in '12.. That leaves little time to actually settle in and learn the job.. they will be in campaign mode for 3 years..

[Fearless]

49. No, she can't.

And there's only about three dozen people who want the seat. None of which are really as qualified as Teddy might I add.

[polichick]

2. Looks like she needs to think about offering a more specific explanation.

[NashVegas]

16. It's Kind of Hard. This Was Paterson's Peoples' Doing

They're the ones who've been leaking like a sieve.

[MarjorieG]

28. Dem slate/machine wanted their own, and media sent to discredit.

Paterson has his own ties to the Cuomo family, and reasons to want someone else. A newbie, Dems wanted to have momentum build against her, and as Caroline is uncertain, I believe, that she wants to go through the NY political mine field, the dirty work then pushed by the media.

Gillibrand will be fine, and for those whose sensibilities seem strongly bluer, her district requires moderation, as many more districts in the state also tend purple.

Still, this episode should not have had to end so awkwardly and viciously.

I hope she can clear up the details and serve in another capacity/appointment.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

4. I honestly believe that She was let in early that she would not be the choice

and was allowed to remove herself from the race so as not to be embarrassed. I have no basis to believe that other than my own internal vibes.

I also think that she wouldn't have really been suited to the life and hours and demands of a Senator. She just doesn't strike me that way - again nothing to base it on but my own conjecture.

[cali]

5. and she or her advisors must have heard this

thus the change in story to it's about personal issues in her own life.

[girl_interrupted]

8. Some of the NY Papers saying it might have to do with her finances

That when Paterson gave all the candidates questionaires, they had to give full disclosure regarding their finances. He thought it would be held in private, but that is not the case: "the state's open-government expert and good-government groups told the AP that once the forms were written and submitted to the governor at least some of the responses would be subject to public review under the state Freedom of Information Law"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28780112

Perhaps she wanted that kept private? I don't know why she withdrew, but if it was because she didn't feel she was up to job, she should be commended for that. Maybe someday she will decide to take a crack at it again, but that time isn't now, for so many reasons. I wish her the best of luck.

I feel kind of sorry for Paterson too. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. Really caught in a power play versus who was best qualified. I think that's why he dragged this out for so long, don't think he was comfortable with all the pressure.

I'm really excited to see who is going to be picked! We have some really good candidates!

[Phx_Dem]

11. It is awkward and handled horribly. What a lame excuse.

I love Caroline, but this was not handled well. Oh well, next.

[CTyankee]

13. I don't love her any more. This reflects badly on Obama even tho I am sure he didn'tknow about

her nannygate problems. He doesn't need this at the beginning of his term.

Let's face it: people in Caroline's category are required most especially to obey the law. You can't aspire to being a law MAKER if you are a law SCOFFER. You just can't.

I am bitterly disappointed in Caroline Kennedy. There is no excuse for her behavior...

[Phx_Dem]

17. I am very disappointed as well, but I'll always love her

(as long as she doesn't commit premeditated murder) because she's JFK and Jackie's daughter. But, the way this announcement was handled shows she's not ready for prime time.

I don't know any specifics about her taxes, or if it's even true. God knows this is the third reason now sited for her drop out so who knows. We might get another reason tomorrow.

I don't begrudge anyone for making an honest mistake on their taxes because they are so fucking complicated most people have to rely on a tax preparer. It really depends on exactly what the problem was, if even true. But I have almost no doubt Caroline would not intentionally cheat on her taxes.

[CTyankee]

24. Well, there's "not intentional" and there's "not taking care" and that's the problem.

Again, we have to see if this is true,

But, as a public figure and a Kennedy, more is expected of her and surely she knows that. Therefore, she shouldbe above reproach. She surely knows that, too.

She can't be ignorant of "nanny problems." She has to have seen the scandals they have caused in the past. She is an adult.

Please. We have to hold her to a standard that AT LEAST we would be held to if we were in her position. Why is this so difficult for people to understand?

[Phx_Dem]

34. We don't know that there's a problem at all. There has been

no confirmation that this "rumor" is true. None whatsoever.

This "reason" was leaked by some asshole aid of Patterson who also said, "Patterson had no intention of picking her," which directly conflicts with another aid who said Patterson was all set to appoint her later this week when his with her withdrawal bombshell. The reason Patterson's leaky aid is an asshole is because Caroline had already withdrawn when that person saw fit to spew unconfirmed rumors about her PERSONAL life (her marriage is in trouble and she has nanny/tax problems). What was the point if not to disparage someone who had already dropped out?

Funny how pretty big tax problems haven't derailed the nomination for the Treasury Secretary, who is in charge of the IRS. But for Caroline, even a rumor of a tax problem is enough to derail her.

[quiller4]

25. She doesn't have nannygate problems

The leaks that she might have all came frm people around Patterson and then were followed up by on-the-record denials.

[CTyankee]

31. Upon reflection, I see that you may be right. I had assumed that the tax stuff was

an actual fact. That may not be the case. My bad for leaping to conclusions based on some postings here. I should have done my homework and looked more closely...

[Marrah_G]

43. what nannygate problem- I would like details and facts please

[democrattotheend]

45. I don't think it reflects on Obama

Since he did not publicly back her for the seat. Plus, we don't even know if it's true. I read today that the NY tax department said they were unaware of any problems related to Caroline Kennedy.

[Colobo]

12. She wasn't ready for prime time in the first place.

No surprise in how messy her exit has been.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

14. I'm sorry for Ted. Caroline shouldn't have embarrassed him like that.

If this is true.

[MarjorieG]

29. Leaks, anonymous tips, no way for us to know just how clumsy. Many against her, framing our opinion.

[Occam Bandage]

15. Caroline's crash-and-burn parade of incompetence continues. Thank God she wasn't appointed.

[ShortnFiery]

57. Don't let the Karma kick you in the ass?

:evilgrin:

[Beacool]

18. The news on the radio just gave more details.

They said that there were questions about her finances and particularly about taxes and the nanny (another nannygate?). Also that there were questions about her marriage. They ended by saying that Patterson had been concerned about these issues and was not going to make her the offer of the senate seat.

:-(

[polichick]

20. A reporter on Hardball mentioned "an affair" but Tweety said...

...not to talk about it unless it's hard news (no blog stuff).

[Beacool]

22. They mentioned that too.

I didn't bring it up because it's just rumors, but they linked her with one of the top guys in the NYT. I missed part of the report, but it might be one of the owners. Who knows, that's her private life.

:(

[ShortnFiery]

47. That was classy of Tweety. I rarely complement him, but that was morally courageous.

:thumbsup:

[BeyondGeography]

23. What an unfortunate mess

None of this was well thought-out at all.

[question everything]

26. This is what he gets for pushing her candidacy

She was not ready for prime time. This is a different political map, the new generation that both of them pushed hard.

Now live with reality.

[Metric System]

27. Politics is funny. Hell, there are even camps within families!

[Beacool]

30. Yep,

some Kennedys supported Obama and some supported Hillary. They're just like any family, they're not monolithic in their thoughts.

;-)

[robcon]

32. Ended awkwardly. I think it's safe to say her political career is over,

n/t

[Sensitivity]

33. This is a distraction from the fact that unnamed forces were out to destroy the Kennedy option

from the beginning. I don't believe these folks are Obama loyalists.

[onefreespiritedchick]

37. Exactly

Someone is out to trash Caroline and this is becoming quite obvious.

[robcon]

38. Obama loyalists like me attacked her as a lightweight

I support the president fully. But I think Kennedy was/is unready to be a Senator.

"Unnamed forces" is a giggle-producing meme.

[karynnj]

41. True - but did you ridicule or smear CK?

[ShortnFiery]

48. Unnamed Forces = DLC's increased power within The Senate - she'll be Clinton's/Schumer's sycophant

:thumbsdown:

[robcon]

51. So your "naming" the unnamed forces???

Hard to restrain a giggle at the silliness of your post.

[NashVegas]

54. Did You Push Stories To NY Daily News?

[Onlooker]

36. This is why she wasn't a good candidate for the position

She's a political amateur, and is now being tackled by all sides. She sort of deserves this for trying to exploit her family name in such an overtly ambitious manner.

[MarjorieG]

39. Not nimble, probably brought down by Dem machine/Schumer's interests, interest to serve genuine.

She just didn't realize the forces against her, and she entered unsupported by her supposed handlers. They couldn't even provide her with two polished sentences of why she wanted to be Senator.

[Beacool]

42. I heard this morning on the radio that Schumer wanted Gillibrand.

He didn't think that Caroline was ready to be senator.

BTW, she shouldn't have needed her handlers to provide her with two coherent sentences explaining her reasons for wanting the senate seat.

She was underqualified for the job and it showed, the more people saw of her the more her polls went down.

If she still wants to be a senator she can run in 2010 and do it the old fashion way by getting elected to the job.

:eyes:

[MarjorieG]

44. This may have been misguided, unrealistic, but the players needn't have smeared, continuing still.

Schumer has been misbehaving, insinuating in a lot of races around the state. There was another way to bring about Caroline's realization this wasn't going to work, if indeed she is that unsuited. How would you feel about her if the media and the machine gave her a fair look, even a thumbs up.

When a media enhanced hunt starts, difficult to know what's real. The Cuomo-Kennedy feud, with Schumer thrown in, made this inevitably turn ugly.

[Beacool]

68. Schumer is an attention hog.

Even Hillary joked about it in her farewell speech on the senate floor when she said that if she missed Chuck all she had to do was turn on the TV on Sunday mornings. This comment elicited loud laughter from the other senators because they all knew that it was true. Today Schumer supposedly spent almost half an hour introducing Gillibrand. He can't help himself, he loves the attention.

Caroline should have had enough self awareness to know that she was ill prepared for the job and that her temperament wasn't suited for it either. I think that she was pushed into it by some people, Teddy and Bloomberg in particular. She has no one but herself to blame for this mess along with Paterson. The result is that they both ended up with egg on their face.

:eyes:

[laugle]

70. The Kennedy

era is over! Why on earth would anyone want 3 people from the same family in our congress.......cronyism and nepotism have not served this country well!

Let's have some real change, not people with a sense of entitlement because they were born to a rich and well connected political family.

Camelot was a movie and a myth, not based in reality.........

[karynnj]

40. She deserves to be swiftboated - even after she is not running?

NO one deserves to have lies that tarnish their reputation spread. I hope it comes out exactly which people were behind these leaks. They deserve to be attacked for this despicable behavior.

As to exploiting family names - many have had as one part of their resume who their family or husband was. It is valid to argue that she did not deserve to be Senator - another to say that she should be smeared.

[NashVegas]

56. Agreed

While I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing that she got a first hand taste of what HRC had to endure for 8 months, Paterson, and Paterson alone is responsible, IMO, because he could have named his choice 6 weeks ago. None of the other contenders were subjected to the ridicule CK was.

[ShortnFiery]

46. I'm fully on the side of "The Kennedy Family" on this one. Let's GET EVEN?

:evilgrin:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

50. they should be embarrassed about raising such an inarticulate person.

so much money, education, exposure to culture to be raised around and still speak in incomplete sentences. i think it's quite shameful.

[Skwmom]

52. I'll take such "an inarticulate person" over a slick liar any day of the week.

There are plenty of "articulate" people to blame for running this country into the ground (like the geniuses that pushed for deregulation when they should have known better).

[La Lioness Priyanka]

53. so would i but you cant win elections on both our votes. that is the essential problem w. her

[ShortnFiery]

55. Yeah, a smarmy slick blonde who changes her views "on cue" is Oh so much better.

:crazy:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

60. didnt say that. said she didnt get the job for a reason, one of the important qualifications of a

politician is to be able to articulate positions. otherwise no one will vote for you.

in that way, caroline kennedy, is a failure. hearing her speak, i am embarrassed for her even though i am sure we agree on a lot more than the blue dog dem who is in office

[Fearless]

58. Yes because EVERYONE is articulate and politically savvy.

And money means that you should change who you are.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

59. if you want to be a politician, you should be articulate. its one of the job requirements

if you cant express your positions clearly, no one will buy your message.

[Fearless]

61. I don't think she really understood...

What the position entailed. I mean her entire family basically is in politics. When she found out, she decided against it IMO. I have more respect for her backing down knowing that she wouldn't do a good job than for her to try anyways.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

62. which is also something her family should be embarrassed about

to be clueless about how politics works, is one thing if you are joe the plumber, but another if you are a kennedy

the kennedy family should be embarrassed about this fiasco and not angry.

[Fearless]

63. Why? A family's business doesn't determine the person you are necessarily.

Just because she's a member of a political family doesn't mean she has to understand politics. It's clearly not her thing. It sounds like the metaphorical son trying to impress his father by trying tee-ball even though he would rather be doing something else.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

64. Ofourse its fine is she were uninterested in politics, but she put her name up for senator of NY.

I dont remember criticizing her prior to her wanting to be in the political arena. Being unqualified and not even bothering to research what politics means shows a sense of entitlement that is irritating. I am sure she is a good lawyer, but she created this debacle and the kennedy family have no one to blame but themselves. Either she should have bothered to pick up skills to be a good politician or she should have stayed out of it.

[Fearless]

65. Then it's her embarrassment not her family's.

A supportive family allows it's members to venture out on their own. Teddy was likely saddened because she wasn't able to do something that she wanted to.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

66. as per the article her family is upset... they have no one to blame but their own. nt

[Fearless]

67. Why would then blame anyone?

Seriously now. They are upset that someone tied Teddy's health into her leaving because it may endanger his health care bill if it seems like he won't be able to stump for it. Just read the whole article.

[onefreespiritedchick]

69. Actually, Caroline is quite articulate

And has delivered many speeches whether in regards to Profiles in Courage or some other function. I do however, it is a matter of shyness, the feeling of awkwardness that gave this unfortunate impression. Not to mention, this was not her forte. However, the vitriol against her - from many...I really don't understand.