Ok, as my reader is well aware, Caroline Kennedy (D-Camelot) called Gov. David Patterson (D-NY) to inform him that she would not like to be considered for the Senate seat vacated a few hours ago by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-Foggy Bottom). To say I am pissed is a gross understatement. If Caroline truly is withdrawing because of concerns over Uncle Teddy's health, then I am not pissed, but gravely concerned myself.
Nevertheless, Caroline is dashing the hopes of the millions like me out there who dreamed of not just another Kennedy in the Senate, but this particular Kennedy. Caroline had in her hands an opportunity to keep the voice of the Kennedy family in the Senate for decades to come. Caroline is someone who could take the honest and courageous stands without fear that she would lose public support. She is for full marriage equality, and we need every proponent of marriage in major office as we can get. (As a side note, in a 1996 interview with a Chicago newspaper, the President stated he was "unequivocally" for gay marriage...).
But if Caroline is dropping out for any reason other than serious concern over her Uncle's health, she should be ashamed of her selfishness. Come to think of it, if Senator Kennedy (D-MA) is that frail, I see that as only more reason for her to pursue this appointment. As he said in 1980, "the dream shall never die.". Caroline could have breathed life into the dream, but she has squashed that opportunity. I so desperately wanted her to seize it - not for herself, but for America.
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