Is Caroline Kennedy a "Normal" Politician? Is she qualified for a Senate Seat?
First and foremost, let's define a politician to make sure we're all on the same wavelength in our discussions.According to Wikipedia,
.. "A politician (from Greek "polis") is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of politics or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics" ..
What's a "normal" politician? Are there normal "politicians?" Or should we rather talk about each individually?
Caroline Kennedy is a daughter of a great leader, John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline Kennedy and we all know that. She was raised in the spirit of public service and quietly, without looking for fame, she serves her state in a remarkable way. All these years she stayed in the shadow. It's now her prerogative to come and make the decision to get involved in public office.
Furthermore, if she "feels the commitment" or if this is her calling, why should she restrain--just because some of us think she's from a dynasty and therefore she must be compared to some "princess" who never did anything but inherit the throne? It's too easy to sit back and criticize things.
Caroline Kennedy happens to be such a regular person. Is that a good reason to question her self-confidence? What does that have to do with her desire to serve her country?
People often say "you are what you eat" http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/GABWEA.html?show=reviews and in the same way, a child is influenced by the environment he/she was raised in, by his/her upbringing. Caroline Kennedy was raised in politics and had role models. More recently, like most of us, she's been inspired by Senator Barack Obama, now President-Elect. She shows it by wanting to practice what her Uncle once said:
"There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" -- Robert Francis Kennedy quote
Caroline Kennedy is criticized by some journalists for not carrying herself properly or not speaking certain way when approached by the Media. Wasn't Obama's self-confidence considered arrongance at one point of time during 2008 Presidential election? What if Caroline Kennedy showed she wasn't any "regular" person but a "celebrity", a Kennedy? I'm almost certain she acted the "expected" or "normal" way, the same group of people would be gossiping in an opposite direction.
After all, who are we to tell people what a "normal" politician should or should not be? Why not just be politicians ourselves if we know so much how they should behave to become public servants? Then some of us may say "we don't want to." That's the whole point.
Caroline Kennedy wants to serve and the question should rather be: is she the best advocate for the people? Because that's what a politician should be. A politician is hired by the people to represent their interests and not any special group interest or self interest. What do we really think Caroline would be gaining that she doesn't have already? Is she seeking a Senat seat for popularity, celebrity or for money?
In short she gains nothing but what I know for working as a volunteer for communities and organizations, teaching and lecturing in Schools that is the joy of giving and NOT expecting anything in return. However I challenge anyone who believes she's after her self-interest to come up with a convincing argument.
Like Hillary Clinton, Caroline Kennedy is a smart person and she will face the same scrutiny. Although these women may have different personalities. Caroline Kennedy may have never "worked" but she has a "non public" life experience, She's been involved with many organizations and she's not running "unprepared"- to the highest office like some woman tried before as Kathleen Parker wrote:
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