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Home › Politics

Caroline Kennedy Candidacy Watch | 08/26/2008 9:00 am

Caroline Kennedy Does a Star Turn at the DNC

© AP

In this series, wowOwow follows the political news swirling around Caroline Kennedy since her surprise endorsement of Barack Obama and high-profile placement on his VP selection committee. Could Caroline be ready to launch a political career of her own? With the Caroline Kennedy Candidacy Watch, we’ll follow all the latest news. We welcome insider insight and tips; please e-mail carolinewatch@wowowow.com.

Invoking memories of those who came before her: her father, her uncle Robert Kennedy, even the Hyannis Port grandparents, Caroline Kennedy gave the speech of her life last night in front of cheering thousands at the Democratic National Convention. The occasion was the opening night salute to the family patriarch, longtime Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, who, while suffering from brain cancer, made a surprise appearance at the convention and gave his own rousing speech.

Long known as the quiet Kennedy assiduously shunning the spotlight, in this pivotal speech Caroline Kennedy presented a picture of stylish, youthful maturity steeped in the family folkways of public service and raised in the rituals of hard-nosed politics. She managed to position herself as the current generation’s most enduring link to the past, while being part of the future by pointedly passing the family torch to Barack Obama, the man she says most fills the shoes left behind by her martyred father, President John F. Kennedy.

Those in the blogosphere and television punditry are quick to say that Caroline is too private, too limelight-adverse to seek a role in Democratic politics as a candidate in her own right. Those who say that might be interested in reviewing last night’s speech once again to see this woman clearly and comfortably command a stage of her very own.

Read more about: Caroline Kennedy, DNC, Election, News, Politics, Speech, Video

17 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

No Way-No How -No McCain
Excellent!! Caroline said it all in under 6 minutes and did it with ease, naturalness and grace. Yes, Teddy is my Senator too. He is a very great man who has done so much for this country and the world.
By No Way-No How -No McCain on 08/26/2008 8:25 am
Brooklyn Gal
Caroline will follow her path. It is not up to pundits to decide that for her or anyone else. Yet, for someone who is labled “private or limelight adverse”, she is still very influential. I think it will be important for Obama for her to be on the campaign trail too.
By Brooklyn Gal on 08/26/2008 8:35 am
Sam Mirando
It would be astonishing, in view of her pedigree and apparent interests, if Caroline didn’t become more deeply involved in politics. She has never been a party girl and takes life’s responsibilities seriously. It is, moreover, amazing that, with all the tragedies in her life, she appears and acts so level-headed and poised. I hope that she will live out the rest of her life in the sunshine.
By Sam Mirando on 08/26/2008 9:54 am
Hines Hammond
Carol, Winery and Sam: your responses were insightful and to the point, like Caroline’s message last night. And I most thoroughly …. Cheers! All the best to my fellow wOw-ers. I hope Caroline will, indeed, have that sunshine, Sam.
By Hines Hammond on 08/26/2008 10:01 am
Frank Peterson
She’s a star alright—I kept seen her mom and dad in that lovely face and was moved beyond words—helluva woman, Caroline in her own right and is going places i feel not that she hasn’t been there already. She had poise, command and her speech was succinct and to the point—all point covered. Bravo Caaroline.
By Frank Peterson on 08/26/2008 10:24 am
Peggy Newton
It was almost like Camelot revisited; she definitely has the Kennedy charisma. After her speech she spoke with several of the network news anchors and was equally at ease and charming. Her future in public service is hers if she wants it, and I’m all for it!
By Peggy Newton on 08/26/2008 11:43 am
DeBúrca obj
Caroline looked lovely, spoke with a lot of poise. You can tell she isn’t very used to speaking in such a venue because she often wouldn’t leave enough of a pause when the applause came and would start speaking before it stopped. But that even made it all the more genuine and natural. She did a great job.
By DeBúrca obj on 08/26/2008 11:46 am
N P
Why is it that FOX is handling the video and distribution of the DNC this year? Why is that? Thinking back, the audience that I saw was mostly people of color. And they were wearing funny hats and costume like attire. At least I was are of that. During points in speeches where there were applause, the cameras showed people just sitting there, not applauding and inattentive. I think it was during Michelle’s speech, I heard noise, like people talking in the background, and not paying attention to the speech. It was a heightened sound. Did anyone else hear that? Am I wrong about this? I don’t think so. The person I watched the Convention with said to me at one point, “There is someone with a Cheese on her head.” WHY are we allowing FOX to caricature our Convention???
By N P on 08/26/2008 12:55 pm
N P
See link re Fox’s video pool: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ie…
By N P on 08/26/2008 1:01 pm
DeBúrca obj
I mentioned this in the other thread but here it is again: I heard it was FOX’s turn to do the video! Was just listening to Thom Hartman on the radio. They seemed to search the crowd to find people who were not paying attention, looking bored, etc., and to avoid shots that would be no-brainers if they wanted to show people what they wanted to see, like smiling faces, tears, etc.. Hartman had been in the convention hall and then watched the video done by FOX and couldn’t believe the discrepancy between what was actually happening on the floor and how FOX had presented it.
By DeBúrca obj on 08/26/2008 3:04 pm
K O
As I believe James asked in the past, why not ask Caroline Kennedy what’s next, and tell us what she says? Surely that is more valuable that asking readers to participate in baseless conjecture.
By K O on 08/26/2008 2:01 pm
James the Game
Kit, I like Caroline and appreciated her words. But, frankly, she was extremely monitone in her speech pattern at the convention. I was very disappointed in her speaking ability, although her words are what count. She can work on the speaking stuff later.
By James the Game on 08/26/2008 9:19 pm
a c
You go Caroline, hope you join Obama’s team in the White House. For you, it would be like going home again!
By a c on 08/26/2008 2:04 pm
My Two Cents
Caroline did a wonderful job! Wish her dad,mother and brother could have seen her last night.
By My Two Cents on 08/26/2008 3:55 pm
Babette dYveine
Caroline could do so much good in the world, whether in politics, or some other form of public service. She’s a lovely, intelligent, level-headed young woman and would be wonderful at carrying on the family legacy. While she was speaking, I kept picturing that adorable little two-year-old, running around her father’s office in her mother’s shoes.
By Babette dYveine on 08/26/2008 5:12 pm
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