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Caroline Kennedy Candidacy Watch | 12/12/2008 9:00 am

Clintons Moving to Block Caroline Kennedy's Senate Bid

By Deborah Barrow, Editor-in-Chief

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 email carolinewatch@wowowow.com.

First the team of Ted and Caroline Kennedy helped tank Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid by throwing their weight behind Barack Obama.  Caroline’s stunning January 2008 endorsement letter carried a line that stopped the heart of the nation: "I have never had a president inspire me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans."

Hillary’s campaign never fully recovered.

So imagine the expletives at chez Clinton in Chappaqua when it was announced last week that NY Gov. David Patterson was considering their arch-nemesis, Caroline Kennedy, for the Senate seat being vacated by Secretary of State-elect Hillary. 

Since then, wowOwow’s Caroline Kennedy Candidacy Watch has heard that the Clintons are hard at work behind the scenes to prevent the Kennedy dynasty — of all people — from taking over what they consider the "Clinton Seat." Even Bill’s name has surfaced as a possible candidate for the seat, an eventuality quickly dismissed by all involved.

The behind-the-scenes scramble to thwart Gov. David Patterson from seating Caroline spilled over into the New York press today, with a story by the NY Post’s keyed-in Albany reporter Fredric U. Dicker and Maggie Haberman about Andrew Cuomo, a former Kennedy husband himself (famously divorcing Kennedy cousin Kerry Kennedy), ducking a reporter’s question about Caroline’s fitness for the role. On another front, Clinton loyalist and DNC operative Robert Zimmerman was reported as saying that Kennedy was not being endorsed "because we’re not a state of dynasty."

The clash of the dynasties continues … with NY’s famed "Daniel Patrick Moynihan" Senate seat in the balance.

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

elaine s
I remeber the pictures of the Clintons on the Kennedy’s boat. They looked like hillbillies. I think any contact they have had with any Kennedy they have played up to the hilt. They are truly wannabes. It was rich when Carolinie and Teddy endorsed Obama. What Caroline said is so true. Obama is the only person since JFK who inspires us to be a better people and a better nation. And we will! How typical of the Clintons to now bear a grudge against the Kennedys. It proves they have no class, as if we didn’t already have ample proof of that.
By elaine s on 12/12/2008 9:37 am
mitzi morris
elaine, You’re at it again. Clinton Derangement Syndrome. I have met Bill and Hillary Clinton and they do not look or act like hillbillies. Regardless of whatever preference HRC has, the ultimate choice is Patterson’s. Caroline Kennedy is a very decent good citizen and has done charitable work and a fine job for education in NY. But she has never held a real job, practiced law, or has the personality that requires a very outgoing personality backed by political smarts. Personally I can’t see her campaigning against a Rudy or some other GOP attack dog in 2 years, and then defend her seat again in another 2 yrs for a six year term. The GOP could find her easy to beat despite her name. If she is selected and does well and learns how to fight for NY, she could be a surprise. Bur she is a very low key,shy person so this remains to be seen. However your disgusting remarks against the Clinton’s are shabby, and you never tire of using any opportunity to get your Neo Con snarky slurs laced with unfortunately inaccurate and tiresome garbage. I believe you’re the wannabe. As for Obama I was happy and proud to vote for him and wish him and all of his cabinet and appointments well. We need some positive thinking at this time and your comments sadly lack this quality.
By mitzi morris on 12/15/2008 5:22 pm
Cheryl Mitchell
Elaine, LOL. People get in the Clinton’s way at their own peril. Watching them is like watching Dirty Sexy Money.
By Cheryl Mitchell on 12/12/2008 9:57 am
mitzi morris
Cheryl, Reading your post is like watching Dirty Sexy Money.
By mitzi morris on 12/15/2008 5:26 pm
Lorraine Bates
This is just two steps away from Blago’s current mess, in my opinion! What is it with the Clintons?
By Lorraine Bates on 12/12/2008 10:23 am
Corinne M.
Since then, wowOwow’s Caroline Kennedy Candidacy Watch has heard that the Clintons are hard at work behind the scenes to prevent the Kennedy dynasty — of all people — from taking over what they consider the “Clinton Seat.” ” Heard from whom? You present this as “fact” when it is unsourced and therefore cannot be evaluated. This statement has no merit; why didn’t you toss this over the transom to Liz Smith? It’s better gossip than analysis. What, exactly, is the case to be made for Caroline Kennedy? Her family connections? They myth of Camelot? If Caroline wants to be senator, let her run for it in the special election in 2010. Hillary Clinton visited every single county in NY and was outspent by her opponent. She won by a double digit margin. A campaign would allow Kennedy to prove her worth. Voters could take the measure of her as a potential leader, not as a celebrity. New York has plenty of experienced political women who’ve proved themselves. Caroline Kennedy isn’t one of them.
By Corinne M. on 12/12/2008 10:43 am
Patty E
…and everyone has an opinion…..
By Patty E on 12/12/2008 11:31 am
Lady Gator
Corinne ——You are so right!!! No one should be anointed or appointed. You want the job — you run in a special election. Let the “people” have their say as to whom they wish to represent them. I might say the same for the State of Illinois!
By Lady Gator on 12/12/2008 2:17 pm
mitzi morris
Corrine, Bravo. Kennedy assumes NY is a Kennedy Dynasty. Just ask for it and waltz into a critical senate seat at the most critical economic turndown in 100 years with no qualifications whatsoever. She has never practiced law or held a real job. She is a shy and retiring person who carrries the MYTH with her. She should make an honest run for this seat in 2010 if she feels she can really do it and bone up beforehand. Like visit some countries and accomplish something that relates to this kind of leadership. The rumors about Clinton standing in Caroline’s way are just that. More anti Clinton garbage without substantiation attributation of any kind. If Caroline wants this she should fight to get it by running, not by the laws of Camelot Entitlement. There are many qualified and talented [men] and women who could fill this seat, and I hope Patterson judges wisely.
By mitzi morris on 12/15/2008 5:43 pm
Chips AHoey
this will only backfire on Bill and Hillary - why can’t they act more like the Carter’s as ex-President? She’s got a good job, she should be looking forward, not back…
By Chips AHoey on 12/12/2008 11:11 am
Patty E
If it is the case, that the Clintons’ are ‘interfering’ -notice I said IF—-don’t want to be accused of taking sides, here—-then one must ask what the motive would be……Now…..we all know that Hillary tends to be a bit…’vocal’ about some things, and that is not saying ‘vengeful’, either—but if you are one who has followed her closely, you cannot deny that once she makes up her mind to something—-nothing will stop her…..a quality she was both praised for, and condemned for, in the Primaries….and she will do whatever it takes! It seems logical that she would have an opinion about the persons who are being considered to take over her slot in Congress….the question in my thinking is this: Is she purposefully making attempts to obstruct any possibility for Caroline Kennedy to replace her? Or is she giving responses to questions as to the sort of person that may be needed, to successfully step into the Senator position? And of course, we all know how ‘politicans’ say one thing, with intent to ‘mean another’…and we ALSO know that is not a foreign concept for Hillary—she has performed the ‘poli-speak’ often and repeatedly, as we saw for ourselves, during her campaign for President. We really don;t know that much about Caroline Kennedy as to HOW she acts in a ‘politician situation’, as most of her work has been done outside the very public arena—-unlike Hillary. But we DO know, if we follow Caroline, that she is a very accomplished woman, in her own right, she is smart, and she does not grand-stand for the cameras and the spotlight. what we do not know about her, is what fuels for some, the fear…it is the fear of not knowing what is not known. When I asked myself what motive Hillary would have to dis Caroline for the appointment, I asked what it is that needs to be ‘covered up’ or kept silent, that MIGHT be brought to light, should Caroline actually GET the appointment. Then I wondered, IF Hillary has another strong desire to have someone ELSE picked, the question is who and why? I heard a couple of days ago or so, that Bill Clinton might want the job…..it was discussed on cable news—-but then, sometimes those pundits create the news, too…..so does Bill want the job? That would explain a lot, if true…. Personally, if I were Hillary, I would study up on my new job—Sec. of State—-and let those whose job it is to make the decision, make their own decision without interference. Should Hillary, who is not yet been confirmed, start pushing people around, to get her own way on this—she could jeopardize her appointment….Obama wants honest, trustworthy, transparent, and capable people who are willing to work as a team, in his cabinet……not someone who takes every opportunity in front of them—-to divide…
By Patty E on 12/12/2008 12:01 pm
Marilyn Rick
Don’t be so sure that Obama wanted honest, trustworthy, transparent, and capable people, etc. If he did, he would have not have nominated Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State and would have let Hillary remain a Jr. Senator and would have let Bill Clinton fade into history. Obama has gone through life promoting himself and gaining popularity through his charm. Popular kids hang out with other popular kids and popular politicians pick other popular politicians to promote themselves, i.e., if I’m popular and I hang out with popular persons, I must be wonderful. I don’t think that Obama’s professed love of the teachings of Abraham Lincoln (team of rivals) had anything to do with his pick of Hillary. Abraham Lincoln’s quote “You can fool some of the people all the time, all the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all the time” is the lesson he should have adopted as his own. (I’m not sure the quote is exact).
By Marilyn Rick on 12/12/2008 2:14 pm
Patty E
Hey! Maybe that is why he appointed her to Sec. of State! She would be out of the country most of the time! hahahaha
By Patty E on 12/12/2008 12:04 pm
Buh- Bye
Even Bill’s name has surfaced as a possible candidate for the seat, an eventuality quickly dismissed by all involved.” Why? Why would this be dismissed? If Mary Bono can take Sonny Bono’s Congressional seat, why the hell wouldn’t the Democrats want a 2 term former president, who no one seems to know what the hell to do with, in his wife’s seat? He’s a major player. This is a total no-brainer. No-brainer… you dumb-ass Democrats. (!!!!)
By Buh- Bye on 12/12/2008 12:44 pm
Frannie Em
Pi LOL. (!!!!!) Do we really want drama x2. LOL Of course, it would spice things up. His money making deals would have to be scrutinized. Bill said he didn’t want it. I think he likes his life. Floating around the world “sprinkling fairy dust”.
By Frannie Em on 12/13/2008 1:56 am