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Last week, I had a question for Caroline Kennedy: Will you run in 2010, and if not, doesn't that reflect on your motivations for seeking the seat? Will only seek the appointment only if you can camapaign with the benefit of incumbency? At that time, Kennedy wasn't talking to reporters, but she is now, and either Nick Confessore still peruses the blog, or he's relying on the deep mental connection shared by all former TAP writing fellows:
Nick Confessore: ... Why not run if you want this job? If you were sincere about this job, why not run in 2010 regardless of what happens in the next two months?Caroline Kennedy: Well, you know, I’m a Democrat, a loyal Democrat, I would support whoever the governor appoints, and as I said, I think there are many ways to serve and advance the issues that I care about, and I have a long time to do that, so I plan, in 2010, to support the Democrat.NC: It just seems like the only — your interest in this seat coincided with the chance to become appointed to it, which is the easy way into the seat, and so it raises questions. If you really want it —CK: Actually, I think that actually a campaign would be an easier way, because I think it would give me a chance to explain exactly what I’m doing, why I would want to do this, and, you know, and get people to know me better and to understand exactly what my plans would be, how hard I would work, you know, kind of...NC: Would you have sought this if there hadn’t been an appointment open, if it had been an election?CK: I think we covered that.NC: What’s the answer, then, if we covered it? Would you have considered going for this office if no appointment was available? If it was just an open seat in 2012? Would that have appealed to you?CK: Well, it — 2012 is four years from now, and I just said that after 2010 I would think about, you know, anything, and I’m committed to these issues. This is the opportunity that’s now. I didn’t expect that it would come along, but, you know, a lot of life is seizing the moment and doing the unexpected thing. And I think, um, you know, that’s an important part of life. So is working hard over a long period of time. And so, I am, as I said, I told the governor I was interested, he has a process, he has a lot of candidates to weigh, and he’ll make the best decision for New York. And that’s why I will support whoever he picks.(Pause)Is that it? You guys want to ask that again? (Laughter)And there you have it. The whole interview is interesting, but I don't think her answers add up to a compelling case for her appointment as New York's Senator.
-- Tim FernholzBonus Confessore fun:
NC: I guess another way of thinking about it is that Jennifer Aniston movie, where she tells her boyfriend, ‘I want you to want to do the dishes,’ you know? And I wonder if Senator Kennedy wanted you to want to do it.David Halbfinger: “The Break-Up.”CK: (Laughter) I hope you’re going to put this in the article, not just the answer. OK?
