The Next Senator Kennedy?
Maybe, Maybe Not.

by Robert Jay March

Back in the 1980s, a story was making the rounds on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. At a CitiBank branch on Broadway in the West 80's, a young woman tried to jump to the front of a long line, to get to the teller first. When an older woman on the line objected, the younger one allegedly said, "Do you know who I am?"

The younger woman was Caroline Kennedy, and that statement, "Do you know who I am?", seems to sum up her campaign to be appointed to the senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton.

Yes, I know who Caroline Kennedy is, but it doesn't entitle her to jump to the front of the line. Is she qualified to serve in the Senate? I don't have the foggiest idea, and it seems that no one else does either. Being the daughter of a former, iconic President does not qualify her to serve in the senate. Being the heiress to the myth of Camelot does not qualify her to serve in the senate.

All everyone supporting her seems to be able to cite as her qualifications is the fact that she served on the Board of Education, she's a Kennedy, uber-rich NY Mayor Mike Bloomberg supports her, she's a Kennedy, she's so rich she won't owe anyone anything, she's a Kennedy, and, oh, did I mention, she's a Kennedy.

When asked recently by an Associated Press Reporter why she had voted so infrequently, she replied "I was really surprised and dismayed by my voting record. I'm glad it's been brought to my attention." Say what? She really must reprimand her staff. One can't get good help these days, can one? What's a multi-millionairess to do?

Maybe she is qualified. May someone from the AP just needs to bring her qualifications to her attention. Maybe she'll be a wonderful Senator. Can someone just tell me why? "Do you know who I am?" just doesn't cut it.

On the other hand, it was good enough for her predecessor.