Michael Moore is receiving some attention today after calling on Caroline Kennedy to pull a Cheney by recommending herself for the vice presidential spot. This isn’t the first time the idea has come up. I discussed it back in June after Kennedy was placed in charge of the search. Moore writes:
What Obama needs is a vice presidential candidate who is NOT a professional politician, but someone who is well-known and beloved by people across the political spectrum; someone who, like Obama, spoke out against the war; someone who has a good and generous heart, who will be cheered by the rest of the world; someone whom we’ve known and loved and admired all our lives and who has dedicated her life to public service and to the greater good for all.
That person, Caroline, is you.
I cannot think of a more winning ticket than one that reads: “OBAMA-KENNEDY.”
Caroline, I know that nominating yourself is the furthest idea from your mind and not consistent with who you are, but there would be some poetic justice to such an action. Just think, eight years after the last head of a vice presidential search team looked far and wide for a VP — and then picked himself (a move topped only by his hubris to then lead the country to near ruin while in office) — along comes Caroline Kennedy to return the favor with far different results, a vice president who helps restore America to its goodness and greatness.
Caroline, you are one of the most beloved and respected women in this country, and you have been so admired throughout your life. You chose a life outside of politics, to work for charities and schools, to write and lecture, to raise a wonderful family. But you did not choose to lead a private life. You have traveled the world and met with its leaders, giving you much experience on the world stage, a stage you have been on since you were a little girl.
Obviously it will never really happen, which makes it easy to consider the attractive aspects of such a ticket and ignore all the reasons against it for the moment.
Proves once and for all that the Dems are all about fluff and image and not substance. ‘We don’t need people who know what they’re doing! Just get pretty people that people love for their image and everything will be fine!” Caroline Kennedy is a fine person, but that doesn’t make her VP material.
No, that won’t happen. But Ambassador to the UN would be a job that she could really embrace and make her own.
He could do worse than CK, like HC!
Why not. She has done amazing things in her life. Someone like her would set the stage for a great example to follow.
Dave,
He certainly could do worse–with HC or several other possibilities.
Jerry,
If she was interested in a government position, there are many spots where she would do fine, including UN Ambassador.
She could also always follow in her uncle’s footsteps and become the junior Senator from Massachusetts.
Thinking of the future, I’d like to fill Congress with more reliable progressive voices.
Tom in NY,
If you read the post more closely you might note that the conclusion is that this will never happen as I allude to the obvious reasons against this, which negates your claims of this proving anything about Democrats. But then, since when do Republicans ever stick to the actual facts of the matter when attacking Democrats?
Actually she would do just fine in virtually every duty of VP. The only question, which obviously could be the deal killer, is whether she is qualified to be president as opposed to VP. There is certainly reason to wonder about this, but I do think she could at least do a better job than the current president (which is admittedly a very low bar to surpass).
Actually Republicans have a very weak case in criticizing anyone else based upon a hypothetical VP consideration. Nobody is really serious about Caroline Kennedy. In contrast, the Republicans actually nominated such “qualified” people as Dan Quayle and Spiro T. Agnew.
Wasn’t directed at you, but the rotund one. The very idea of skylarking an unqualified candidate for VP simply beacuse adding the name Kennedy sounds nice when the experience issue is Obama’s Achilles heel makes McCain’s Brittany Spears-Paris Hilton ad valid.
Oh, and that part about being ready to be president? Kind of important. Pretty much items #1 #2 and #3 on any list of VP qualifications.
Tom,
But Michael Moore is hardly representative of Democrats, again negating claims that this proves anything about Democrats. (I had intended to include this point in my initial response but forgot it when typing.)
Of course being ready to be president should be at the top of any list of VP qualifications–not that this could be said about some recent Republican vice presidents. It is an artificial distinction, but if we looked at the job done by VP as VP (and not if they wind up becoming president) then Caroline is well qualified. Other choices would be preferred when we also consider being prepared to be president, but I bet she could do a far better job than Bush has done.