# Screw Caroline Kennedy **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 29, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127 "2008-12-29T23:00:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/1 "2008-12-29T23:00:55Z")
Can someone tell me what this woman has done that makes her worthy of being awarded a Senate seat? As best as I can tell, she’s a professional trust fund baby who lives off her name and inherited wealth and has never done anything useful in her life. > **[Caroline Kennedy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Kennedy)** > > Caroline Bouvier Kennedy (born November 27, 1957) is an American author, diplomat, and attorney. She served as the United States ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017 and ambassador to Australia from 2022 to 2024. Most of Kennedy's professional life has been in literature, law, politics, education reform, and charity. She is a member of the Kennedy family and the only surviving child of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. > Born in New York City, Kennedy was two... I mean, come on. She “co-authored” two books, and assembled some collections of poetry related to her family. She raised money for New York City schools, and sits on a bunch of boards (no doubt simply because of her name, since she certainly hasn’t done anything else of note). She is an occasional voter. She refuses to disclose her financial information. She has scarcely any political opinions to speak of - or at least, none that she dares to share. Suddenly she decides, on a whim, that she’d like to be a senator, and she thinks that should be argument enough to have one of the most powerful jobs in America dropped in her lap? > [@Spoiled Rich Woman](#): > > “When this opportunity came along, which was sort of unexpected, I thought, `Well, maybe now. How about now?'” "[I’ll have to] work twice as hard as anybody else…I am an unconventional choice…We’re starting to see there are many ways into public life and public service. Yes, there are many ways into public life and public service - but being born to a rich politician and having one of the highest political offices attainable handed to you on a silver platter because you asked for it should not be one of them. Sarah Palin, freaking SARAH PALIN, has more qualifications than this woman. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/2 "2008-12-29T23:13:52Z")
Screw Caroline Kennedy? Ok. Where do I sign? She’s pretty hot for a 51-year-old. And I’m in a bit of dry spell. Hell, throw Sarah Palin in the mix, and we got ourselves a genuine detante going on in my pants. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/3 "2008-12-29T23:15:48Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > Can someone tell me what this woman has done that makes her worthy of being awarded a Senate seat? As best as I can tell, she’s a professional trust fund baby who lives off her name and inherited wealth and has never done anything useful in her life. Sounds a bit over-qualified, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/4 "2008-12-29T23:18:27Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Screw Caroline Kennedy? > > Ok. Where do I sign? She’s pretty hot for a 51-year-old. And I’m in a bit of dry spell. > > Hell, throw Sarah Palin in the mix, and we got ourselves a genuine detante going on in my pants. Palin and Kennedy together? I’m up for a little bi-partisanship. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/5 "2008-12-29T23:24:36Z")
It achieves the unlikely aim of making one feel bad for Andrew Cuomo who, though a son of privilege himself, has an actual resume of sort of actual jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/6 "2008-12-29T23:26:09Z")
Caroline’s actually sexier to me. Maybe I’m nuts, but Sarah doesn’t exactly hoist my pole. Caroline has a privateness about her and a mysterious smile. Sexx0ring her would be an _event_, whereas with Sarah you know it’s just routine. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/7 "2008-12-29T23:36:12Z")
Palin may be more qualified, but I think Kennedy would be a much better Senator than Palin. We already know what kind of Senator Palin would be: she would use the office to bully her opponents and enrich herself and her family and friends by any loophole she could find. There is little reason to believe CK would act this way; she already has lots of money and is used to being an elite, so the power likely wouldn’t go to her head. Her uncle Teddy was far more unqualified than she when his Senate seat was gift-wrapped and dropped into his lap at age 30, and I think most people would agree that he has been an effective Senator, regardless of whether you agree with him or not. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/8 "2008-12-29T23:40:04Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > She is an occasional voter. She refuses to disclose her financial information. She has scarcely any political opinions to speak of - or at least, none that she dares to share. That’s because when she does speak she makes Sarah Palin sound like Stephen Hawking. [Cite](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAgI4AS1NVg) ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/9 "2008-12-29T23:40:17Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Screw Caroline Kennedy? > > Ok. Where do I sign? She’s pretty hot for a 51-year-old. Funny, I was just thinking–she has to be the most unattractive offspring of two major hotties I can conjure up just now…I’m a fan of big-nosed women, don’t get me wrong, but where exactly did that honker come from? ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/10 "2008-12-29T23:54:14Z")
Yeah, people who raise money for schools have no business being a senator. And is she qualified? ```auto at least 30 years old. a U.S. citizen for at least nine years at the time of election to the Senate. a resident of the state one is elected to represent in the Senate. ``` Yes. :rolleyes: Occasional voter? uh… so? Won’t disclose financial records? I don’t blame her for not doing so to Fox “news” or such, but if she really wants the job, she’ll probably do it offically without issue I would assume. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/11 "2008-12-30T00:02:01Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > I mean, come on. She “co-authored” two books, and assembled some collections of poetry related to her family. Them darn _leetists_ and thur _readin’_ and _writin’_. > [@Absolute](#): > > …and sits on a bunch of boards (no doubt simply because of her name, since she certainly hasn’t done anything else of note). People are born into names, you can’t change that. If she chose to help raise money for schools and sits on boards because of that, I have no issue. It’s not like she has a show on MTV, _simply_ because of her name. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/12 "2008-12-30T00:08:22Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > That’s because when she does speak she makes Sarah Palin sound like Stephen Hawking. > > [Cite](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAgI4AS1NVg) That was funny. Actually, I don’t think she’d make a bad Senator. I’m sure there are plenty of people more qualified, but it’s not like one junior Senator makes all that much difference in the grand scheme of things. I sort of like the idea of non-politicians in Congress. And she’d be up for re-election in a few years anyway. Take her for a test drive. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/13 "2008-12-30T00:10:29Z")
> [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > And is she qualified? > > ```auto > > at least 30 years old. > > a U.S. citizen for at least nine years at the time of election to the Senate. > > a resident of the state one is elected to represent in the Senate. > > ``` > > Yes. :rolleyes: As someone who also hated seeing this lame argument trotted out when Sarah Palin was nominated for VP, those are the most base qualifications required by law. I like to hope we strive for a tad more than that. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/14 "2008-12-30T00:26:29Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Funny, I was just thinking–she has to be the most unattractive offspring of two major hotties I can conjure up just now…I’m a fan of big-nosed women, don’t get me wrong, but where exactly did that honker come from? Don’t discount a sizable schnozz. I find an oversized proboscis quite sensuous. Have you never seen _Road House_ (Kelly Lynch) or _Conan the Barbarian_ (Sandahl Bergman)? ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/15 "2008-12-30T00:31:03Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > As someone who also hated seeing this lame argument trotted out when Sarah Palin was nominated for VP, those are the most base qualifications required by law. I like to hope we strive for a tad more than that. We can strive, sure. But if it so happens that one posseses just the base qualifications, and that one has say, down syndrome and no public experience, they too are qualified to be senator. When you say ‘strive for more’, what exactly should one possess that would make them qualifed to be senator? Any examples? ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/16 "2008-12-30T00:32:27Z")
> [@Parental Advisory](#): > > And is she qualified? > > ```auto > > at least 30 years old. > > a U.S. citizen for at least nine years at the time of election to the Senate. > > a resident of the state one is elected to represent in the Senate. > > ``` > > Yes. :rolleyes: You’re right, she’s just as qualified as every resident of New York who’s managed not to die before age 30. Surely you understand that I’m not arguing she’s legally ineligible. If you are going to split hairs over the meaning of the word “qualified”, get a life. Substitute whatever word you like that means “having qualities that suggest she’d be a good senator.” > [@Parental Advisory](#): > > Occasional voter? uh… so? It suggests she was not seriously interested in politics until this opportunity dropped into her lap. > [@Parental Advisory](#): > > Them darn leetists and thur readin’ and writin’. Oh, get lost. I’m not some troglodyte illiterate. I’m not criticizing her for raising money for schools, sitting on boards, or writing some books - if that’s how she chooses to spend her time, that’s fine with me. But it’s a pretty bare resume for a senator. > [@](#): > > People are born into names, you can’t change that. If she chose to help raise money for schools and sits on boards because of that, I have no issue. It’s not like she has a show on MTV, simply because of her name. Without her name and wealth, would we even be having this discussion? Has she done anything in her life that would make her a viable candidate for being _given_ a Senate seat, if her name was not Kennedy? Even Ted Kennedy was actually elected… ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/17 "2008-12-30T00:39:19Z")
> [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > We can strive, sure. But if it so happens that one posseses just the base qualifications, and that one has say, down syndrome and no public experience, they too are qualified to be senator. I don’t have the patience to participate in such a stupid argument. Choosing an extremely limited definition of the word “qualified” and then arguing that she meets it is not going to convince me that she would be an effective senator. I am using the word “qualified” in a perfectly reasonable and well-understood manner, and you are intentionally misinterpreting it so you can make a trivial argument. What qualities does she have that make her any better than any of the other millions of residents of New York state over age 30? ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/18 "2008-12-30T00:45:42Z")
Ok, I get what you’re saying. But, as I asked **Ferret Herder** , what would make her qualified? Does she have to have a purple heart? Was she supposed to a lobbyist? A former CEO? A laywer? A teacher? Owned a Mom & Pop shop? What would set it apart to make her qualifed? Or more to the point, what makes any person qualified above the basics? [you know what, on preview, you already look like an ass. so instead I’ll move on to this quote] > [@Absolute](#): > > What qualities does she have that make her any better than any of the other millions of residents of New York state over age 30? What qualities does she have that put her above the other millions of residents of NYS over age 30? I’d say quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/19 "2008-12-30T00:51:14Z")
Eligible != Qualified. Just ask President Bush or Cynthia McKinney. If you put them in the same room together, they’d form a black hole of stupid and annihilate all of Washington. Not a bad idea, now that I think of it. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127/20 "2008-12-30T01:02:50Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > …she’s a professional trust fund baby who lives off her name and inherited wealth and has never done anything useful in her life. The woman is clearly not ready to be a senator. Now, a governorship, or even a two-term presidency… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-caroline-kennedy/479127.md?page=2)