# Would you vote for Caroline Kennedy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 1, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433 "2009-01-01T02:52:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![greatshakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@greatshakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greatshakes)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/1 "2009-01-01T02:52:22Z")
I got curious, watching her on TV. I wouldn’t, but I think elective politics are ridiculous, so I don’t vote. But, if I were a voter, I wouldn’t vote for her. I just think she’s a bit too smug-Kennedy entitlement, and all of that. Also, she walks like a…what, a man? A Kennedy woman that walks like a man? Something doesn’t look right. That’s about all of my reasons. So, the question isn’t whether or not she should be appointed, but, rather, would YOU vote for her? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/2 "2009-01-01T03:56:36Z")
Not to get personal, but if your criteria for voting is smugness and walking it’s probably just as well you’re sitting out elections. I can’t say for certain I’d vote for her but I’d strongly consider it. I’ve read her books on constitutional law and she seems knowledgeable. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/3 "2009-01-01T06:00:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Not to get personal, but if your criteria for voting is smugness and walking it’s probably just as well you’re sitting out elections. Exactly. I throw like a girl, so I couldn’t count on your vote either. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/4 "2009-01-01T06:09:15Z")
She would need to convince me. I don’t know enough about her yet. What I have seen is not encouraging. I might vote for her if I thought the alternative was worse. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/5 "2009-01-01T06:10:26Z")
Of course not. She’s a Kennedy. ---
**Author:** ![Mumio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@Mumio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mumio)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/6 "2009-01-01T06:22:52Z")
No, I wouldn’t vote for her. She has nothing in her background that really qualifies her for that role IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/7 "2009-01-01T06:58:15Z")
Depends on what I want in a senator. If I want someone to get potholes filled, and bring pork to the state, then no. If I wanted someone capable of having a high profile on the international stage and give that person an opportunity to use that profile to make the world better in some way, then yeah, I’d give her a shot. ---
**Author:** ![constantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/8 "2009-01-01T07:15:53Z")
I am stunned that there is even any serious discussion in New York of appointing her Senator. The only reason that there is any discussion at all is her last name. If her last name was anything else, no one would even think for one second about appointing her. There is no way I would vote for her. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/9 "2009-01-01T07:22:44Z")
No. Joseph P. Kennedy’s grandchildren are a generally undistinguished bunch, and she’s squarely in the lower half. I haven’t read her books on constitutional law. Would it be churlish to wonder if she’s the actual writer? I only ask because most books by celebrities famous for something other than writing tend to be ghostwritten. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/10 "2009-01-01T07:27:12Z")
> [@](#): > > I am stunned that there is even any serious discussion in New York of appointing her Senator. The only reason that there is any discussion at all is her last name. If her last name was anything else, no one would even think for one second about appointing her. There is no way I would vote for her. This would sound a lot more credible if people in California didn’t keep voting movie actors into political office. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/11 "2009-01-01T07:32:20Z")
> [@](#): > > I haven’t read her books on constitutional law. Would it be churlish to wonder if she’s the actual writer? I only ask because most books by celebrities famous for something other than writing tend to be ghostwritten. Other than having famous parents, writing is mostly what she’s famous for. She has a law degree from Columbia University and has passed the bar. I don’t know any reason to believe she didn’t actually do the writing she’s credited with. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/12 "2009-01-01T07:52:15Z")
And she at least passed the bar in fewer attempts than her brother. ---
**Author:** ![constantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/13 "2009-01-01T09:42:51Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > This would sound a lot more credible if people in California didn’t keep **voting** movie actors into political office. Number one, the key word here is “voting”. Number two, as you no doubt already know, the first movie actor voted into office, Ronald Reagan, was later voted into office by the entire country. I don’t agree with many of Reagan’s policies, but he was an effective president and is widely well regarded. The second, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has not impressed me very much as governor, and I did not vote for him. But Schwarzenegger was a very successful entrepreneur as well as a movie actor before he was elected to office. I am assuming your comment is tongue in cheek, but nonetheless I think you are implying that because someone is a movie actor they don’t have any brains and they just, e.g., read whatever their handlers put in front of them. This is preposterously untrue of both Reagan and Schwarzenegger. This is not to say I’m not troubled by this phenomenon, especially in the case of Schwarzenegger. I think lots of people voted for him for stupid reasons, and I am concerned about the effect of celebrity on politics. But on the other hand, both Reagan and Schwarzenegger were self-made men. They did not run for election based on their famous parents or grand parents. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/14 "2009-01-01T10:59:21Z")
Even if she did write those books on Constitutional Law, I can’t see that validating her as a politicion. Of course I don’t get to vote. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/15 "2009-01-01T14:42:46Z")
Im surprised im the first one whos said it depends on who shes running against. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/16 "2009-01-01T15:52:51Z")
I assume that for the purposes of this question, I live in New York. In a primary? Maybe, probably not; it would depend on who she was running against and what kind of campaign she ran, and judging by her behavior so far, I don’t think I’d like the latter. In a general election, hell yes, since I’ve never voted for a Republican in my life and I’m unlikely to start now if the Democratic candidate is anyone other than Blagojevich. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/17 "2009-01-01T15:57:18Z")
I like her. I think she’s a good person. She’s smart, and her heart is in the right place. However, I would not vote for her. She’s not a good communicator. Might this change? Possibly, but not in time for _this_ gig. Sorry Caroline, but I don’t think this is your job this time around. You can do great things for your country in some other capacity. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/18 "2009-01-01T16:02:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Number two, as you no doubt already know, the first movie actor voted into office, Ronald Reagan, was later voted into office by the entire country. I don’t agree with many of Reagan’s policies, but he was an effective president and is widely well regarded. > > The second, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has not impressed me very much as governor, and I did not vote for him. But Schwarzenegger was a very successful entrepreneur as well as a movie actor before he was elected to office. Reagan wasn’t the first actor elected in California. Albert Dekker, Helen Gahagan and George Murphy preceded him. Other actors who went on the office in California include Alan Autry, Sonny Bono, Bob Dornan, and Clint Eastwood. John Gavin and Shirley Temple were appointed to diplomatic posts. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/19 "2009-01-01T16:26:37Z")
I am bemused by the fact that there was such constant criticism of Palin (and I agree she was a terrible choice for VP) that she did not have enough experience. Yet, I have yet to read or hear a single commentator remark upon the fact that Kennedy has zero experience to qualify her for the Sentate. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433/20 "2009-01-01T16:36:05Z")
I’m equally bemused that so many people seem to be saying “Well, I don’t really know anything about her or care to find out, but I’m assuming she’s unqualified. She’s a _Kennedy_, after all.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-vote-for-caroline-kennedy/479433.md?page=2)