For those of you keeping track, the US Senate might soon house more Kennedys than the combined number of African-American and Hispanic Senators.
Barack Obama resigned from the Senate shortly after his election, meaning that there are presently zero African-American Senators. Today came the unexpected news that Colorado Senator Ken Salazar is favored to be tapped as Secretary of the Interior; we will have a lot to say about the electoral ramifications if that nomination actually occurs, but one immediate consequence would be to reduce the number of Hispanic Senators to Florida’s Mel Martinez and New Jersey’s Bob Menendez. (Martinez has already announced that he will leave the Senate in 2010.)
Of course, any of these seats could be filled by a Hispanic or by an African-American. But that would require the Kennedy family to renounce its attempted hold-up on the US Senate.
Most of the speculation has centered on New York and Caroline Kennedy, but there is now talk of an Illinois Kennedy! The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Chris Kennedy’s name is being floated by Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn’s entourage as a potential contender for Obama’s seat. (Chris is RFK’s son.)
With Teddy Kennedy representing Massachusetts, this raises the possibility of three Kennedys in the US Senate. We can add to this the reports that Teddy has been lobbying for his wife Vicki to take his place if he were forced to leave his position. And perhaps I should look at whether there is a Colorado-based Kennedy who could seek Salazar’s seat.
While Chris Kennedy is still at best a long shot, Caroline is looking increasingly aggressive in pursuing Hillary Clinton’s seat. Today, her entourage spread the word that Kennedy had decided that she did want to serve in the Senate and that she was reaching out to Governor David Paterson to inform him of her determination.
Kennedy had no choice but to go public if she was serious about a Senate appointment. Ever since her name surfaced, other contenders have delivered brutal critiques of her qualifications, her experience and whether she was being considered for any other reason than her last name.
One House member, Rep. Ackerman, even compared her to J. Lo. “I don’t know what Caroline Kennedy’s qualifications are,” he said, “except that she has name recognition, but so does J.Lo. I wouldn’t make J.Lo the senator unless she proved she had great qualifications, but we haven’t seen them yet.”
This week, Kennedy realized that she needed to respond. She hired a political consulting firm to help her manage PR efforts, and she reached out to Reverand Al Sharpton, an important figure of New York politics who then released a statement praising her. She also called Senator Chuck Schumer and Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
All of this said, Kennedy’s prospects are being helped by decisions made by other contenders more than by anything she is doing herself. The two women who were considered among Paterson’s likeliest picks - Reps. Nita Lowey and Nydia Velazquez - pulled their name from consideration (Velazquez just did so last week).
If Paterson wants to name a woman to replace Hillary, these withdrawals leave Caroline Kennedy few competitors (Rep. Gillibrand is often mentioned as well).
I don’t know why Obama is considering filling his cabinet with another sitting senator. I really don’t think that’s a good idea; there are already 3 special senate elections coming up, and Salazaar would make 4. (I realize Obama and Salazaar would be up for reelection anyway, but now there will be appointed senators in there place.)
I meant “their” place. And I know there might be an earlier special election in Illinois, but even if a Democrat wins that, he or she will still probably be vulnerable in 2010.
Joe, you are right - but you have to think that if a Dem wins a spring 2009 special election [presumably against a solid Republican like Kirk, he or she will be favored in 2010. As for Colorado, it’s not like Salazar himself is safe - and the state GOP is plagued by a weak bench.
Taniel, you forgot Bob Menendez.
Indeed, Panos! That’s quite an omission on my part and it has been rectified. And it does not change the math since the premise of the article was Salazar’s reported departure and the potential for three Kennedys now that Chris’s name is being floated.
It may be unfair that much of Caroline Kennedy’s popularity comes from her name, but I’d much rather have someone with her apparent ideology in the Senate than either of the “pro-life” neocons named Salazar (Ken and John). At least, in such states as New York, Colorado, Delaware, and Illinois; the electorate in 2010 will have the last word on who serves longer than two years. I think what we need is a constitutional amendment requiring that both US Senate and House vacancies be filled within something like three months via special primary and general elections. It can’t be just a general election. That would still leave too much power to the political people in the back room. Sure, elections cost money. But what price democracy and fair representation for the people at large?
What is wrong with having the Kennedy’s in the senate. At least they speak English.
I see no harm in having as few hispanics as possible, or soon all business will be in English AND Spanish.
Ken Stevens,
You make a solid point–I agree with you that vacancies should be filled via a special election–it’s more transparent to the electorate. Your idea concerning a constitutional amendment definitely has its merits, and I think you could find bipartisan support.
Tom, I speak very little Spanish–it was one of my worst subjects in college. However, I don’t know what you exactly mean by “or soon all business will be in English AND Spanish”. I’ve seen many businesses hire people where Spanish is their native language so they can communicate to their Latino/Hispanic clients. If you are stating that you don’t want businesses REQUIRED to communicate in Spanish, I believe I support your thoughts. At the same time, I’m not against electing Hispanic politicians. The Hispanic community has grown in recent years, and I feel they have the right to be fairly represented in congress. Anyway, I respect your opinion.