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Paterson Acknowledges Kennedy Lacks Experience

January 08, 2009 6:47 PM

ABC News’ Eloise Harper reports: New York Gov. David Paterson, in an interview with WOR-AM’s “The Joan Hamburg Show,” said that Caroline Kennedy does have “minuses.”

But Paterson added that having Kennedy in the Senate seat that would be vacated if Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is confirmed as secretary of state would be advantageous because of Kennedy’s relationship with President-elect Barack Obama.

“Caroline Kennedy obviously does have a tremendous relationship with the president and that’s certainly a plus,” he said. “She does not have much political, I mean legislative experience, which is a minus. She has pluses and minuses.”

Paterson has been receiving scrutiny from some local politicians for considering Kennedy as a candidate, including early comments from a New York congressman comparing former President John F. Kennedy’s daughter to "J-Lo" -- i.e., singer and actress Jennifer Lopez.

On Dec. 15, Paterson announced that Kennedy had expressed interest in the seat, and the following day she embarked on a tour of upstate New York to meet with local politicians.

Kennedy received criticism for frequently saying “you know” and “um” in the round of local interviews she conducted.

On Thursday, Paterson said he still had more candidates to meet with, and that he still has not met with Kennedy, although they have spoken on the phone.

“I told her right after the State of the State Address, which I gave yesterday, that I’ll get together and sit down and talk to her along with a couple of other candidates,” Paterson said. “I’ve talked to about 10. There [are] about four or five more that I’m hoping to get to in the next week. And then I’ll make a decision on who’s the best candidate.”

Paterson joked, “It ain’t nothing until I calls it,” in reference to speculation tied to his deliberations.

Paterson said there is only one person deciding who will take this seat -- himself -- and he has said he will not name a replacement until after Clinton is sworn in as secretary of state.

Clinton’s confirmation hearings begin in the Senate on Tuesday, Jan. 13.

January 8, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (86)

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What do you think was his first clue?

Posted by: Sluggo | Jan 8, 2009 7:01:19 PM

What do you think was his first clue? You know?

Posted by: Sluggo | Jan 8, 2009 7:08:30 PM

She is still "minus" the truth about her father's killers.

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/head-shot/

Posted by: lancer | Jan 8, 2009 7:12:19 PM

PAY TO PLAY politics. Ted and Caroline endorsed Obama in return Caroline would get appointed to Hillary's Senate seat.
OUTRAGEOUS..!!!!!

Posted by: CW | Jan 8, 2009 7:12:23 PM

Caroline Kennedy? Has this country gone completely nuts - You have to give her this - she sure has an ego to think for a second that she could do the job - when she never has had one. Our country is in trouble, why in hell would we give her the time of day?

OO I know smell the liberal press again. Why not cut to the chase and give it to the airhead Couric and be done with it.

What is happening in America - The gays want to call the shots now that they got Obama elected. The liberal are not liberal at all they hate everyone who a different opinion than theirs.

But trust the press they will do all they can to get this loser elected after all she is on the same level as they are. They all know what the great unwashed need.

Posted by: A CITIZEN | Jan 8, 2009 7:20:13 PM

Funny... the same "mainstream" media that ripped Sarah Palin for a total lack of qualifications to be vice-president (even though she is the sitting governor of a state) is virtually silent about Caroline Kennedy's "you know," qualifications (or TOTAL lack thereof) to be a US Senator.

Hmmmmm, I wonder why this is the case???

Posted by: Steve | Jan 8, 2009 7:21:52 PM

Caroline is the right choice.

Posted by: rightbehind | Jan 8, 2009 7:24:55 PM

Her diction is very much like Sarah Palin's, that's why I find it puzzling that Republicans would oppose her nomination.

Posted by: smith | Jan 8, 2009 7:25:55 PM

you know...it reeks of entitlement...you know

Posted by: boxcar | Jan 8, 2009 7:33:57 PM

Because qualifications and diction are not the same thing. Implying that a governor and Carry Kennedy have remotely similar qualifications requires the "suspension of reality". ...of course you obviously helped elect a 47 year old junior senator to President of the nation with the worlds largest economy and only remaining super power...so judging experience is not your thing! LOL

Posted by: Steve | Jan 8, 2009 7:36:36 PM

An unelected governor "appoints" an inexperienced heiress for senate in the most consequential state in the union. This is even worse than any banana republic could have come up with. God save us. Americas butt has been exposed.

Posted by: eezzyy | Jan 8, 2009 7:46:14 PM

Experience?

Anyone new to the Federal Senate will be inexperiece. Unless they pick an Ex Senator who was forced to resign due to unspeakable behavior. Or someone who retired. Or someone who passed away.

How many of the current Senators had no experience in Washington when they were selected. How many of the current Senators only had state, county or city experience in government. Some of the best Senators came out of the private sector, that is No experience with the Federal government at all.

So what is this really about?

Posted by: Angel | Jan 8, 2009 7:48:54 PM

PAY TO PLAY POLITICS. Ted and Caorile endorsed Obama in return for Hillary's Senate seat. CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN...

Posted by: CW | Jan 8, 2009 7:50:18 PM

Clearly, 2008 was the year when qualifications and credentials became passe. I'm looking forward to running my pet dog for Congress in 2010. In addition to having demonstrated loyalty and trustworthiness, he's rescued people and other animals from fires and hurricanes. He also instinctively knows the difference between real and fake and what's good for me and my friends. But what I most like about him is that he isn't all bark and no bite. Not my dog. My dog will bite the as* off of anyone who tries to pull a funny on his watch, and I just think that's really what America needs now in Washington ... a well-mannered dog who will not hesitate to bite the hand (and other body parts) off of the hands that try to feed him bull.

Posted by: Rob | Jan 8, 2009 7:51:53 PM

Glad to know Governor Patterson is taking this seriously. She's not ready yet. Um's and I knows have proven that. We know she's smart but you need experience in the real world.

Posted by: t42 | Jan 8, 2009 7:53:03 PM

Finally, even NY-D. Gov. Paterson acknowledges, too that Caroline Schlossber is lack of Experience. PERIOD. GOOD BUY CAROLINE, SEE Y 2010


Posted by: Jung -NY | Jan 8, 2009 7:55:17 PM

Caroline Kennedy is not qualified for the job. Period. The woman is not even qualified to shine shoes. She is totally inept.

Posted by: joshfisher | Jan 8, 2009 8:14:17 PM

Paterson said she qualifies because, you know, she is a friend of Obama, you know.

Posted by: CW | Jan 8, 2009 8:16:23 PM

I have always like Caroline but I have to confess I was turned off after hearing her speak in lenght. Surprised since she attended Harvard. I was so annoyed by the constant "you know", I taught it was just me who didn't didn't like it, but obviously others picked up on it also. Wow...I don't agree that reason she says that very often is because of entitlement. To me people who abuse that sentiment show below average intelligent and someone who obviously doesn't know. I'm begining to wonder if she herself wrote her books. Her vocabulary is very poor, considering she went to an ivy league college. Even someone who attends a community college has more extensive vocabulary than Caroline. I wasn't impressed, but it could be nerves. Just not impressed after hearing her last lenghty speech. Every other word was you know, you know, no Caroline we don't know if you can'y fill in a sentence. But whatever, still think she's decent person.

Posted by: zorra | Jan 8, 2009 8:23:49 PM

Just because she is a Kennedy doesn't imply she has good judgement . Just look at Ted Kennedy.

Posted by: Brian | Jan 8, 2009 8:33:38 PM

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