Friday, December 12, 2008

The other Senate seat

Amidst all of the controversy surrounding the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama -- and Governor Blagojevich's apparent plans to award it to the highest bidder -- we should remember that there is another seat that also awaits a governor's appointment -- the New York seat currently filled by Hillary Clinton. The name being bandied about most frequently to fill it is that of Caroline Kennedy -- JFK's daughter and Sen. Ted Kennedy's niece. According to Froma Harrop:
Uncle Ted has been reminding Democrats that Caroline would be backed by — as the Times straightforwardly put it — "the Kennedy family's extensive fundraising network."
Now, would that money go directly into NY Governor Paterson's pocket? No. But the point still stands that money and other political considerations certainly play a significant factor in the decision-making process. The difference between this and Blagojevich's apparent machinations is only one of degrees.

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