The only surviving child of President John F. Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, has come out in support of Barack Obama.
In an op-ed piece scheduled for tomorrow’s Sunday New York Times, Kennedy endorses Obama as a man who can inspire this generation of voters the way her father inspired previous generations. I know Oprah is important but in the world of politics, I doubt you can get much better than Caroline Kennedy.
I’m not terribly happy with Democrats or Republicans. I call myself a Libertarian because that’s closest to my beliefs. I’ve also come to the conclusion that there will never be a candidate with whom I agree on most issues. My grandmother, however, was a Kennedy Democrat - except that she didn’t like Teddy - and she passed on to me a respect for the former President and great admiration for Jackie. I guess I hold Caroline in high esteem based on her parents.
Anyway, two thoughts came to mind as I read Caroline’s op-ed piece. First, I wonder how women who lambasted Oprah for endorsing a man instead of a woman are going to respond to this. Might this take the negative attention away from Oprah? Will her endorsement be bolstered, validated even, with Caroline Kennedy speaking up?
Second, check out the last paragraph of Caroline’s essay.
I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.
Not only has Caroline Kennedy chosen to back Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton, but that final paragraph is a shot at former President Bill Clinton. Damn.
Just damn.