Appelbaum Disagrees On Kennedy's Ties to Obama
By Azi Paybarah
RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum emailed me to take issue with Kevin Sheekey's latest argument for appointing Caroline Kennedy to Hillary Clinton's Senate seat.
Sheekey has recently said that Kennedy should get the job because she endorsed Barack Obama in the primary, unlike most high-profile Democrats. Applebaum says that's doesn't line up with the kind of politics Obama has said he’ll bring to Washington--basicaly, he thinks the argument hints at the culture of coziness, exclusiveness and backroom deals that Obama has criticized.
Stuart wrote:
The argument that is now being made on behalf of Caroline Kennedy's candidacy appears to be this:
Caroline Kennedy will be able to deliver for New York because of her relationship with the President-elect. The argument goes that when Kennedy asks Obama for something, he'll respond "I'll pay attention and do it for you, Caroline.
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Syndicate
Well we do know that Obama
Well we do know that Obama had his favorite candidate(s) in his home state. What makes anyone think he isn't trying to assemble his "team" in the Senate?
Trusting Caroline to help pick Joe Biden is good for NY
The politics of unity, that Barack Obama has unleashed is a fact. That doesn't take away from an equally important fact that Caroline's judgment is trusted by President-Elect Obama, and it is that demonstrated trust, not payback, which Caroline brings to the table as a NY Senator.
Obviously, we all have friends who would have filled Hillary's senate shoes respectfully. However, all that changed with Caroline's entry into the field, for now Governor Paterson's appointment power has reached worldwide consequence!
Dated: 1/3/09
/s/
Ravi Batra
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