New York Times: It Won't Be Caroline

by Jonathan Singer, Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 02:38:32 PM EST

Nicholas Confessore and Danny Hakim broke the story tonight.

Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn from consideration for the vacant Senate seat in New York, according to a person told of her decision.
On Wednesday she called the governor, David Paterson, who is making the selection of who should succeed Senator Hillary Clinton. Her concerns about Senator Edward M. Kennedy's deteriorating health (he was hospitalized after a seizure during the inaugural lunch on Tuesday ) prompted her decision to withdraw, this person said. Coping with the health issues of her uncle, with whom she enjoys an extraordinarily close bond, was her most important priority; a situation not conducive to starting a high profile public job.
She was planning to issue a statement on Wednesday evening.

It's not yet clear if this is one of the situations in which a potential appointee withdraws his or her name in advance of forthcoming news that he or she was not in the end the pick or a genuine decision by Caroline Kennedy to take her name out of the running; in this case, I'm inclined to think it's the latter. Either way, this is certainly a major development, and comes at least as somewhat of a surprise despite recent polling indicating that Kennedy's numbers had significantly slipped among New York voters.

More as we hear it...

Update [2009-1-21 22:10:3 by Jonathan Singer]:Or not?

However, a Kennedy family source told NBC News' David Gregory that Caroline Kennedy had not withdrawn. Two sources hinted to NBC News that there may have been a miscommunication between Kennedy and Paterson's office.

Interesting...

Tags: Caroline Kennedy, New York, NY-SEN (all tags)

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Great work, haters.

A potentially very good appointee destroyed by media "concern."

I hope she runs in 2012 and runs roughshod over the competition, Hillary Clinton-style.

by Dracomicron 2009-01-21 02:56PM | 0 recs

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she's leading the fight against debt

With her leadership on saving face.

And I wouldn't mind seeing her run in 2010 (next time it is up), but being gifted for no reason is just stupid.

Beyond name, she only had fundraising. And if she had any political skills she would have raised lasting government revenue for NYC schools, not big checks for Bloomberg photo-ops.

Today is a great deal, the type of entitlement reform we need.

by Bob Brigham 2009-01-21 03:00PM | 0 recs

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Ugh, 'gifted for no reason?'

First, it's sad that you consider being appointed to something you're perfectly qualified for is a "gift."

Second, "only fundraising" is still more than quite a few senators have, even if you completely discount her high intelligence, moral fiber, and perspective.

Folks around here talk like she's the left's Sarah Palin or something, and that's just sick.

by Dracomicron 2009-01-21 03:09PM | 0 recs

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Re: Ugh, 'gifted for no reason?'

I know many highly intelligent, morally sound people with great perspective. I would bet there's a huge number of NYers with these qualities. If that's all it takes to be appointed senator, then I think Patterson should appoint my friend Vinnie, who is a NYC school teacher. He has all of the qualities you extol.

by orestes 2009-01-21 03:21PM | 0 recs

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Re: Ugh, 'gifted for no reason?'

High intelligence?
Not politically as demonstrated by her ham-handed surfacing.

Moral fiber?
She was AWOL during Bush and now this? We have two members of our caucus who have had brian surgery, her uncle shows up to vote with a brain tumor and her official statement is she can't serve because of a sick relative?

by Bob Brigham 2009-01-21 03:26PM | 0 recs

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Turns out the rumor is false

So the point is moot.

by Dracomicron 2009-01-21 03:53PM | 0 recs

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Moot?

If she says she's trying again after all then she will have set a new record of ineptitude in her senate bid. Getting out looked bad enough, but getting back in would be far from a moot point.

by Bob Brigham 2009-01-21 04:25PM | 0 recs

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Sad, My thoughts:

Fuck Patterson. And Fuck NYTs.

Hope NY gets shafted in the upcoming stimulus, god knows the wall street Capital there don't deserve anything big either.

by YourConcernsAreNoted 2009-01-21 02:57PM | 0 recs

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sad?

While Patterson did dick around way too long, it may have been the only way to keep Bloomberg from forcing him to waste the pick on Caroline.

by Bob Brigham 2009-01-21 03:04PM | 0 recs

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Waste the pick?

fuck off to algres corner deadender.

by YourConcernsAreNoted 2009-01-21 03:08PM | 0 recs

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Re: Waste the pick?

Why such a hostile reaction?

by orestes 2009-01-21 03:14PM | 0 recs

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Re: sad?

I don't know why you would think Bloomberg had anything to do with it. Bloomberg cozied up to her because he has to pretend he's a Democrat again to force through another (god forbid) term. He's not calling the shots for Patterson. That's crazy.

by orestes 2009-01-21 03:12PM | 0 recs

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Re: sad?

But she would be viewed as a Bloomberger.

The longer Patterson waited, the less inevitable Caroline looked. And the more negative stuff came out.

by Bob Brigham 2009-01-21 03:30PM | 0 recs

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Re: sad?

Well, that's a different point. And one I agree with. Bloomberg did not help her at all.

by orestes 2009-01-21 03:35PM | 0 recs

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Re: Sad, My thoughts:

For the 18+ million NYers who don't work in the financial services sector, thanks for thinking the rest of us don't deserve any help from the stimulus plan. My unemployed wife (also not a financial services person) will be particularly pleased to know your thoughts and concerns.

We will be sure to repay the favor the next time your state (whatever that may be) is in need of taxpayer assistance.

by jmnyc 2009-01-21 04:11PM | 0 recs

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Re: New York Times: It Won't Be Caroline

I've had this sense for over a week now, although it was put in doubt by the Post report a day or two ago. Patterson's comment that he had to look to someone who could win the seat in 2010 did not spell good news for Kennedy. I think appointing her is unpopular enough in NY that Patterson realized it wasn't really going to fly. I'm glad she has the opportunity for a graceful exit, but I wish it were under different circumstances. I'd like to see her run, but I don't think it's a good idea to appoint her.

by orestes 2009-01-21 03:08PM | 0 recs

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Re: New York Times: It Won't Be Caroline

I would have been mildly disappointed if she were the pick, so I'm mildly pleased by this news. But it seems quite obvious that there's a major part of this story which is not being told. Maybe we'll find out.

My opinion is that someone who had no interest in the job until it was virtually offered to her on a silver platter would not have been a particularly effective senator for NY anyway. Maybe she'll run in 2012 and prove me completely wrong, but what exactly about her history makes anyone believe that could happen?

by Steve M 2009-01-21 03:31PM | 0 recs

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When you can't give people

a good reason to appoint you, and can only say "you know" when you're asked a question by people who will be voting for you in 2010, don't expect to get the job. Being a Kennedy is not enough.

by Lakrosse 2009-01-21 03:44PM | 0 recs

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Re: New York Times: It Won't Be Caroline

I'm pretty sure this was a situation where she withdrew her name in advance of forthcoming news that she was not the pick. If Teddy's health problems are her highest priority, she never would have said she was interested in the job in the first place. His health problems did not surface yesterday and anyone familiar with his condition (which she is) has known for quite some time that they will be an ongoing issue.

by LakersFan 2009-01-21 03:53PM | 0 recs

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Hmmmmmm ....

If it's really his uncle's health that she's concerned about, then I expect her to run for some kind of office (whether Hillary's senate seat in 2010 or a House seat or something) once those concerns are resolved.

Because if she really believes that she can make a difference in elected government, she ought to run for office, in the light of day, and face voters' judgment.

Otherwise, she's withdrawing because she was told (or found out somehow) she won't be Patterson's pick. To save herself from humiliation, in other words.

by Sieglinde 2009-01-21 03:59PM | 0 recs

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Re: New York Times: It Won't Be Caroline

Caroline seems to be a grown-up. Jonathan has a way to go, yet.

by QTG 2009-01-21 04:08PM | 0 recs

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Re: New York Times: It Won't Be Caroline

Turns out it's not true.

by Jess81 2009-01-21 04:21PM | 0 recs

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Re: New York Times: It Won't Be Caroline

Any Link? I just hear it is not true but ONLY on MSNBC so far..

by YourConcernsAreNoted 2009-01-21 04:30PM | 0 recs

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Re: New York Times: It Won't Be Caroline

Somebody looks inept:

However, a Kennedy family source told NBC News' David Gregory that Caroline Kennedy had not withdrawn. Two sources hinted to NBC News that there may have been a miscommunication between Kennedy and Paterson's office.

Miscommunication?

First they couldn't get their stories straight on why she was withdrawing and now they can't get their stories straight on if she is withdrawing?

by Bob Brigham 2009-01-21 04:39PM | 0 recs

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Re: New York Times: It Won't Be Caroline

MSNBC you mean? Or what?

by Jess81 2009-01-21 04:49PM | 0 recs

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Re: New York Times: It Won't Be Caroline

No Caroline's people, I think MSNBC is probably reporting what they are hearing.

Here's the way this works, you don't have multiple papers all run the same story citing sources without at least the Times calling the campaign for comment. That is when you say it is BS if it is BS.

Having a "Kennedy family source" deny it hours after the fact means it looks like she is trying to get back in the race and in a way even worse than her last effort.

Inept, total chaos. If it already wasn't abundantly clear she lacks any political skills, it should be now.

by Bob Brigham 2009-01-21 04:54PM | 0 recs

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unbelievable!

Patterson is a total disgrace.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0 109/Not_Caroline.html?showall

UPDATE: Democrat close to Kennedy, however, says "she is not" pulling out. None of her spokesmen immediately responded to a request for comment.

UPDATE: I still haven't confirmed this, and people quite close to Caroline continue to deny it. Indeed, her New York City inner political circle appears to be out of the loop. But the story appears to be coming from Paterson's camp in Albany, so details aside, the effect is the same.

by YourConcernsAreNoted 2009-01-21 04:58PM | 0 recs

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Re: unbelievable!

Way to cite anti-democrat douche Ben Smith. Bravo.

by lojasmo 2009-01-21 06:16PM | 0 recs

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Re: unbelievable!

Uprated because of HR misuse

by brit 2009-01-22 02:12PM | 0 recs

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AP is definetive!!

Hurray!

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- After wavering briefly, Caroline Kennedy renewed her determination Wednesday to win appointment to the U.S. Senate seat once held by her slain uncle, Bobby Kennedy, a person close to the decision said.

After her surviving uncle, Sen. Edward Kennedy, suffered a seizure on Inauguration Day, Caroline Kennedy had misgivings about taking on the new job, the source said, speaking to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak for Kennedy. Earlier in the day, The New York Times and New York Post reported that Kennedy had ended her monthlong bid to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was confirmed as secretary of state.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/C AROLINE_KENNEDY?SITE=OKOKL&SECTION=H OME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

by YourConcernsAreNoted 2009-01-21 06:28PM | 0 recs

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Na na na na, Na na na na

Hey hey hey, Goodbye!

by Mario Democrat 2009-01-21 08:40PM | 0 recs

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Re: New York Times: It Won't Be Caroline

While in Iraq, a soldier in my squad stepped on a mine. Killing him and blowing off my right foot. I struggle day to day as i watch the liberals tear apart a nation that i sacraficed my body to protect. It sickens me that you would consider putting this silver spoon hag into office.

by air2jjm 2009-01-22 12:39AM | 0 recs