Caroline Kennedy Is No Sarah Palin
Kathleen Parker asks a good question in the Washington Post today:
WASHINGTON—It is a legitimate question: Why is the resume-thin Caroline Kennedy being treated seriously as a prospective appointee to the U.S. Senate when the comparatively more-qualified Gov. Sarah Palin received such a harsh review?
Unfortunately, after asking it, she dismisses it as illegitimate because it represents (in her opinion) comparing apples to oranges. See, Caroline Kennedy is to be appointed to the Senate. Sarah Palin was running for Vice President.
So, essentially, Parker is arguing that Kennedy seeks appointment to a role in the US government of less importance than the one Palin sought to be elected to. But I don’t buy that argument.
Yes, if appointed, Kennedy would be just 1 of 100 Senators. But she’d be just one of two Senators representing one of the most populous states in the country, and let’s not forget that our various branches of government are supposed to be “separate but equal.” A Senator is, to my mind, every bit as important as a President.
Also, Senators handle many sensitive issues. For many decisions made pertaining to the military, national security, etc. aren’t made by the full Senate but rather by the various oversight committees. Remember “Charlie Wilson’s War” where one Representative who just happened to be on the right committee almost single handedly armed the Mujahedin in Afghanistan in their fight against the Soviets?
Senators are important, and those who are now supporting Caroline Kennedy but who accused Sarah Palin of being inexperienced are a bunch of hypocrites.
