In politics, “rumors” regarding candidates’ supposedly modest “interest” in pursuing higher office typically mask full-fledged strategies for victory. In this vein, Caroline Kennedy has quickly moved beyond mere “interest” in Hillary Clinton’s soon-to-be-vacated Senate seat – she is now pursuing it aggressively on multiple fronts.
On Wednesday, Kennedy’s bizarre non-campaign of sorts brought her to Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, where she listed her sterling qualifications: “I’ve written books on the Constitution and the importance of individual participation. And I’ve raised my family.” (Naturally, Kennedy declined to mention her one actual bit of political experience: chairing the vice-presidential search committee that produced the embarrassing Joe Biden.)
Meanwhile, New York City Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey – Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s Karl Rove – was hard at work phoning labor leaders on Kennedy’s behalf. Indeed, despite Governor David Paterson’s promise that he won’t appoint anyone until late January, New York’s political establishment seems ready to converge around Kennedy and move on.
Of course, much of Kennedy’s appeal is the result of New York’s incredibly unappealing Democratic congressional delegation, which would normally be the talent pool for filling Senate seats. Few of New York’s House representatives have any name recognition beyond their districts, and those that do – the erratic Anthony Weiner, the tax-evading Charlie Rangel, and the carnation-wearing Gary Ackerman – hardly seem senatorial. (As for Nita Lowey – who should have run in 2000 – she recently turned 71.)
But therein lies the problem: New York’s political establishment is looking for its next senator in all the wrong places. Rather than thumbing through the resumes of stale congressmen or searching the phonebook’s Park Avenue listings, Governor Paterson should turn his attention toward the New York City Council, which is home to a handful of New York’s more compelling leaders.
Remember: thanks to term limit laws, each New York councilman has been elected within the past ten years and – even with the recent revision to the law – can only serve a maximum of twelve years. Unlike congressmen who lose their luster after decades of running from neatly gerrymandered districts, councilmen must remain fresh in preparation for their next political promotions. Despite the Council’s limited purview, one councilman in particular has demonstrated leadership worthy of a Senate appointment: John C. Liu.
Having represented parts of northeast Queens since 2002, Liu would be an intriguing choice for a number of reasons. First, as chair of the City Council’s Committee on Transportation, Liu would bring appropriate experience for working with the incoming Obama administration on improving domestic infrastructure. Second, Liu has demonstrated laudable political independence. In October, he was among the minority of councilmen who voted against extending term limits for city offices, including his own. Finally, having emigrated from Taiwan when he was five years old, Liu would be the first Asian-American to serve in a statewide office. His appointment would therefore widen political opportunities for one of New York’s largest – and often overlooked – minority groups.
Most importantly, putting Liu on the “short list” of possible Senate replacements would delay plans for the next Kennedy coronation. It would force Governor Paterson to choose between a respected councilman who has been hard at work serving his constituents for the past six years, and a presidential daughter who has conspicuously dropped “Schlossberg” from her last name.
Between Liu and Kennedy, the more deserving choice seems clear enough. But if New Yorkers sit back and allow the political establishment to converge towards Kennedy, Paterson will be left with no choice at all.
