Charles Krauthammer takes issue with the notion that a supporting role in Camelot is sufficient background for a spot in the Senate:

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against Caroline Kennedy. She seems a fine person. She certainly has led the life of a worthy socialite helping all the right causes. But when the mayor of New York endorses her candidacy by offering, among other reasons, that “her uncle has been one of the best senators that we have had in an awful long time,” we’ve reached the point of embarrassment.

Nor is Ms. Kennedy alone in her sense of entitlement. Vice President-elect Biden’s Senate seat will now be filled by Edward Kaufman, a family retainer whom no one ever heard of before yesterday. And no one will hear from after two years, at which time Kaufman will dutifully retire. He understands his responsibility: Keep the Delaware Senate seat warm for two years until Joe’s son returns from Iraq to assume his father’s mantle.

This, of course, is the Kennedy way. In 1960, John Kennedy’s Senate seat was given to his Harvard roommate, one Ben Smith II (priceless name). He stayed on for two years — until Teddy reached the constitutional age of 30 required to succeed his brother.

In light of the pending dynastic disposition of the New York and Delaware Senate seats, the Illinois way is almost refreshing. At least Gov. Rod Blagojevich (allegedly) made Barack Obama’s seat democratically open to all. Just register the highest bid, eBay-style.

Sadly, however, even this auction was not free of aristo-creep. On the evidence of the U.S. attorney’s criminal complaint, a full one-third of those under consideration were pedigreed: Candidate No. 2 turns out to be the daughter of the speaker of the Illinois House; Candidate No. 5, the first-born son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

.   .    .

But in a country where advantages of education, upbringing and wealth already make the playing field extraordinarily uneven, we should resist encouraging the one form of advantage the American Republic strove to abolish: title.

It is embarrassing, especially the gathering political support from many in the media and “real” politicians in New York.  Certainly, no one wants to offend Caroline Kennedy, which is the nub of the concern. They dare not cross her, or her uncle. They’re Kennedys, you know, so any whispering campaign must be untraceable. Someone might need support one day — or an invitation to the ballet.

Her own professed reason for running, that now is a time “nobody can afford to sit out,” sounds particularly off key. (Let’s forget for a moment that a Kennedy shouldn’t invoke terms like “afford” when trying to impress the little people with her sincerity.) She is referring to the “fierce urgency of now” mantra that her presidential candidate tossed out, switching neatly from her own family’s entitlement to her association with the presidential candidate whom she helped nurture. Perhaps it is not to late to catch the last wave of Obama-mania.  But his candidacy, of course, was the anti-entitlement, anti-dynasty one.

This might be easier to stomach, or might be of less interest, if we weren’t inundated with multiple undeserving senate appointments, crooks in and out of office, and a complete breakdown of faith in governmental and financial institutions. If there were ever a time for meritocracy, now would be it. We will see if Governor Paterson has the nerve to decide that there are some things money, influence, and genes can’t claim.