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12/20/08 - A New York Reader Note Two Victories In The War On Christmas—At Unlikely Places

From: Quentin Simpson (e-mail him)

Re: Joe Guzzardi's Column: Joe To Caroline Kennedy—Stick To The Cocktail Circuit

The New York Times confirmed Guzzardi's prediction—not too tough to make—that Caroline Kennedy would be an open borders advocate just like her Uncle Teddy.

In a response through her spokesman to written questions, Kennedy trotted out the same tired garbage:

"Caroline believes all undocumented workers should be required to legalize their presence in the United States and that we must create a way for them to do so. Undocumented workers should pay a fine, learn English and go to the back of the line behind those who came here legally."[Kennedy Offers Hints of a Platform and a Few Surprises, by Nicolas Confessore, New York Times, December 20, 2008]

Note that Kennedy didn't appear herself, thereby avoiding any possibility that probing from reporters on any issue that might catch her off guard and expose her as uninformed—and unqualified.

More importantly for Gov. David Paterson who is evaluating his Senate choices, a Times survey of random New York residents revealed that a significant percentage of younger New Yorkers have no clear idea who Caroline Kennedy is.

Asked one: "Is she a Kennedy Kennedy, or is this one of the cousins?"

And some, who do remember Caroline from her childhood, do not have warm feelings toward the Kennedy clan.

"Interviews with about 50 New Yorkers—people from upstate and across town, people of all ages and races and political persuasions — suggest that the Kennedy brand is rich with resonance. But it also provokes resentment and puzzlement, especially among younger voters, who are suspicious of dynastic politics as the Bush era ends, and are uncertain of where in the famous family tree she falls." [The Young Know Caroline's a Kennedy but Which One? by Paul Vitello, New York Times, December 20, 2008]

Kennedy won't be able to hide behind her public relations team much longer. Sooner or later, she'll have to defend her open borders advocacy as well as her other liberal positions.

Let's see how Princess Caroline fares when the going gets tough.

Simpson's previous letters about Bruce Springsteen and Nancy Pelosi are here and here.