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Kennedy Bows Out for ‘Personal Reasons’

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Posted on Jan 22, 2009
Kennedy waves
AP photo / Kevin Rivoli

Kennedy out: Caroline Kennedy in a photo from last month.

It’s official: Caroline Kennedy will not continue her quest for the Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Kennedy reportedly told New York Gov. David Paterson on Wednesday that she was dropping out, and although he asked her to think it over for 24 hours she sent out an e-mail shortly after midnight saying she had withdrawn.

Update: The New York Times provided some details Thursday as to what Kennedy’s “personal reasons” might have been.


AP via Yahoo News:

But by 11 p.m. Wednesday, the associate said, Kennedy decided she couldn’t take the job if appointed, and she issued a statement shortly after midnight saying she was withdrawing.

Kennedy did not decide to bow out because her uncle, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, suffered a seizure during an inaugural luncheon Tuesday, the person said. The 76-year-old Massachusetts senator was diagnosed in May with an aggressive type of brain tumor.

The person wasn’t authorized to disclose the conversation between Kennedy and the governor and spoke on condition of anonymity. The person would give no other details about the personal matter.

Kennedy’s one-sentence statement ended hours of uncertainty as she appeared to waver.

“I informed Governor Paterson today that for personal reasons I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the United States Senate.”

There was no comment from Paterson.

Kennedy, the 51-year-old daughter of President John Kennedy, emerged as a front-runner to replace Clinton. But there were questions about her experience and her reluctance to answer questions about her finances.

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By Rabbit, January 23, 2009 at 7:58 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I’m tired of this dynasty crap. She’s white and has family to pull strings so should be able to find a real job.
I don’t understand the Kennedy Cult anyway. JFK just wasn’t that good of a president (re: Vietnam.)

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By Maani, January 22, 2009 at 4:48 pm Link to this comment

Apparently, as with Geithner, there was some financial hanky-panky (i.e., taxes not paid) found with respect to one or more of her house staff.

Peace.

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By Lou, January 22, 2009 at 4:03 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

This is too bad but not unexpected in American politics.
Caroline Kennedy is too decent a human being to be accepted into politics. The very fact that she is not a politician is what interested me. I’ve seen what politicians do
“Housekeeper and Taxes Are Said to Derail Kennedy’s Bid” says the NYTimes today. But lying a country into war is no big deal anymore.
What qualified Hilary Clinton to be President or Secretary of State?
She was Bill Clinton’s wife first. Everything else she did followed.
David Patterson really is blind.

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By Shift, January 22, 2009 at 2:53 pm Link to this comment

Governor Patterson floated her name then did nothing.  I don’t blame her for withdrawing.  People with dignity do not allow themselves to be toyed with.  Patterson was obviously being pressured to rethink Kennedy and lacked the backbone to move forward.  He was likely thinking of himself, not her.

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