Caroline Kennedy Flubs, You Know, Interviews, You Know
The New York Daily News mocked Caroline Kennedy's tendency to use the phrase "you know" as a punctuation mark. By the count of the New York Daily News, Caroline Kennedy used the phrase "you know" two hundred times in an interview with the Daily News, a hundred and thirty times in an interview with the New York Times, and eighty times in an interview with TV station New York 1.
Caroline Kennedy's use of the phrase "you know" in answering questions shows a lack of preparation that would be astonishing for someone running for City Council, not to mention wanting an appointment to the United States Senate. Most politicians have their talking points practiced to such an extent that they can repeat them effortlessly. Some politicians are even so fast on their feet that they don't even need talking points.
Caroline Kennedy certainly has not mastered the ancient political art of not answering the question, but answering the question that she wanted asked. For instance, when asked about something like her views on abortion, the politician can respond with something like, "That's a very interesting question, which is related to the real need to increase money for AIDS research."
Some experts in public speaking suggest that this tendency to use "you know" on the part of Caroline Kennedy is a sign of inexperience. The "you know" tic can be solved by training and practice. One expert even suggested that Caroline Kennedy watch tapes of her father, President John F. Kennedy, who was a master of public speaking.
The problem for Caroline Kennedy is that this training and practice should have happened before she suddenly leaped into the deep end of the political pool. First impression count in national politics and Caroline Kennedy as made a poor first impression.
In a way this demonstrates a remarkable bungling of a unique political opportunity. Caroline Kennedy had some advantages; a famous name, a telegenic persona, and access to lots of money. She could also deliver a good speech. If she had added to those a series of well crafted stands on issues of concern to New Yorkers and practice in the cut and thrust of media politics, she would have been a shoo-in.
It may be wise for New York Governor David Patterson to name a seat warmer for the US Senate seat made vacant by Hillary Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State. That would be someone who agrees not to run for the seat in 2010, leaving it open for New York politicians to fight it out for it. That would give Caroline Kennedy at least a year to learn how to be a politician, study the issues, and come out fresh at the end of 2009. It would be best for her chances because that would remove that odor of entitlement that suggests that she thinks the US Senate seat is hers by right of blood and not as a prize for public service and hard political campaigning.
Sources: Caroline Kennedy fails to impress, BBC News, December 30th, 2008
Caroline Kennedy no whiz with words, Michael Saul, New York Daily News, December 29th, 2008
Senator Caroline Kennedy?, Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, December 5th, 2008
Caroline Kennedy as Vice President?, Mark R. Whittington, Associated Content, August 20th, 2008
Published by Mark Whittington
Mark R. Whittington is a writer residing in Houston, Texas. He is the author of The Last Moonwalker, Children of Apollo, Dark Sanction, and Nocturne. He has written numerous articles, some for the Washington... View profile
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3 Comments
Post a CommentKeen analysis and entertaining read. Just wondering why Best Steak Houses in Ithaca, New York comes up as a related story??
I hated it when the press and dems rediculed Palin about the way she spoke...glad to see the shoes on the other foot.
It's refreshing to see that the press is actually holding Caroline Kennedy accountable for the way she presents herself, not merely fawning over her because of the legacy factor. Now, will they rake her over the coals, chew her up and spit her out as they did with another female political candidate in 2008 (I think you know who I mean)? Not likely.