For many, the simplistic fall back for Caroline’s continued awkward foray into the world of politics seems to have arrived at the consensus, it’s sexism , mainly because of her lack of a noodley appendage.
In other words if Caroline were imbued with a noodley appendage, then all would be well and she would be accepted with open arms by the locals as the next senator from NY and any Negative PRESS would magically DISAPPEAR! Hmm.. in this case calling sexism, just isn’t a good fit for Caroline. She has been given far greater latitude by the Press in expressing herself when responding to questions than any of the other female politicians who have gone before her. I’d call it turning a Blind Eye and giving her a big, fat, pass!
Remembering the article posted here is from the UK.
Thankfully there are other observations that do, more or less, give us pause, that ‘sexism’ isn’t necessarily always culpable. . The observations made by UK reporter Tim Reid writing in from Washington undeniably focus on the articulation of thought put into succinct pleasing words that comfort the auditor’s sense of understanding good grammar rather than furthering any explorations suited to a ‘sexism’ catchall.
This from Tim Reid:
“Caroline Kennedy’s quest to enter the US Senate has suffered a self-inflicted blow in a series of interviews in which she can only be described as . . . um . . . excruciatingly, you know, unerudite.” (A link to the video of that interview and article is here at the link.)
“During a series of meetings with the New York press, one of which was recorded and is now being admired on YouTube in all its ineloquent awkwardness, the daughter of President Kennedy was vague, unconvincing and displayed a potentially ruinous verbal tic.”
“In one sequence, lasting 2 minutes and 27 seconds, Ms Kennedy, 51, revealed that she had inherited none of the eloquence, energy or charisma associated with other members of America’s foremost political dynasty: she used the phrase “you know” no fewer than 30 times.
“Asked to justify her candidacy – after days spent with handlers advising her on how to fill Hillary Clinton’s vacant New York Senate seat – she began in a dull monotone: “Um, this is a fairly unique moment both in our, you know, in our country’s history, and, and in, in, you know, my own life, and um, you know, we are facing, you know, unbelievable challenges, our economy, you know, healthcare, people are losing their jobs here in New York obviously um, arh, you know. . . ”
“Yesterday The New York Times, which published the interview with Ms Kennedy on Sunday – calling her forceful, but vague and largely undefined – released the full 8,500-word transcript of the encounter, revealing a verbal landscape knee-deep in “you knows”. She used the phrase a grand total of 144 times.”
“Michael Goodwin, a veteran columnist with the New York Daily News wrote: “Fantasy is giving way to inevitable truth. The truth is that Kennedy is not ready for the job and doesn’t deserve it. Her quest is becoming a cringe-inducing experience.” ( no grumbling about the NYDN… you have to admit, sometimes a truism emerges that is undeniable)
Tim Reid focuses on a salient point while Mr. Goodwin puts a finer point on the pencil and I believe their analogies, much to my “sexism” relief, are spot on!