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| Joseph P Kennedy III on the campaign trail |
When it comes to politics, regardless of possessing a famous name, you can’t fake it when it comes to the red meat: mixing with, chatting to and addressing people, solving their problems.
That was the way with many of the offspring of the Kennedy family, who were ill fitted for political offices despite the incredible family history.
That was no knock on them. As Brendan Behan remarked, “Genius does not come in litters” and following in the footsteps of Jack, Robert, and Teddy Kennedy was surely the most difficult political undertaking in the world.
Inevitably, there was disappointment and regret that the Kennedy dynasty seemed at an end, especially when Patrick, Teddy’s son, stepped down from Congress in 2010 and ended an unbroken run back to 1947 when John F. Kennedy became a congressman.
But now comes a young Kennedy who is ready to restore the legacy. Joe Kennedy III is running for Barney Frank’s seat in the 4th district in Massachusetts and looks like a sure thing as the polls have him far ahead.
The grandson of Robert Kennedy, son of former Congressman Joe, will reignite the Kennedy name in national politics and I have strong suspicions this guy will go a lot further than the congressman.
I had the occasion to meet Joe, now 32, last week at our “Irish New England Leaders” awards held at the Irish Consulate in Boston – and I came away very impressed.
He was the winner of our Young Leader award and according to Consul General Michael Lonergan who hosted the evening, he was the first Kennedy clan member to come to the consulate.
While it is always difficult to size someone up in a brief meeting, Joe Kennedy strikes me as a natural politician, which was certainly not the case with many of his relatives.
When he got up to speak at our event, I was even more impressed.
He threw away his notes, spoke eloquently about his Irish heritage and drew the crowd in with his recitation of what his family history of commitment to the poor and the needy had meant to him.
“I believe this country was founded on a simple idea: that every person deserves to be treated fairly, by each other and by their government,” might sound clichéd when coming from someone else, but given the family history and the fact that two of his family predecessors gave their lives for those very sentiments, it came across as genuine.
He has walked the walk too, spending two years in the Peace Corps (he is a fluent Spanish speaker), working for free legal aid in Harvard, and developing a reputation as a crusading assistant district attorney.
Don’t look for any scandal allegations circling around this redheaded Kennedy either. His strongest drink is coffee, he’s engaged to his college sweetheart and his social life is said to be as tame as some of his relatives were wild.
There will be great expectations and outsized publicity when he arrives in Congress, as he surely will. But this Kennedy is hardly likely to have the bright lights or the family reputation turn his head.
There is a lot to like about young Joe Kennedy and the feeling of a new era in America’s most famous political dynasty is real. It will be fascinating to watch.
22 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.BrianO | Oct 19, 2012, 02:58 PM EDT
"Talented" he must be a painter or sculptor because he has no experience. Eiriamach, how long was ted Kennedy your senator if ever, he was a real stand up guy, unless you were in a car crash with him and he left you behind to drown while he sobered up to protect his political viability.
eiriamach | Oct 19, 2012, 09:31 AM EDT
The Kennedy family legacy is in their consistently principled political conscience, not in the offices they've held. But young Joe will face an obstacle, the same one that his granduncle JFK dealt with a half-century ago. It's back-- the public perception that Irish Catholics are ruled by their bishops, and as public officials, they'll vote the 'company line' of the Church. Sooner or later, Joe will need to stand up to threats of excommunication and official church opposition. Can he speak as eloquently as Al Smith, JFK, and Joe Biden about freedom of conscience and protection for consciences that speak differently from the bishops' official voters' guide? If he can, he'll help keep the path to political office open to Irish Americans. Good luck, Joe!
misneac | Oct 18, 2012, 01:38 PM EDT
The bigoted comments of the likes of Borefield and Katieherk never seem to amaze me .The idea of a candidate with Irish Catholic origins is anathema to "wasps " who discriminated against the Irish in America for generations ! President John F.Kennedy gave America a status and acceptability to the rest of the world ,and also saved America from a nucleur confrontation with the Soviet Union .Have the good grace and swallow your prejudice !
BrianO | Oct 18, 2012, 01:37 PM EDT
He does have nice red hair.
Searlit | Oct 18, 2012, 12:30 PM EDT
We need kindness and compassion in politics. Things spiral down to the lowest common denominator without it.
OldMariner | Oct 18, 2012, 10:56 AM EDT
My wife's aunt who lives in Fall River, Mass, said that young Joe has been holding free luncheons for seniors during his campaign. This has been a poverty stricken town for generations and this type of benevolence is much appreciated by the voters there. His dad, in regards to poverty, certainly walked the walk looking out for the less fortunate. BTW: I am not a Kennedy fan, but I think Joe SR and JR are the real items.
BrianO | Oct 18, 2012, 02:07 AM EDT
@tooreenagrena,The constitution was meant to be a club. America is not a monarchy, you are not to rule because you are the son of a king, queen, senator, or governor.I compared his simplistic statement about his touchy feely fairness to the actual Law. what a dope. If you would like him please take him to your state or county, but don't hamstring Massachusetts with another know nothing legislator.
pilib04 | Oct 17, 2012, 10:40 PM EDT
Joe Kennedy will win. But there are a number of surprises coming November 6. Betty Sutton looks to turn a red district to blue. Michelle Bachmann is about to lose her seat to Jim Graves. Jason Thompson made sure that Wisconsin's Senate seat stays Blue. Must be comforting to Republicans to know that their Tea Party will probably increase the Democratic majority in the Senate.
borefield | Oct 17, 2012, 07:32 PM EDT
Please spare us from more Kennedys. They are a bad omen. The last thing we need.
jetsnoone | Oct 17, 2012, 06:28 PM EDT
Not a chance. Most likely another pro abortion Kennedy.... won't play with 50 million Catholics outside Massachusetts.
katieherk | Oct 17, 2012, 05:03 PM EDT
SAY IT ISN'T SO!! ENOUGH OF THEM ALREADY AND I HOPE BOTH HE AND FRANKS ARE DEFEATED!!!
miltonedunn | Oct 17, 2012, 04:50 PM EDT
This clan has a long history of not being very good .The facts are still come
micky74007 | Oct 17, 2012, 03:07 PM EDT
God help us.
thombre | Oct 17, 2012, 02:11 PM EDT
What you are witnessing is the creative brilliance of a young American. He is fulfilling the legacy of command and leadership.
hooligan6a | Oct 17, 2012, 01:22 PM EDT
porkheaven, you are right, We have had enough Kennedy's. Ted was all we can take.
Nicomax | Oct 17, 2012, 12:58 PM EDT
Being a business man as POTUS is no indication of success in the White House, even on economic issues. Herbert Hoover was a business super star, and W supposedly ran an oil company, a baseball team and graduated from Harvard Business School. Those two will go down in history as overseeing two of our greatest financial collapses.
71regiment | Oct 17, 2012, 12:30 PM EDT
Why is it that Niall O'Dowd in the above article fails to mention Sean Bielet, Marine Vererean and businessman, who is the GOP candidate for the 4th CD of Massachusetts. He is an experienced businesman and he is what we need in the House of Representatives, someone who can help to create jobs and a great replacement to Barney Frank, who's is part of the Dodd-Frank Bill that is reducing jobs in the financial industry. We need job creators.
Murph46 | Oct 17, 2012, 12:03 PM EDT
Someone for god's sake tell me just how this wannabe is talented?
Tooreenagrena | Oct 17, 2012, 11:43 AM EDT
Some Americans, like BrianO, have the remarkable ability to use the US constitution as a club to beat anyone with a desire too make America a fairer place. It's the same absurd thinking that allowed antebellum Americans to take pride in their 'every man is equal' constitution while keeping slaves.
porkheaven | Oct 17, 2012, 11:39 AM EDT
I think we have had enough Kennedys for a while.
bunkerisland | Oct 17, 2012, 11:34 AM EDT
Looks like the attacks have commenced! Congratulations BrianO!
BrianO | Oct 17, 2012, 09:34 AM EDT
Someone should tell dimwit Joe that the country was founded on the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happinness. They are contained in a little document called the US Constitution. Founded on the principles of being treated fairly was stated by his kindergarten teacher when Joey wasn't sharing his toys.