Dynasty Politics In America

Billy & Joseph III-- let's leave the legacy crap to the Republicans

I've always hated entitlement based on anything other than merit. I was delighted that Illinois Republicans put an end to the whole concept of a Hastert dynasty last month, defeating his son Ethan's bid to reclaim the family's uber corrupt family business. It's a great shame that some of the most laughable and ineffectual members of Congress are offspring of former members. Michael Bilirakis bequeathed his Tampa-area seat to his retarded son Gus. Connie Mack IV now holds a Ft. Myers-based seat that was represented by his father, Cornelius McGillicuddy III. It's hard to believe the clownish maneuverings in Miami-Dade between the Diaz-Balart Brothers to hold a House seat for the family while the other one asserts his absurd claims to the Cuban presidency. And that's just Florida! Here in California, another mentally deficient son, Duncan Hunter, Jr., took over a suburban congressional seat from his sleazy father, Duncan Hunter, Sr.

The Senate has 5 offspring of better qualified fathers: Mark Pryor (D-AR), Bob Bennett (R-UT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Evan Bayh (D-IN), and Chris Dodd (D-CT). Over on the other side of the Capitol, the Frelinghuysens don't only have their own New Jersey county; they seem to own a House seat as well! The current Lord Rodney is the great-great-great-great-grandson of Frederick Frelinghuysen, who was a member of the Continental Congress and served in the Senate in the 1790s. There were 4 others in between, including the current backbencher's corrupt father, Peter.

Currently Taze Shepard is trying to win a Democratic primary in northern Alabama based on his direct descent from Grandpa Senator John Sparkman, a connection most people would be ashamed to admit. And then there's the legendary Kennedys. Democrats have been rending their clothes at the very idea that next year could see a Congress without a Kennedy. I have nothing against them and I honor their service-- and Congress is perfectly capable of muddling along without them. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) didn't add much, to put it mildly, and even Robert Kennedy-- for whom I once worked-- had a distinctly mixed bag of accomplishments. So now the Boston Globe is reporting that Joseph P. Kennedy III is mulling a run for a House seat William Delahunt is considering retiring from. The 29 year old assistant D.A. is the son of a congressman (Joseph II) and, supposedly he's the "most promising" of his generation of Kennedys.

“If he runs, he is immediately the front-runner,’’ said state Senator Robert O’Leary, Democrat of Barnstable, who said he would run for the seat if Delahunt retires. “From my perspective if Kennedy enters the race, it obviously changes the dynamic and makes it more difficult. But it would not change my decision.’’

One potential hurdle, however, is the political climate in the state, and especially in that district, which went heavily for Republican Scott Brown in last month’s Senate election. If Kennedy were to run and win his party’s nomination, he could risk become a lightning rod for the newly energized conservatives from around the country who poured millions of dollars into Brown’s coffers. With no member of the family ever losing an election in Massachusetts, he would be putting the Kennedy legacy on the line.

...Democratic political consultant Michael Shea, who has worked for Delahunt in two campaigns, including his first election in 1996, said that Joseph Kennedy’s presence in the race should give pause to potential Democratic candidates.

“Any time a Kennedy gets into a race, everybody better think twice,’’ said Shea. “That is particularly true if the field is crowded.’’

“You are running against history, against a legacy, while at the same time you are out there trying to tell people who you are,’’ Shea said. “The Kennedy name has immediate cache with Democrats.’’

I'm guessing the Kennedys will get Delahunt to stay in for another 2 year stint, let the kid get some accomplishments under his belt and then resign. Meanwhile, if Democrats are serious about a Kennedy based on merit, Blue America endorsed Billy Kennedy from North Carolina this past weekend. This one may not have the cache but he's one of us, not one of them and I haven't spoken to a better qualified Kennedy for elective office in my life. In fact, he can use your help a lot more than any Massachusetts Kennedys. If you're feelin' up to it today, please consider a contribution to his campaign here.