Caroline, Thanks, But No Thanks

Caroline, it is not a birthright.
For people of a certain age, learning that Caroline Kennedy is 51 years old is a bit jarring. The daughter of a slain president and storied family has lived a full, busy life out of the public eye for the past 45 years.
Her sudden interest in the soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat from New York is also mildly disconcerting. The upper chamber of Congress is not the old House of Lords, with a hereditary right to office. Coincidently, she is seeking the job via appointment, how the reformed House of Lords fills vacancies.
Kennedy's pursuit of the Senate post seems as much an homage to her ailing uncle as any obvious personal interest in politics. Sen. Edward Kennedy, stricken with brain cancer, has represented Massachusetts since 1962.
Elective office defines the family, to be sure. Another uncle, Robert, was New York's senator at the time of his assassination on the 1968 presidential campaign trail. She has a cousin in the House of Representatives.
She chose a different path, away from the spotlight. She focused on raising a family and working behind the scenes in philanthropy, all with good results. As a political figure, she is essentially unknown.
Kennedy seeks to replace Hillary Clinton, who was chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to be secretary of state. Clinton ran for election to the Senate in 2000 and won re-election in 2006. Early, she strained a bit to make connections, but she made her case out on the stump.
The campaign for this race boils down to convincing one voter, Gov. David Paterson. Whomever is appointed by the governor would run in 2010 to fill out the term, and again for re-election when the seat up in 2012.
The list of political aspirants for the appointment is long, experienced and worthy of consideration, and includes women who have represented New York in the House.
Kennedy has politics in her genes, but she lacks a civic résumé of her own. She should build one. She should burnish her talents on the public's business, and then let the voters decide if the dynasty continues.