After Caroline Kennedy removed herself from consideration, New York Governor David Paterson quickly scrambled to name a replacement for the Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton (now Secretary of State). That person is Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (D-Hudson).
We're getting used to the name (Senator Gillibrand) but who is Kirsten Gillibrand? How long has she been involved in politics? What are her positions on abortion, immigration, and gun control? Here are the answers.
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Related article: Profile of Kirsten Gillibrand
Comments
I would hardly call Paterson’s process a “scramble.” There were many candidates before Clinton was confirmed. Caroline Kennedy was never seen as a front-runner, except perhaps by the national media and herself. The most prominently mentioned names were Gillibrand, Andrew Cuomo, and Carol Maloney. Gillibrand was an odd but Ok choice. I call it odd because of the number of more experienced politicians in NY. As a legislator, Gillibrand has shown herself to be a good communicator – open to dialogue with her constiuents. Let’s hope that doesn’t change. It will be a welcome change from Clinnton and Schumer, who mostly breeze through the state a few times a year for high-price fundraisers. Neither one ever responds to calls or letters, except for an occasional form letter that might or might not be on the subject I actually wrote about! Let’s hope that DC arrogance doesn’t take Gillibrand over.