Palin v Kennedy: The Quiz

"I've been interested to see how Caroline Kennedy will be handled and if she will be handled with kid gloves or if she will be under such a microscope. ... It's going to be interesting to see how that plays out and I think that as we watch that we will perhaps be able to prove that there is a class issue here also that was such a factor in the scrutiny of my candidacy versus, say, the scrutiny of what her candidacy may be."

Palin or Kennedy:

This political hopeful's brother was the target of national ridicule because he had to re-take his state's bar exam 3 - 3! - times to get it right.

vs

We have no idea what this political hopeful's siblings have failed or triumphed at.



Palin or Kennedy:

This hopeful's famous cousin came under national criticism for knocking up the family babysitter.

vs

This hopeful's pregnant teen daughter became nationally scrutinized, while few dared to write a critical word.


Palin or Kennedy:

This hopeful's son was rumored to have been involved with drugs.

vs

This hopeful's cousin OD'd in a matter that received national coverage.


Palin or Kennedy:

This hopeful's was notorious for requiring rape victims to pay for their own police investigation into the crime.

vs

This hopeful's family was notorious for being involved in a nationally-covered rape trial.



Palin or Kennedy:

This hopeful's brother in law tasered his son.

vs

This hopeful's uncle drove a car off a bridge, causing the death of a rumored sexual liason.



There is a point: Palin can accuse the press of having a class issue all ding dong day, but it won't change the fact the press simply has more to be surprised about in the Palin family trash than the Kennedys'.

the individual person and their value to society are wildly differing. AND of course, Kennedy is an American Royalty name. We do have them, and we seem to like them.. especially if they do good things.

While there was - absolutely - a class element to the hits Palin was taking in places like DU and Kos, there is also a class element to the criticism against Kennedy we see here ("no more dynasties!") and while the publishing houses are a little more neutral, if they were first finding out those things about CK's family during a political campaign, it would generate headlines lasting for days, weeks. It's because of their political contributions and social standing that we know as much as we do about Kennedy skeletons in the first place.

who has written five books, several on constitutional law, and has successfully headed the Kennedy Library's Annual Profile in Courage Awards, was a big part of Obama's selection process for a VP. And has brought up children that I've never heard bad publicity about and who have normal names.