In a recent article, writer Jonathan Chait, from The Atlantic, cautions against Democrats uniting behind another member of the Kennedy family following former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s contentious support for John F. Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg.
Schlossberg, a 33-year-old newcomer in politics, is vying for a spot in the packed Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District, encompassing areas like Manhattan’s Upper West Side and Upper East Side, along with Morningside Heights.
Recently, he posted a letter of endorsement from Pelosi on Instagram, where he referred to her as the “backbone of the Democratic Party.” In this letter, she emphasized the need for leaders who grasp the risks and know how to serve the community.
Chait describes Schlossberg in his op-ed as a “lifetime celebrity”—not for any particular achievement, but simply as a Kennedy. He argues that suggesting Schlossberg has “failed upward” may be overstating his position, as he hasn’t truly been responsible for anything significant.
He also critiqued Schlossberg’s brief writing career, pointing out some questionable content, including a strange video where he talks about having a baby with Usha Vance. Chait believes Schlossberg stands a reasonable chance of winning the Democratic primary, largely due to his family background and Pelosi’s backing, giving him an edge over a list of more established candidates.
Other contenders include former Republican George Conway, state Rep. Micah Lasher, and Cameron Kasky, a survivor and advocate following a school shooting.
Chait contends that while a few Kennedys may be seen as martyrs in the national sphere, many in their lineage are divisive figures. In fact, he suggests that a local person might be a more dependable choice than yet another Kennedy.
He points out a kind of irony in how the Democratic Party, ostensibly promoting the idea of a “no king” approach, still seems to cling to a certain lineage of former leaders. This led him to comment on the ongoing narrative of seeking a successor to the Camelot era following the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy in the ’60s.
Chait concluded by highlighting a division within the party: those who support the “No King” mantra versus those rallying against oligarchy, suggesting that both factions might agree that the party doesn’t require its own royal family.
Interestingly, both Chait and Schlossberg share a mutual disdain for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Schlossberg’s cousin, who served as Secretary of Health and Human Services during the Trump administration.
