I’m supportive of efforts to elect more women and minorities to the Senate, but I’m uncomfortable with the idea that Hillary Clinton must be replaced by a woman or Barack Obama by an African-American simply because of the previous officeholder’s background. What’s worse is that Caroline Kennedy, who is now seeking Hillary’s seat despite a lack of obvious qualifications beyond “fairy tale” Kennedy mythology, would be the second person to hold New York’s Senate seat largely on the strength of her last name. What might be seen as a victory for women would also reinforce the country’s disturbing trend toward dynastic politics.