Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is running for president. Having read about his conspiracy-laden book attacking Dr. Anthony Fauci, I shook my head. What America does not need is another president who embraces bizarre theories in support of questionable ideas. In the case of RFK, Jr., he authored a book suggesting Anthony Fauci promoted vaccination as a response to the COVID pandemic in pursuit of riches. He also suggests that Fauci’s career has included inhumane testing of vaccines on children and other abuses.
Sound bizarre? Pick up a copy of The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health. Catchy title, don’t you think?
After learning the news of RFK’s presidential bid, I was disgusted. I do not like family political dynasties of either party, and I like conspiracy theorists even less. The impudence of Kennedy, who has never won elective office previously, running for president also rubbed me the wrong way. I thought: Maybe Joe Biden should not be the 2024 Democratic nominee, but RFK, Jr. could get me to vote Republican, unless, of course, Trump or Trump-wanna-be DeSantis, gets that troubled party’s nod.
I started to write a column that I envisioned would include three or four quotes from Kennedy’s despicable book. I also thought I would review the rest of his personal history and highlight a few negatives, things like his heroin use as a youth or the fact that Steve Bannon, Trump’s political strategist, encouraged him to run.
My research led me to change my mind. I still do not want RFK, Jr. anywhere near the White House, but I found myself regretting that somehow, he had bought into ludicrous anti-vaxxer theories which he documented in a book. I wonder about the sanity of Mr. Kennedy. What if he were elected president, bought into more conspiracy theories on a multitude of subjects and took the country into left field?
My regrets about Kennedy’s disqualifying attempt to become the nation’s leading anti-vaxxer came after I read about his work on the environment. He served as a senior environmental attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. He founded the Waterkeeper Alliance. He has championed environmental justice and human rights. In short, there is a lot to like in Kennedy’s background, especially if you live in an environmentally fragile area like the Eastern Shore.
It is not likely that Mr. Kennedy’s presidential aspirations will go far. He has too much baggage. The Kennedy political dynasty is dead. Whatever benefit RFK Jr. will get from his famous name and looking a lot like his tragically assassinated father will be offset by the public reading about his attack on Dr. Fauci. (I say reading about his attacks on Fauci rather than reading the book because the fewer copies of The Real Dr. Fauci that make it into circulation, the better.)
I dream of a young, honest, Democrat emerging to take the baton from Joe Biden and carrying out his work on the environment, social justice, and a lot more. Ideally, someone will emerge who has had a career in environmental law similar to RFK, Jr’s. With that background, the new leader of the party may be able to put the fight against climate change where it should be—at the top of our national priorities.
I despair of such a candidate coming forward. Remember the presidential campaign of Washington State Governor Jay Inslee? He thought he could build a campaign on a foundation of fighting climate change. Even progressive Democrats walked away, preferring candidates highlighting “more immediate” policy proposals, like free college or just getting Donald Trump out of the White House.
I will follow Kennedy’s campaign once he formally announces he is in the race later this month. I hope he will highlight his work on the environment rather than his work in attacking a man who, by promoting vaccines, may have saved my life. Maybe he can get other 2024 candidates to start taking climate change more seriously.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, birds, and other subjects.
Laurie Powers says
I disagree with Mr. Dean’s comments nearly 100% and find them to be naive, petty and ill-informed. But, I’m happy to see that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s presidential candidacy is making news, and especially our local Spy news, and am pleased to have a platform to provide my comments in response.
As someone who has been involved in and a supporter of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s non-profit Children’s Health Defense for a number of years, I know him to be exactly the kind of non-political, fearless and tireless public servant who could unite Americans in a time where it couldn’t be more needed. He has the utmost integrity, courage, a lifelong career in public service fighting govt/corporate corruption, abuse and overreach and is a staunch defender of human and civil rights, the environment and the Constitution. He is humble and determined in his fight for the average American who is usually left behind by the political machine on both sides.
I have never been more excited about a presidential candidate, finally someone I admire and can really support (not just the lesser of two evils, which I will not vote for again), who is running for the right reasons and could make a huge difference if people put aside their pre-conceived prejudices and really listened to what Mr. Kennedy has to say. He is far more than a phenomenally successful environmental attorney who has single-handedly done more for environmental protection and, as an off-shoot, human health (think Flint Michigan and East Palestine chemical disaster), than probably anyone else. He is incredibly intelligent, articulate, passionate, well-versed in history and politics, and is an all-around well-qualified anti-establishment candidate. Yes, I am biased after watching him work, listening to him speak and being around his organization for years. Everyone I’ve observed at CHD is top-notch and I am proud to be a member, inspired daily by Mr. Kennedy’s dedication and leadership. Most who actually know him say similar things and we are thrilled that he is running, and yet sadly, we know he is being smeared daily by ill-/misinformed people like Mr. Dean and corporate agenda-driven Media like CNN. You can find many interviews with Robert Kennedy, Jr. on YouTube and I encourage you to listen to him with an open mind and heart…you will learn a lot and he will challenge your understanding of the way you thought things worked and who you thought you could believe and trust.
If Mr. Dean read Mr. Kennedy’s entire meticulously-footnoted and fact-checked book based on Kennedy’s decades of experience with Anthony Fauci and the captured government agencies Mr. Kennedy has been in and around for most of his career, and came away with nothing more than the idea that Mr. Kennedy is a conspiracy theorist – which Mr. Dean probably already believed from reading Wikipedia and other propaganda, as most have without digging further for themselves – well, respectfully, that says more about Mr. Dean than Mr. Kennedy. The machine is already hard at work trying to discredit Robert Kennedy because he is one of the few who has the courage and conviction to speak truth to power, similar to his father and uncle before him. As Robert says to naysayers of his book, “Show me where I’m wrong.” And no one has. He has the courage of his convictions, the facts and the truth.
Lastly, I find it interesting that Mr. Kennedy is more popular among Independents and Republicans than his own Democratic party, whose values he actually upholds and doesn’t just pay lip service to like the majority of this current party. Robert Kennedy and I agree on many things, among them, that we are living in upside-down times, unlike anything we’ve ever experienced and which a great many people have yet to awaken to the reality of. People would be well-served to think for themselves (no more Media brainwashing) and look at Robert Kennedy’s stated priorities, his track record and who he is as a person, and not blindly fall for the propaganda and armchair quarterbacking of people who haven’t done their research but want to throw their opinion into the ring. We’ve had more than enough of that the last three years, to our country’s and many millions of people’s detriment. It’s high time to seek the truth and let the facts speak for themselves. Having done that, I am looking forward to changing my party affiliation from Independent back to Democrat for the sole honor of voting for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in the presidential primary and hopefully, the general election. Robert is providing us an opportunity for deep reflection and the hope of something better for all. Whatever comes of this will be for good and for God’s glory, and Robert gets that. #RFKJr2024 http://www.teamkennedy.com
John Dean says
I disagree with Ms. Powers’ comment 100% that I am naive, petty, and ill-informed. Rather than respond point-by-point with Ms. Powers’ lengthy comment, I encourage readers to read the editorial written by two of RFK’s siblings, including former Maryland Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and former Representative Joseph P. Kennedy. The editorial is also signed by Maeve Kennedy McKean, the executive director of Georgetown University’s Global Health Initiative. The editorial is titled, “RFK Jr. Is Our Brother and Uncle. He’s Tragically Wrong About Vaccines.
We love Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but he is part of a misinformation campaign that’s having heartbreaking—and deadly—consequences.” https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/05/08/robert-kennedy-jr-measles-vaccines-226798/,
Laurie says
Mr. Dean, your reply made my point beautifully. I encourage people to look into RFK Jr. the person, his lengthy track record, what he stands for and what he says, NOT just what others have to say about him, family or otherwise, as parroted in captive agenda-driven mainstream media. Isn’t that how we would want to be treated? As Robert said recently in a representative fantastic speech at Hillsdale College, which can be found on YouTube, “All of my conspiracy theories have about a 3-month shelf-life before they become reality.” He speaks TRUTH. For the good of all. #RFKJr2024 http://www.teamkennedy.com