Most families have their flash points. It seems inevitable. Strong, healthy families overcome the fault lines. Many do not. Relationships dissipate.
Unfortunately.
Money is often the catalyst. But not always. Feuds may have their roots in childhood to slights never forgotten. Psychic wounds may be too deep-seated to heal, even with age and maturity.
Throw in political disputes, and reconciliation becomes highly questionable. This is particularly true in today’s toxic climate. As a source of information/disinformation, Fox TV draws conservative devotees and nauseates liberals and moderates; hence, information sources differ markedly.
The political schism widens.
The dynastic Kennedy family, whose legacy bearers include a president, an attorney general and U.S. senator, a longtime senator, members of Congress and a lieutenant governor, is dealing uncomfortably and dispiritedly with a family member spouting ridiculous conspiracy theories.
He is Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is running for president in the Democratic primary. His family members, including siblings, a nephew and cousins, are outraged at his comments and saying so.
Supportive of President Biden, his sister, Kerry, for example, among other clan members, questions his views about anti-Covid vaccines, as does his wife, Cheryl Hines. The latter took umbrage at her husband’s comment that Holocaust victim, Anne Frank, endured better conditions than those forced to wear masks and abide by Covid restrictions.
The close-knit Kennedy family is frayed. Known for its unity, the Kennedy clan is cutting loose with criticism. As a long-time admirer of this gifted family, with its commitment to public service and good works, I am dismayed. Bobby Kennedy is drawing attention for cockeyed notions.
Most recently, Bobby Jr opined that Covid-19 was targeted at protecting Jews and Chinese and harming Caucasians and Blacks. At first blush, the theory is absurd. At second blush, it is full of blatant anti-semitism and bigotry toward the Chinese.
The unrestrained Kennedy said that Wi-Fi causes cancer and ‘” leaky brain.’” Anti-depressants lead to school shootings. Chemicals in the water supply could change the gender of children.
Family members have drawn the line. And so have others long devoted to the Kennedy family.
Upon further reflection, I conflate my disdain for Kennedy’s conspiratorial theories with my utter disgust for our former president’s deranged perspective on the 2020 presidential election. A comparison between Trump and a Kennedy would seem inconceivable—except in today’s confounding world.
If gaining media attention and campaign dollars are RFK’S objectives, he is succeeding. I trust he did not intend to blemish his family’s reputation and draw approbation. He has done just that. He seems oblivious to the damage.
The Kennedys are not saintly. Their flaws are abundantly apparent. Their luster has dimmed. Nonetheless, adjectives such as “crazy” and “unhinged” normally do not apply, as they easily characterize Bobby Kennedy.
Political campaigns can bring out the worst in aspiring candidates. They feel empowered to utter ridiculous statements, if only to feed their supporters and stir media interest. They are intentional, sometimes dangerously so, in sowing fear and hatred. Though irresponsible, it can be effective.
I fully admit my admiration for the Kennedy family, beginning when I was a young teen. Though revelations over the years about personal behavior have dulled my adulation, I deeply respect their strong commitment to making our country and world a little better. Their sincerity is unquestioned.
Kennedy Jr. is embarrassing himself with his adoption of weird conspiracy theories. His utterances undermine his credibility. He travels the same twisted lane as Trump. The comparison brings no value.
He is besmirching the Kennedy name. That fact may be the worst cut of all for me.
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. After 44 years in Easton, Howard and his wife, Liz, moved in November 2020 to Annapolis, where they live with Toby, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who has no regal bearing, just a mellow, enticing disposition.
John Fischer says
Fox TV “nauseates” many conservatives too, Howie. Does MSNBC nauseate you?
Reed Fawell 3 says
Why do we need always to get so personal in such negative and often insulting ways about all the politicians (and their friends, family and supporters) whose policies we disagree with and at the very same time, give so often a totally free pass and blind eye to those we support. Of course, this special form of nastiness has been going on for all human history. But have we no free will in this matter?
Laurie Powers says
Ugh, there is so much disinformation and falsehood in this article that it would take too long to dismantle, and would not influence Mr. Freedlander, to be sure. He and Mr. Dean are very dug in on their positions against Mr. Kennedy, having drunk the exceedingly strong kool-aid being given out on the Left. Which is fine. However, nearly every statement in this article is false or taken out of context, a parroting of the mainstream’s lies and distortions about Kennedy. Suffice it to say, some liberals spend far too much time immersed in the propaganda of MSNBC, CNN, NYT, WaPost and other liberal corporate “news” outlets which are intent on smearing RFK, Jr. in support of their weak establishment candidate. If you’re going to mention what you believe is negative about FOX, you need to be honest and mention the negative about MSNBC, CNN, NPR, etc., but maybe you don’t see it because you’re too close to it.
People in search of the truth can find it easily enough by actually listening to and reading what Kennedy has to say, as opposed to what those who dislike him, for whatever reason, have to say about him. Hint, you won’t find the truth where you’ve been looking, or presented by the outlets I mentioned above. They are ignoring, censoring or smearing him with lies. Typically conservative shows and independent journalists found on YouTube, Rumble, etc. are the only ones giving him airtime and letting him talk without censoring him. That is where you’ll hear the truth. And on the campaign website, KENNEDY24.com
Wouldn’t we all prefer to be judged by our accomplishments, track record, what we say and do, and our character as shown over time, than by what others who dislike us have to say about us, including their distorted or out-of-context soundbites, as parroted in this article?
Fortunately, there are a great many people who have taken the time to learn the truth about RFK, Jr. and that is why he’s so popular across the political spectrum and is being so heavily smeared by establishment Democrats and the DNC who feel threatened by him. Why try to keep him off the ballot unless you’re afraid of him winning the nomination?
Honesty, intelligence, courage, kindness and respectfulness are some of Kennedy’s winning attributes, and I’d like to see more of those attributes displayed in these articles.
Barbara Denton says
It is a lot of fun watching TDS continue to be alive and well in you and Mr. Dean. FOX TV nauseates me. I have not watched it since they took Tucker Carlson off the air. I watch NEWSMAX. You will find many of the guests who used to be on FOX on Newsmax now. Of course the majority of them are Trump supporters. However,if you watch long enough you will see both sides of an issue being discussed and debated. You will find some lawyers saying Trump should be hung from a tree and others saying the indictments are political theater.
The Kennedy family is not a dynasty. Bobby Kennedy, Jr. has not besmirched his family name. Teddy did that a long time ago. Thinking one political family has the right to nominations or places in government because of family predecessors has put us in the terrible position we are in now. If Trump is reelected and takes office January 20, 2025 the ship of state will be corrected and the bubonic plague of all the swamp rats in DC will start to be cured. I am willing to bet John Kennedy is rolling in his grave at what the Democrats have done to our Country. When I was a young person and read 1984 I thought that could not happen in our wonderful Country. Now, I am watching it roll out before me.
Nicolo F. Tartaglia says
I was a registered Republican my entire adult life. I was inspired as a young man by Reagan’s optimism and vision for America. As we healed from the scars of Vietnam, the Watergate Scandal and stagflation on the 1970s, he spoke eloquently of a City on a Hill. I was inspired. It made me a loyal member of the party, voting a straight GOP ticket in every election since 1980. Yes, that included, and it embarrassing to admit now, in 2016 and 2020.
Then, on September 1, 2022, I was sitting at home watching PBS News Hour. (I could no longer afford cable on a fixed income thanks to inflation. And, I did have a strange feeling I was the only person on the planet watching PBS at the time, but at least the coverage was refreshingly unbiased.) That evening something remarkable happened. President Biden gave a speech on the hallowed grounds of Independence Hall.
“…there is no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country. These are hard things. But I’m an American President — not the President of red America or blue America, but of all America.”
Not since those days of Reagan was I so utterly roused. It still echos in my mind. I could barely comprehend it in its eloquent call to unity. It was almost as if he lifted the words from another man’s speech. His diagnosis of our Republic’s problems was incisive and compelling. I switched parties the next day and never looked back. The following week, I purchased a Chinese-made Ukrainian flag and flew her proudly next to that other universal symbol of freedom, the Pride Flag.
However, while I think Joe Biden has done an literally unimpeachable job, I am not sure it would be fair to ask him to sacrifice another four years of his life for our collective benefit. After all, he has selflessly dedicated his entire existence to public service, and let’s face it, Hunter needs his Dad. I can only hope someday that will be duly recognized. Perhaps one day he can stand alongside St. Mother Teresa and Baraka Obama as a Nobel Laureate.
The real problem is that being a newly minted Democrat can be a little disorienting. The nomination field is crowded with so many capable and compelling candidates. As a Republican it was always easy, I just picked the one the media pushed and the other side found the most irritating. As a Democrat, this requires serious contemplation.
RFK Jr. seemed like a reasonable choice until Mr. Freelander’s extensively documented list of flaws. Now what? Our national security demands that Kamala Harris continue her work on artificial intelligence, which unfortunately takes her off the table.
Indeed, I believe that only Gavin Newsom can save us now, and I am praying he will run. Just like Reagan, he is a successful Governor of California. Although my wife and I don’t get out much since our beloved Yorkipoo, Gipper, was lost in a vicious Bald Eagle attack a few years ago, my friends tell me the Sunshine State is truly an unbelievable place. I am told the citizens of San Francisco are so free they don’t even have to pay for things in a store. You can just take what you want! Can’t find a public restroom? Well, they don’t call it the Golden City for nothing. How’s a Republican candidate going to compete with that???
Fingers crossed! Newsom 2024! Lean forward my friends!
Barbara Denton says
Good grief. I think perhaps you stand among the ranks of the Biden disabled. The first clue was saying PBS coverage is totally unbiased. And speaking of lifting words from another man’s speech. That is exactly what Biden did when he ran for President the first time. I hope this is satire. If not you have a big problem.
Barbara Denton says
Sorry. I did not realize this was satire until I read it again.
KUDOS!