RFK Jr. is, of course, the son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, nephew of President John F. Kennedy-a scion of arguably America’s most storied and traditionally Democratic political family, who has just announced he will be abandoning the Democrats to run as an independent candidate for president in 2024.
Leaving the Democratic Party
His break with the Democratic Party was born out of the conviction that, in essential respects, it has abandoned its former principles. What had disappointed him was the party’s migration, as he felt, away from core values such as civil rights, labor rights, and opposition to authoritarianism. He said, “I left that party in October because it had strayed so far from the core principles I was raised with”.
His criticisms extend beyond that, even to lashing out against what he termed “systematic censorship” by the mainstream media and political establishment. He felt that he and former President Donald Trump had been victims of great media suppression in their campaigns, thus undermining democracy. This resonates with many disillusioned voters, who feel jaded from traditional political structures.
In an announcement for an independent candidacy, he said, “What I want more than anything is a political system that expresses what it means to be free in this country and to fight corruption.” He framed this when he said, “People stop me everywhere; they remind me that this country is ready for a history-making change”. His presidential bid has achieved a certain notoriety due to the curious method in which it melds traditional liberal policies with more unconventional stances, notably on the issue of public health.
Opinion on vaccination and COVID-19
On the other hand, Kennedy’s opinions about vaccination have made him a lightning rod in public health circles. He has been a very loud advocate against mandatory vaccinations. His nonprofit, Children’s Health Defense, has built a big following based on touting vaccine skepticism. His position includes discredited claims linking vaccines to autism and other health issues.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy started amplifying the anti-vaccine rhetoric, speculating that vaccines might do harm and fomenting conspiracy theories on how vaccines were being developed and distributed. Consider his bizarre comment that perhaps COVID-19 was “ethnically targeted.” It took wide condemnation. Although he said that he is not against vaccines per se, he proposes further rigorous testing and more transparency regarding the safety of vaccines.
Kennedy’s views on vaccination are symptomatic of a general disregard for government policy in health issues among particular sections of the population. He champions the rights of parents to make decisions on health policies relating to their children and has mobilized opposition to recommendations from health agencies such as the CDC. His messages have an emotive appeal with historical undertones, which resonate particularly with people who perceive the government as having let them down continually.
The end of Kennedy’s campaign
In August 2024, Kennedy announced that he was dropping out of the presidential race in support of Donald Trump because internal polls-which he says prove his candidacy would indeed siphon votes from Trump in crucial battleground states. He suspended his campaign but made it clear that he would not give up on those things he fights for, like healthcare reform and free speech.
The endorsement of Trump by Kennedy also saw mixed responses from supportive and family members alike. Some viewed the move as pragmatic, joining forces against an increasingly authoritarian Democratic Party; to others, however, it represented a betrayal of values associated with his family’s legacy. Soon after Donald Trump promised him a role in public health under his administration.
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