Campaign Coverage

Dec 04, 2023

News Coverage

The Falconer

The Front Porch Republic reports: Months ago when our interest in Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was first kindling, a friend said to me, “How can we not be curious? He’s a falconer for Christ’s sake.” A joke, yes, but a revealing one. RFK Jr. didn’t merely stick out because he wasn’t the other candidates; RFK Jr. stuck out because of a quality of aliveness—an intensity and fullness of aliveness. In a time which can seem an all-out attempt at collective disassociation, a general rapturing into the false heaven of the Internet, it was refreshing to stumble upon a presidential candidate enamored of primary things, of the holiness of the real. Here was a man who seemed only interested in everything; here was a red-blooded existence. And that RFK Jr. spoke and wrote in defiance of a host of prevalent attitudes and in defiance of our government did not concern us; in fact, his stance was a relief, a sign that he could perhaps actually see. We knew none other than Thomas Jefferson urged such seeing, nudging us citizens to a watchful skepticism of the government (“for nothing can keep it right,” said Jefferson, “but their own vigilant and distrustful superintendence.”). In short, we were curious about Mr. Kennedy, about his life and character, and wondered if he was the sort of human who could help call down the falcon lost in the gyre. Throat Clearing But before I continue I’d like to share a bit about my background. For starters, I’ve never had much interest in current national politics. I don’t reliably follow the news. And in my 46 years I recall only a fleet thin flame of ardor for Barack Obama, a flame which soon faded as the drones continued to drone. Like many others, I’ve come to believe the sanest game-plan for humanity is a devotion to the great nearby, to the gospel of the local. I appreciate Brother David Steindl-Rast who said, “The future will not be a new, big tower of power. Our hope in the future is…well-trodden paths from house to house.” And I appreciate Basho who wrote: Journeying to and fro, to and fro, cultivating a small field. Well-trodden paths from house to house. Cultivating a small field. Such are the images that move me; such are my talismans. I also want to say that despite a piece published in this forum a few months ago, a piece in favor of Mr. Kennedy, I am suspicious of missionaries. I don’t want to convert anyone one way or another. Any species of boosterism—or cancellation—should be met with a flinty eye. “The root and seed of Democracy,” said Emerson, “is the doctrine, Judge for yourself.” May it be so. Read the full opinion piece here. If you resonate with this message please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more.

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Dec 03, 2023

News Coverage

Retorno Al Sueño Americano De La Mano De Un Kennedy

El País informes: La política estadounidense debe mucho al mundo del entretenimiento. La noche del jueves, medio millar de personas se reunieron en un club nocturno de Salt Lake City, la capital de Utah, para escuchar a Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. El polémico abogado ambientalista y activista antivacunas, el tercero de once hijos del difunto senador Bobby Kennedy, se fijó como objetivo el Estado mormón para iniciar su camino a la carrera presidencial de 2024. Minutos antes de que Kennedy tomara el micrófono, Rufus McGee, un financiero de 41 años, abría una cerveza con la actitud de quien esperaba presenciar un espectáculo que le causaría una mezcla de morbo y fascinación. “Algunas de sus políticas están alejadas de la realidad. Me parece un tipo que viene de fuera de los márgenes y que habla sin que le importe mucho lo que opinarán de él”, asegura McGee. McGee llegó a la discoteca Sky convertido en un huérfano político. Es uno de los millones de votantes que no sabe a quién apoyar en lo que podría ser el segundo round entre Joe Biden, de 81 años, y Donald Trump, de 77, en 2024. Tanto McGee como su novia, Chris, una ingeniera de trenes de 45 años, están registrados como republicanos. Es la única forma de que su voz se escuche en Utah, un Estado que vota sólidamente por republicanos moderados desde 1985. La pareja tiene una certeza: no votarán por Trump. “Simplemente no hay forma”, dice Christine, quien se describe como liberal. Lea el artículo completo aquí. Si te identifica este mensaje, suscríbete a nuestro boletín para obtener más información.

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Dec 01, 2023

News Coverage

RFK Jr. on the Charge: Republicans, Democrats Alike Say ‘I’m In’ on Kennedy

The New York Post reports: Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. drew hundreds from across the political spectrum to a rally in Utah’s capital Thursday night, as the political scion crisscrosses the US in a push to make the ballot in all 50 states. Spectators lined up outside the SKY nightclub an hour in advance to get good seats, with some telling The Post they felt energized enough to get politically involved for the first time in their lives. “I am definitely for Kennedy,” said Lynn Cleland, who added that some of his Republican friends are also on board with the 69-year-old. “I’ve never voted independent in my life. Not only am I voting, but I’ve applied to volunteer, to get the signatures. I’ve bought all the signage. I’ve never, ever done that, and I’m 74.” Read the full article here If you resonate with this message please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more.

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Dec 01, 2023

News Coverage

Once Upon A Time, Democrats Knew How To Appeal to the Working Class

Newsweek reports: Though the labels "Republican" and "Democrat" occupy so much of our political conversation, they are an inadequate way to understand many people's needs. That disconnect may explain why about one in three eligible voters sat out the most recent presidential election. After the 2020 election, eight in ten Americans who did not vote said politicians did not care about people like them. This perception is very much a part of the alienation felt by many who were once proud Democrats, like my extended family members and friends who are considering the surprising candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now rising in public esteem and awareness. A transformation of the Democratic Party's base in particular has left out working-class Americans who make up the economic backbone of the country. A philosophical divorce between them and younger, mostly college-educated voters is tearing the party apart. Anyone looking to revive enthusiasm for America's oldest political party must make an appeal for the forgotten Democrat, whose practical needs and economic stresses are just as important as newer agendas. The Democratic Party was once known for serving the least of these. Once led by the likes of President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert, they were characterized not by an angry agenda but a determined hope. Read the full opinion piece here. If you resonate with this message please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more.

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Nov 30, 2023

News Coverage

60 Years After Famous JFK Speech, RFK Jr Returns to Salt Lake City

Deseret reports: Most of the attendees at Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s presidential rally on Thursday afternoon arrived long before the candidate did. While potential voters crammed into the Sky SLC nightclub in Salt Lake City, awaiting the rally’s start, Kennedy walked around downtown. Sixty years prior, his uncle — then-President John F. Kennedy — delivered a famous speech at the Tabernacle, the historic meeting hall on Temple Square. Kennedy’s 1963 speech, part of a tour through the western U.S., was considered by those in his inner circle to be among the best he ever gave. Two months later, Kennedy was assassinated. “He did this national tour, and one of the stops that he made that was really earth-shaking is here,” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told the Deseret News Thursday, in an interview prior to the rally. Sixty years ago, at the peak of the Cold War, John F. Kennedy pled with his Utah audience for support for his stance on the Soviet Union, including a newly negotiated ban on nuclear testing. Kennedy told Utahns that the country “cannot turn our back on the world outside.” Now, with the U.S. backing Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia, the younger Kennedy says that were his uncle alive today, “I think he’d be very much against the Ukraine War.” Some of the rally’s attendees spoke about their frustration with the two-party system and said that there was something they liked in Kennedy that they didn’t see in other candidates. A self-described “big supporter of Kennedy,” Beth Peacock said she supports him because “if you listen to the speech, it’s everything that I believe in.” Read the full article here. If you resonate with this message please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more.

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Nov 30, 2023

News Coverage

Campaign Stop Brings Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to Salt Lake City

Fox 13 reports: Running for president as an independent candidate, Robert F Kennedy, Jr. continued his campaign Thursday with a stop in Salt Lake City. Kennedy has been a lifelong Democrat, but for the past decade he said he’s been drifting away from the party. In October, he announced he would be running as an independent for president. According to Kennedy’s campaign, Utah has the first ballot access deadline in the country, so they are trying to collect more than 1,000 signatures in the next three weeks. Standing in front of about 700 people in downtown Salt Lake City, Kennedy said he worked to get the support he needed to be on a presidential ballot in 2024. “My plan for the next 12 months and the over the next 8 years in the White House, is to end this division among regular Americans," he said. Read the full article here. If you resonate with this message please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more.

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Nov 28, 2023

News Coverage

Small Bookstores Shun Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s Upcoming Book

The Wall Street Journal reports: Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is a member of the most famous political family in the U.S. and a bestselling author. But it may be hard to find his newest book at the local bookstore when it comes out next week. Tony Lyons, publisher of Skyhorse Publishing, said he printed 100,000 copies of Kennedy’s new title, but said there have been “hardly any” orders from independent bookstores. “Most copies are going to Amazon,” he said. A spokeswoman for Amazon declined to comment. Sarah Bagby, owner of the Watermark Books & Cafe in Wichita, Kan., said her store didn’t order any copies. “We took a pass on this one,” she said. “People are weary of doomsayer books. We’re seeing a surge in romance.” If people ask for “The Wuhan Cover-Up,” Bagby said the store will place a special order for it. Kennedy expressed disappointment that independent bookstores may not be stocking his new book. “Independent bookstores are the traditional bulwarks against corporate propaganda and government censorship,” he said. His new book has gained significance because Kennedy is rising in the polls as an independent candidate and his candidacy is widely expected to affect the outcome of next year’s presidential election. Read the full article here. If you resonate with this message please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more.

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Nov 28, 2023

News Coverage

RFK Jr. Seizes on Voter Dissatisfaction With Potential Biden-Trump Rematch

The Washington Times reports: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.‘s independent bid for president is exposing the electorate’s deep-rooted desire to have someone not named Joe Biden or Donald Trump on the ballot. The sentiment has shined through in numerous polls that show Mr. Kennedy siphoning away a solid chunk of votes that otherwise would be divvied up between Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump, adding a curveball to the race. “Kennedy represents this sense that neither party truly represents me, that government ought to be reinvented, that we need a new and different approach,” said Don Levy, director of the Siena College Research Institute. “Voters who are dissatisfied with Biden and Trump, dissatisfied with the party system, dissatisfied with what they perceive as inaction and general quagmire in Congress, they say, ‘Sure we want someone who is going to do it differently.’” For that reason, Mr. Levy said the sole thing the Biden and Trump camps may agree on in the 2024 race is “that Kennedy could be a problem.” “Nobody really is thrilled about either of the people I am running against,” Mr. Kennedy said in an interview with the Dallas–Fort Worth ABC affiliate. “I would say those are the two weakest candidates for president from major parties in recent decades. So I feel very good about my chances.” Read the full article here. If you resonate with this message please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more.

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Nov 28, 2023

News Coverage

Can Bobby Kennedy Win the Presidency Now? Of Course

Fair Observer reports: It may come as a surprise, but Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. can win the 2024 presidential election. The dominant message to the American public is that if you’re not voting Democrat or Republican on Election Day, you are “throwing your vote away.” This is the knee-jerk response to any discussion about a candidate that does not have a D or an R next to their name. A recent Quinnipiac poll showed Kenedy with a surprising 22% share of the electorate in a head-to-head matchup against Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Another poll shows Kennedy pulling ahead of both major party contenders among voters under 45 in several key battleground states. This is a significant breakthrough. Unexpectedly, Americans are becoming aware that 2024 could be a three-way race: An independent candidate could potentially upset the two-party hammerlock on power. But is this a surprise? Joe Biden and Donald Trump are hugely unpopular. According to 538, a majority of Americans holds an unfavorable view of both candidates: 54% for Biden, same for Trump. To say that the people are not jazzed about a replay of the 2020 election is supreme understatement. In contrast, more view Kennedy favorably than unfavorably. Herein lies the irony of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s campaign for president. He is the most establishment candidate, strictly on the strength of his family and the privileged personal position and connections the Kennedy name confers on every member, and yet he possesses an anti-establishment streak. This candidate spent his entire career as an environmental attorney (and if a job like that doesn’t make a person distrustful of what corporations or bureaucracies tell them, nothing will). He is somehow establishment and anti-establishment all rolled into one. It is precisely this combination of factors that might make him the perfect candidate for this moment. Independent voters, a huge plurality according to recent polling, have an unfavorable view of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. They are looking for something that neither major-party candidate is offering. If Kennedy gives independents reason to show up on Election Day, he can win. Read the full article here. If you resonate with this message please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more.

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Nov 27, 2023

News Coverage

Poll With RFK Jr. As Most Favorable Candidate Shows Voters Are Shopping Around

NewsNation reports: Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads the pack in favorability ratings, ahead of both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, according to a recent Harvard CAPS/Harris poll. Political commentator James Carville unpacks what he thinks this means for the 2024 presidential race on NewsNation's CUOMO.    If you resonate with this message please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more.

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Nov 27, 2023

News Coverage

Biden’s Carbon Pipeline Is a Boondoggle for Big Oil That Punishes Iowa Farmers

Featured on Newsweek: For 40 years, I've stood among the leadership of the environmental movement crafting sensible, market-based solutions for reducing our deadly addiction to oil and coal. I believe that the human-induced greenhouse effect is an existential threat to civilization, but I do not insist that other people ascribe to my belief. Even Americans who don't accept carbon-induced climate change should worry that our nation's dependence on coal and oil has other obvious and unignorable costs—including poisoning our fisheries with mercury, sterilizing our lakes and streams, and denuding our forests with acid rain, as well as the mass-scale strip mining that is leveling parts of the Appalachian mountains and the petroleum addiction that keeps us embroiled in endless oil wars. Furthermore, the public finances this destruction with trillions in annual subsidies that allow coal, oil, and gas companies to maintain their competitive edge against what by some measures could be cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient fuels. In 2022, the carbon industry globally collected a staggering $7 trillion in direct and indirect public subsidies. But whether or not you believe in the greenhouse effect, no one can deny that powerful vested interests are now hijacking the climate emergency—as they do with every crisis—to shift wealth upward and impose totalitarian controls. A troubling poster child of this dynamic is one of the flagships of President Biden's climate strategy: giant pipelines that purport to transport waste carbon from Iowa ethanol plants across six states to deep-well injection sites in Illinois and North Dakota. I have long denounced these sorts of "carbon capture storage and sequestration" projects as wasteful corporate welfare boondoggles that do little to reduce atmospheric carbon but serve instead to enrich billionaires and subsidize Big Carbon. Read Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s full op-ed here. If you resonate with this message please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more.

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