By Michelle R. Smith and Ali Swenson | Associated Press
Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic due to his strong opposition to vaccines. Despite this, he claims he is not anti-vaccine. Kennedy has connected with influential figures on the far right, such as Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and Michael Flynn, in order to boost his profile. However, he presents himself as a true Democrat, carrying on the legacy of the Kennedy family. While his bid for the presidency against Joe Biden is seen as unlikely, his famous name and the potential to weaken Biden in the upcoming general election in 2024 have garnered media attention. He has received praise from Republican candidates like Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Kennedy’s candidacy has sparked contradictions. He aims to “reclaim” the Democratic Party, yet aligns himself with far-right individuals who seek to undermine American democracy. He presents himself as an environmentalist, but supports bitcoin, which requires significant electricity consumption and is opposed by most environmental advocates. Furthermore, despite emphasizing his Democratic Party legacy, his relatives have distanced themselves from him and criticized his campaign. Kennedy’s recent statement suggesting that COVID-19 may have been “ethnically targeted” drew condemnation from his sister, Kerry Kennedy.
The contradictions between Kennedy’s words and his track record are evident in his testimony before a congressional committee, where he denied being anti-vaccine despite numerous instances of expressing opposition to vaccines. A close examination of his campaign finance filings reveals that the anti-vaccine movement plays a central role in his campaign. Several members of his campaign team have ties to his anti-vaccine group, Children’s Health Defense. Kennedy has also received support from activists who spread misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines. Additionally, a super PAC supporting Kennedy’s campaign, American Values 2024, is led by individuals associated with anti-vaccine ideas.
Kennedy’s campaign has received financial support from conservative sources. Heal the Divide PAC, a super PAC supporting Kennedy, has connections to Republicans according to Federal Election Commission records. Kennedy denied knowledge of the PAC when questioned but was seen as a guest speaker at a Heal the Divide event. Despite his claim to be an environmentalist, Kennedy supports the energy-intensive cryptocurrency bitcoin.
Kennedy’s campaign platform includes fighting for government transparency and honesty, bridging the political divide, reversing economic decline, and preserving civil liberties. He also emphasizes freedom of speech and criticizes government communication with social media companies for censoring protected speech. Kennedy’s stance on bitcoin and support from the far right have not been addressed by his press office.