LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Amid a busy news day on Monday with continuous coverage of the Hamas attacks and news out of Israel, presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was in Pennsylvania where America’s founding documents were adopted at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall to make an important announcement. It was there that he said he would be dropping out of the Democratic primary bid and running for president as an independent.
69-year-old Kennedy, a longtime environmental lawyer, as well as the son of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, has decided to drop the “D” from his candidacy and will be running against the likely nominees, Democratic President Joe Biden and former President and Republican Donald J. Trump, in the general election.
Hoping to capitalize on a “rising tide of discontent” in the country, Kennedy said he wants to make a “new Declaration of Independence – from corporations, the media and the two major political parties.”
Kennedy told a crowd of what his campaign described as “thousands” of supporters, “I’ve come here today to declare our independence from the tyranny of corruption which robs us of affordable lives, our belief in the future, and our respect for each other. But to do that I must first declare my own independence. Independence from the Democratic Party and from all other political parties.”
At Monday’s announcement, Kennedy supporters could be heard chanting “RFK, all the way!” and campaign signs were printed with the words, “Declare Your Independence.”
No one is really sure if Kennedy would get more support in a general election from Republicans or Democrats and if he would end up being a spoiler for either candidate as both sides have said he could be an issue for their election chances. Kennedy said about being an independent candidate, “The truth is, they’re both right. My intention is to spoil it for both of them.”
Biden’s campaign and his Democratic allies haven’t taken Kennedy seriously up to now and it’s uncertain if they will change that stance. According to the Associated Press, when the Democratic National Committee was asked for comment ahead of Kennedy’s announcement, they responded with and eye-roll emoji. Republicans, on the other hand, are taking Kennedy more seriously with the Republican National Committee coming out with a fact sheet on Kennedy that outlines his liberal policies and ideas as well as calling him a “radical” and listing liberal politicians that he has supported over the years.
Four of Kennedy’s ten siblings are not happy with Kennedy’s decision to drop the Democrat label and run against President Biden. In a joint statement denouncing his candidacy, they have said, “The decision of our brother Bobby to run as a third party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country. Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment.”
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RFK Jr. doesn’t seem to be as enamored with the Democrat party as some of his siblings are and has accused the DNC of “rigging” the party’s primary against him, including not scheduling any debates. He had said in September, “If they jam me, I’m going to look at every option” which is exactly what he has done.
The Kennedy campaign put out a statement after Kennedy’s announcement saying, “He joined his voice with all the people who are fed up and all the people who are hopeful, to make a new Declaration of Independence for our entire nation. He declared independence from Wall Street, Big Tech, Big Pharma, Big Ag, the military contractors, and their lobbyists who now outnumber members of Congress 20 to 1. He declared independence from the cynical elites who betray our hope and amplify our divisions.”
The campaign went on to say, “In his speech, he noted it is painful to leave a party his family helped found, but he had concluded that there was no other choice in order to make real change for our country and said that if left unchecked the two political parties and the corrupt interests that dominate them will “commoditize our air, water, food, labor, and children, and turn the American Dream into desperation and dust.”’
Kennedy also came out quickly over the weekend to denounce the Hamas attack on Israel. In statements on X, Kennedy said, “This ignominious, unprovoked, and barbaric attack on Israel must be met with world condemnation and unequivocal support for the Jewish state’s right to self-defense. We must provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself – now. As President, I’ll make sure that our policy is unambiguous so that the enemies of Israel will think long and hard before attempting aggression of any kind.”
He continued, “I applaud the strong statements of support from the Biden White House for Israel in her hour of need. However, the scale of these attacks means it is likely that Israel will need to wage a sustained military campaign to protect its citizens. Statements of support are fine, but we must follow through with unwavering, resolute, and practical action. America must stand by our ally throughout this operation and beyond as it exercises its sovereign right to self-defense.”
As the country faces current and unknown challenges in the future, Kennedy might have some formidable competition from candidates who are running as a non-Democrats and a non-Republicans. Progressive activist Cornel West left the Green Party and is now running as an independent – and there is still talk that the group “No Labels” will secure a candidate as well, possibly West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin.
Over the years, voters have joked about making a choice among the “lesser of two evils” or choosing the best of the worst choices available to them. However, this presidential cycle is turning out to be one of many choices.
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