The Daily The Spoiler Threat of R.F.K. Jr.
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Oct 12, 2023 Rebecca Davis O’Brien, a campaign finance reporter for The New York Times, dives into the surprising independent run of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the 2024 presidential race. She discusses how his shift from a fringe candidate to a significant player threatens the two-party system, attracting disillusioned voters from both sides. O’Brien also highlights Kennedy’s controversial transformation from environmental advocate to vaccine skeptic during the pandemic, and examines the broader implications of his candidacy on American politics.
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RFK Jr.'s Early Life and Career
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a troubled youth, including heroin addiction, before becoming an environmental lawyer.
- He later became known for his distinctive raspy voice due to spasmodic dysphonia.
RFK Jr.'s Shift to Vaccine Skepticism
- Parents of vaccine-injured children saw Kennedy's environmental work as aligning with their fight against perceived public health threats.
- Kennedy embraced this role and began advocating for these families.
RFK Jr.'s Influence on Vaccine Skepticism
- Kennedy's articles in Salon and Rolling Stone, later retracted, marked his national debut as a vaccine skeptic.
- He lent credibility to the anti-vaccine movement, giving it wider acceptance.