The rising popularity of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known charlatan and conspiracy theorist riding on nothing but good old-fashioned nepotism, is a strong signal that our established institutions are suffering a severe trust deficit. His recent propagation that the Covid-19 virus was “ethnically targeted” to
I saw just you for the first time, speaking on a podcast of a liberal-Jewish org I haven't seen before. Enjoyed the conversation. Went through your Substack out of general interest.
I'm not an American voter and don't live in USA; so I don't directly have a dog in the race RE the USA election. I've followed RFKJr off and on for decades; agreed/disagreed variously with his positions; and curiously watched the mainstream press bash/vilify him for decades. He has made a lot of mistakes (and all of them very public) as a Kennedy, so it's easy for the press and for detractors to attack him. I don't whitewash his errors when I've seen them (I swallowed the mainstream view of him until I took a second look; and I note current errors when they appear).
Your essay follows the style of the mainstream press. "Charlatan", "conspiracy theorist" (which is ironic, since the term was popularized in an effort to deflect from critical questions surrounding his uncle's assassination); "populist" as a negative term; "tarnish the legacy..."; "kooky"; "kooks"; "good old-fashioned nepotism"; "fuels distrust". You didn't want to continue the mainstream tradition and also note his past substance abuse; obsessive-sex life; two failed marriages; and the suicide of his second wife (for which he was blamed)?
You're free to cope and seethe with a bee in your bonnet. You're free to loathe him. However, it's clear that you don't know the tireless work he has done for decades as a working (and winning) lawyer for the environment; for children; for children's health; against criminal pharma manufacturers; for the economically disadvantaged – and against considerable public opinion (thanks to the mainstream press). "Good old-fashioned nepotism" has played a surprisingly tiny role in his accomplishments. If anything, he appeared to be obsessed with leaving a legacy of boots-on-the-ground social responsibility GIVEN his privilege. I can't name another Kennedy who has taken his/her wealth and privilege and taken similar personal and professional risks (and while retaining his characteristic humility).
Shockingly (yes, "shockingly," since you make your dislike so obvious), your essay shows that you haven't spent any time on his site, https://childrenshealthdefense.org/ , which works widely and tirelessly with hundreds of highly credible professionals around the world to further solid, evidence-based causes and issues.
You're obviously a very bright, critical-thinking, compassionate, and by your own admission "thoughtful" young guy. Your opinion is yours. Nobody requires you to line up for RFKJr's autograph on his 100% evidence-based Fauci tome, but I'm certain that you can do a more intellectually mature job writing on RFKJr than you have done here.
Also in the same piece, I did have some positive things to say about RFK:
"Kennedy is right in pointing out that the same institutions have misused public trust, and the men and women running it have been hopelessly irresponsible.... Robert Kennedy Jr. represents [the voices of] parents angry that their children missed years of their education due to mismanaged lockdown policies, of epidemiologists like Drs. Jay Bhattacharya and Robert Malone, who are maligned by the public health authority for dissenting against the illusory Covid 'consensus' regarding lockdowns and vaccine mandates, of Canadian truck drivers maligned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, of families having to miss their loved one’s funerals and weddings because of the limited gathering rules, of disgruntled 'essential workers' seeing their employers such as Walmart and Amazon profiting massively while their living condition worsens. These folks, undeterred by their different politics, find their appeal in Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a man with a trustworthy surname and an abundance of charisma... However much I dislike Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign, I urge those who share my distaste to reflect upon why he became so popular." You would not find any mainstream media outlet who would write about him with such praise.
For what it's worth, I did try to invite RFK to the podcast - his media people says he is too busy at the moment. And I know at least one friend who finds him appealing. So despite not liking him, I do understand why he is so appealing.
One thing I did mention in the piece is how hypocritical RFK is: he is going out of his way to challenge the scientific consensus on vaccines, yet he is willing to persecute those who does the same on climate change. I do not know of any of his supporters/defenders who have given me a good answer on that.
I saw just you for the first time, speaking on a podcast of a liberal-Jewish org I haven't seen before. Enjoyed the conversation. Went through your Substack out of general interest.
I'm not an American voter and don't live in USA; so I don't directly have a dog in the race RE the USA election. I've followed RFKJr off and on for decades; agreed/disagreed variously with his positions; and curiously watched the mainstream press bash/vilify him for decades. He has made a lot of mistakes (and all of them very public) as a Kennedy, so it's easy for the press and for detractors to attack him. I don't whitewash his errors when I've seen them (I swallowed the mainstream view of him until I took a second look; and I note current errors when they appear).
Your essay follows the style of the mainstream press. "Charlatan", "conspiracy theorist" (which is ironic, since the term was popularized in an effort to deflect from critical questions surrounding his uncle's assassination); "populist" as a negative term; "tarnish the legacy..."; "kooky"; "kooks"; "good old-fashioned nepotism"; "fuels distrust". You didn't want to continue the mainstream tradition and also note his past substance abuse; obsessive-sex life; two failed marriages; and the suicide of his second wife (for which he was blamed)?
You're free to cope and seethe with a bee in your bonnet. You're free to loathe him. However, it's clear that you don't know the tireless work he has done for decades as a working (and winning) lawyer for the environment; for children; for children's health; against criminal pharma manufacturers; for the economically disadvantaged – and against considerable public opinion (thanks to the mainstream press). "Good old-fashioned nepotism" has played a surprisingly tiny role in his accomplishments. If anything, he appeared to be obsessed with leaving a legacy of boots-on-the-ground social responsibility GIVEN his privilege. I can't name another Kennedy who has taken his/her wealth and privilege and taken similar personal and professional risks (and while retaining his characteristic humility).
Shockingly (yes, "shockingly," since you make your dislike so obvious), your essay shows that you haven't spent any time on his site, https://childrenshealthdefense.org/ , which works widely and tirelessly with hundreds of highly credible professionals around the world to further solid, evidence-based causes and issues.
You're obviously a very bright, critical-thinking, compassionate, and by your own admission "thoughtful" young guy. Your opinion is yours. Nobody requires you to line up for RFKJr's autograph on his 100% evidence-based Fauci tome, but I'm certain that you can do a more intellectually mature job writing on RFKJr than you have done here.
@zeldalevine2022 on X
Thank you for your feedback! For what it's worth, I did try to take RFK's claims about Dr. Fauci and the Covid vaccine seriously. You are welcome to check out my podcast with his associate, Dr. Robert Malone: https://open.substack.com/pub/musicallyspeaking/p/episode-156-interview-with-dr-robert?r=bu2im&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Also in the same piece, I did have some positive things to say about RFK:
"Kennedy is right in pointing out that the same institutions have misused public trust, and the men and women running it have been hopelessly irresponsible.... Robert Kennedy Jr. represents [the voices of] parents angry that their children missed years of their education due to mismanaged lockdown policies, of epidemiologists like Drs. Jay Bhattacharya and Robert Malone, who are maligned by the public health authority for dissenting against the illusory Covid 'consensus' regarding lockdowns and vaccine mandates, of Canadian truck drivers maligned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, of families having to miss their loved one’s funerals and weddings because of the limited gathering rules, of disgruntled 'essential workers' seeing their employers such as Walmart and Amazon profiting massively while their living condition worsens. These folks, undeterred by their different politics, find their appeal in Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a man with a trustworthy surname and an abundance of charisma... However much I dislike Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign, I urge those who share my distaste to reflect upon why he became so popular." You would not find any mainstream media outlet who would write about him with such praise.
For what it's worth, I did try to invite RFK to the podcast - his media people says he is too busy at the moment. And I know at least one friend who finds him appealing. So despite not liking him, I do understand why he is so appealing.
One thing I did mention in the piece is how hypocritical RFK is: he is going out of his way to challenge the scientific consensus on vaccines, yet he is willing to persecute those who does the same on climate change. I do not know of any of his supporters/defenders who have given me a good answer on that.