The Impact of RFK Jr.’s Endorsement on the Democratic Party
The news of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. withdrawing from the presidential race and endorsing former President Donald Trump was a surprising turn of events in this unpredictable election.
A year ago, it would have been unimaginable that a sitting president would be removed from a ticket and replaced by a candidate who received zero votes.
Now, the Democratic nephew of John F. Kennedy and son of Robert F. Kennedy has not only left the Democratic Party but also thrown his support behind the Republican nominee.
Amidst the celebrations at the Democratic National Convention, there is a reality being overlooked: Democrats are inadvertently creating Republicans.
There is a saying that “a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged.” Irving Kristol described the neoconservative movement as being built by Democrats who were “mugged by reality.”
Kennedy’s departure from the Democrats has been subject to ridicule in the media. However, in his withdrawal speech, many long-time party members resonated with his sentiments.
He highlighted how the Democratic Party has changed over the years, moving away from principles like free speech and government transparency to actively blocking opposing views.
Despite efforts to block Kennedy’s candidacy against President Biden, the Democratic Party secured their choice at the convention through unconventional means, like bait-and-switch tactics.
Kennedy stated that his journey began as a Democrat but the party’s shift away from its foundational values pushed him to endorse Donald Trump and the GOP.
He lamented how the party no longer stands for the values of democracy, free speech, and government transparency that initially drew him in. The current party ethos of promoting joy above all else is insufficient to mask these fundamental changes.
It remains to be seen how Kennedy’s endorsement will impact swing state voters, but his move highlights how Democrats unintentionally contribute to the Republican constituency.
His uncle John F. Kennedy would likely find it challenging to identify with, let alone support, the present-day Democratic Party, which contradicts many of its original mainstream values.
The exposure of President Biden’s cognitive decline, concealed by party officials, and Vice President Kamala Harris’s involvement in this concealment raises questions about the party’s commitment to transparency.
Kennedy criticized the Democratic Party for dismantling democracy, lacking faith in a fair election and resorting to unprecedented measures to secure victory.
There is no joy in these revelations.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage” (Simon & Schuster).
