Exclusive: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launches unlikely presidential bid backed by 14% of Biden voters
USA TodayDec 24, 2022
The Facts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — nephew of former US Pres. John F. Kennedy and son of former attorney general and 1968 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, both killed in high-profile assassinations — launched his 2024 presidential bid in Boston on Wednesday.
The 69-year-old environmental lawyer rose to prominence in some circles as a critic of the COVID vaccinations. However, others, including social media firms, allege he and his charity — Children's Health Defense — spread vaccine misinformation.
The Spin
Narrative A
Kennedy's chances may be outside odds, however, the power of his family's name is undisputed. He has spent his life fighting for clean air and energy against corporate greed, and with many Americans preferring Biden to step aside, Kennedy's political ambition may have legs.
Narrative B
Kennedy has been publicly denounced by public health experts and even members of his own family as promulgating dangerously misleading — and offensive — information. This isn't a man that should become the Democratic nominee for president. In fact, his ties to right-wing operatives and power brokers must be closely scrutinized.
