RFK Jr : I’m For Hillary

[DemocratSinceBirth]

On his weekly Air America radio show this week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told listeners that Hillary Clinton is the candidate he is currently supporting for president.

The Kennedys and Clintons have long been political allies. Kennedy supported Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996, and also gave his endorsement to Hillary in her 2000 run for the United States Senate.

Naturally, RFK Jr. would support whomever the Democratic nominee will be in 2008, and at this point, all bets are on Hillary Clinton.

There is also that little rumor about RFK Jr. having an eye on his father’s former Senate seat, currently occupied by Mrs. Clinton...

(more)

READ THE FULL STORY HERE: http://rfkin2008.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/kennedy-suppo... /

Image * Please SIGN THE PETITION to draft RFK Jr. at http://RFKin2008.com

[H2O Man]

1. If Senator Clinton

is elected, Robert will take the seat in the Senate.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Has Spitzer Said He Would Appoint Him?

That would be awesome.

[H2O Man]

8. I do not think

that Spitzer has or should say that publicly. But, if Clinton is elected president, unless there is some unforeseen significant change, RFK Jr. will be the next Senator.

[Jim Lane]

64. No, and I think Spitzer would probably appoint someone else

There's no shortage of credible candidates. If I had to pick one name to bet on, it would be David Paterson, currently the Lieutenant Governor and formerly the Democratic leader in the State Senate. Several members of Congress would also be interested, such as Nita Lowey, who probably would've run for and won the seat in 2000 if Clinton hadn't moved here.

Here's a New York Times article about the choices available to Spitzer: (It mentions ten specific possibilities by name, with others alluded to more generally.)

I am firmly anti-Hillary, but I certainly wouldn't assume that any prominent New Yorker who endorses her is hoping to get her Senate seat. The way politics works is just that most New York Dems are backing her, even those who are philosophically much closer to some of the more progressive candidates, and even those who can't realistically expect to be considered as her replacement.

[Evergreen Emerald]

3. It is curious that when anyone supports Clinton, they are given ulterior motives

Clark: who is highly regarded on DU must want to be VP
Kennedy: must want the senate seat.

Perhaps they simply think she is the best candidate.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. I Don't Think That's What The Poster Means...

To belive that you would have to believe a series of inferences that are built on other inferences...

I suspect he has a working relationship with Ms. Clinton and has surveyed the field, the electorate, and made a decision Ms. Clinton is the most viable candidate...

He's a great liberal like his dad...That's why his dad was, is, and remains my hero...But anybody that has read about Robert Kennedy knows his liberalism was tempered by a dollop or two of pragmatism, ruthlessness, and realism...

[MADem]

9. You mean ulterior.

I honestly don't think Clark has a hope in hell of the VP slot. SECDEF, sure. Or even an ambassadorship. But why haul in AR when you already have it in the form of your own spouse? Her VP has to appeal to the west, I think.

Who knows, maybe Kennedy is interested in the seat, maybe he wants INTERIOR? Nothing wrong with that, if that is the case. He'd do well in either job.

In politics, there is often quid pro quo. It's not a bad thing, really. It's political life.

[Evergreen Emerald]

13. I do mean ulterior--thanks

I regard both Clark and Kennedy highly and trust their opinions. And it is not a bad thing--the quid pro quo, but I do trust them when they tell us that they believe she is the best candidate.

[Nickster]

46. Oh wow, could you imagine RFK jr as Sec of Interior? That would be great.

[MADem]

53. It's a good fit, IMO. But if he wants that Senate seat, it's his, I think. NT

[Marrah_G]

55. I think Joe would run before he would

Either one would get my vote. I will shed more then a few tears when Kennedy steps down. He has been my senator my entire life, with the exception of a few years over the border in the suburb of Rhode Island.

[MADem]

63. No, Joe had/has major issues. He withdrew from the MA gov race.

His personal life is a fucking train wreck. He's just not political material, at least not for some time yet. Maybe another decade or so. But really--I'd skip it if I were him.

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/08/28/joekennedy/

He fits best getting charitable energy for poor folk--NOT in public political life.

[Marrah_G]

65. Really...I hadn't followed that.

I have very much appreciated his help with heating over the last few years.

Well if he can't run then I say "GO RFK!!!".

[DFW]

77. Joe III and Bobby Jr. were both schoolmates of mine

It has been a while, but from what I remember of their personalities.....

I agree that if one of them goes for a seat in government at this point,
it will be Bobby. I do not think he will take a lot of time to pursue it,
as he is running at warp speed with all he is doing now, but if he is
offered it, I suspect he might take it. I should add that I have been in
touch with Bobby, where I haven't had any contact with Joe for decades.
Much water under the bridge since then.

[RFKJrNews]

78. Hey DFW, good to see you back!

Hope your travels were pleasant.:)

And as always, thanks for the insight you bring to these threads.

[DFW]

80. Thanks! My travels are never-ending,

And very tiring. October is a month from hell, so I don't get
to post as much (still working for a living--must be a glutton
for punishment!). My schedule sounds like one of those $595 "see
Europe in two weeks" packages, but with none of the guided tours.

[H2O Man]

10. The idea of

General Clark as VP and RFK Jr as Senator are good things. I do not say that as an endorsement of Senator Clinton -- I have not decided which candidate that I will support. But in trying to determine the strengths of various democrats engaged in the primaries, the possibility of Clark and Kennedy being in office is indeed significant.

[Schema Thing]

48. Isn't it great that in addition to discussing the potential POTUS

...America is now discussing which OVER-qualified person might be in various key positions of American government?

In some ways, I think this is better and more important than having any particular democrat be the president (though the two discussions certainly go hand in hand).

[H2O Man]

52. It's interesting

to watch how people process information here. RFK reportedly said he favors Clinton now. One assumes that he has a fair idea if Al Gore is going to run or not. Perhaps Clinton is his first choice, perhaps not.

It is stated that the Kennedys and Clintons are close allies. Evidence of this includes RFK endorsing Bill Clinton in '92 and '96. It might be worth people's thinking about who RFK hasd been closely allied with. For example, who wrote a foreword for who's book. An RFK endorsement in '92 and '96 might be viewed in that context.

If RFK stated he support Clinton now, it is best viewed in terms of the context of the current primary season. If, for example, any of the other democratic candidates wins the nomination -- which remains a very real possibility -- I am confident that Robert will endorse them in the general election.

The possibilities of who may be in different non-presidential positions is, as you note, both interesting and worthy of our consideration.

[Clark2008]

58. I don't think Clark so much wants to be VP as it is that he NEEDS to be VP

Clinton couldn't take her "home" state of Arkansas without him and that would be embarrassing.

:)

[Turn CO Blue]

59. Clark is wasted as VP.

IMO, the VP is not close enough to the military, and has to sit in offices, or the Senate chambers often and "undisclosed locations" the other half the time.

Sec of Defense is where Clark would have major impact on the future structure of the military and get us away from war-profiteering!

[bvar22]

68. Why do you think Hillary won't take Arkansas?

Arkansas already has 2 Centrist DLC Democratic Senators.
Is it the "woman" thing?

[MADem]

4. That's a powerful endorsement, that. NT

[Totally Committed]

5. Deleted by author.

For bad judgement in every sense of the word.

TC

[mwb970]

7. More Hillary "diehards", eh? /nt

[MADem]

11. Well, both Clark AND Clinton run to the right of their values, if you actually study them.

Just like Bush ran to the left of his.

[Totally Committed]

15. It's fucking disappointing.

It just proves one lesson I am quickly learning:

When it comes to politicians, you can't trust ANY of them. Republican, Democrat..... NONE.

At least with Republicans, you KNOW not to support them no matter what they say. But, the Democrats are as big a group of liars and hypocrites as the Republicans, at this point.

I am sad and disappointed and pissed.

TC

[skipos]

21. Sweet Jesus, the guy is entitled to his opinion

Hillary is my last choice for 08, but Kucinich is at the bottom of my list as well. When I vote in a primary, I don't just pick the person who is the most progressive, or even the person who syncs up with my views the most. There are other things I care about. Maybe RFK is the same way.

[MADem]

25. I think the opposite. I think it demonstrates that her values are

left of her running stance.

YMMV.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

29. You have no idea how much I agree with you. I just went to the Ring of Fire

archive and had to hear it for myself. I just didn't want to believe this. I am heartbroken.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

33. Politics Is All About Reaching As Many People As Possible

Or reaching one more person than your opponent... If you are unsuccessful at that you can't do shit , no matter how lofty your goals... Robert Kennedy Jr. has apparently concluded Senator Clinton is better at that than any of her opponents...

[MonkeyFunk]

43. There's no tooth fairy, either

[CTyankee]

66. Oh, TC I am sorry. I know how seriously you take your political leaders and

how much they mean to you. This is a hard thing to accept, when things come down in a very different way than what you expect. But remember that it is people like you who insist on the better way and hold up a nobler example of what you think a public servant in high office should be that eventually causes change. You may not think so now, but I think I'll be proven right on this...

Take care!

[RFKJrNews]

70. I was looking for TC to weigh in on this ...

...looked for your comments on the other thread (In GD: Politics - also FLAMING HOT!!!) and didn't see you there. I hope that you will also leave some thoughts for Bobby on the web site at http://RFKin2008.com.

We're looking for articulate comments (both positive and negative) on this recent development. Your words would no doubt be of interest to him. After all, how is RFK Jr. to know what people think if he doesn't hear it directly from you?

The response so far from the progressive left has been somewhat delayed. At first, it was just an eerie, stunned silence. Then we started seeing more anger and the comments got pretty heated. I'm sure Bobby will take the time to read and consider everybody's opinions, and then, as always, will decide for himself the best course of action.

We will not censor or delete any negative comments, so long as they stay within the realm of common good taste. Outside of that, say anything you want.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. And His Father And Uncle (JFK) Ran To The Right Of Their Values As Well

The Kennedy's brand of liberalism has always contain a dollop or two of realism and toughness, Ted Kennedy not so much, because he has long given up hope of being a national candidate...

[MADem]

34. Ted Kennedy doesn't HAVE to run right. We like him just the way he is!

Your point is spot on, though. Some people are surprised at how defense-oriented the Kennedys were. That old Greatest Generation legacy....

[DemocratSinceBirth]

36. Bobby Kennedy Named His Son After Maxwell Taylor

He also voted for Eisenhower ... The Kennedys' intensely disliked Adlai Stevenson because they saw him as soft...

I was reading Arthur Schlesinger's memoirs and he said Stevenson was unfazed about JFK's assassination and was pleased that he would have higher status in a Johnson administration...

As an aside ,Schlesinger is also very hard on Carter in his memoirs...

and Joe Lieberman -ha ha ha...He was sitting next to Hillary Clinton at some event during the impeachment brouhaha after Lieberman made his speech on the Senate floor condemning Clinton... Schlesinger said to Hillary that "Joe Lieberman is a sanctimonious prick" to which Hillary replied "he is sanctimonious."....

[cali]

14. oh boohoo.

Bobby Kennedy's been walking the walk, as you put it, for a long time.

[durrrty libby]

16. Taking one's heroes and throwing them under the bus is a popular

past time around here.

[Totally Committed]

17. cali, I seriously don't know what I ever did to make you hate me like you do, but...

this is NOT the time to throw gasoline on the fire here. It just isn't.

Political disagreement shouldn't be personal, and this attack crosses that line.

Back off, please.

Thank you, ahead of time, for your courtesy and consideration in doing so.

TC

Edited for spelling

[cali]

18. I don't hate you, TC

I don't like some of the comments you make here or other places.

[H2O Man]

23. "Political disagreements

shouldn't be personal, and this attack crosses that line."

Might that not apply equally to what you have said on this thread about RFK Jr? I'm not saying that as a dig -- I think you are a good person, and a sincere democrat. Robert is, too. You and he have different opinions on what is the best route for our party to take right now. You both are entitled to your beliefs, and can both make strong, interesting cases supporting those beliefs.

[pacalo]

73. I can't believe I'm disagreeing with something said by you, oh wise man...

but RFK, Jr is a public figure and Totally Committed is not; TC is a poster here just like Cali is. There's a civil way to disagree between posters & an alienating way to disagree; TC was a victim of the latter. I've been a victim of the same poster a year or so ago & I haven't forgotten it.

[H2O Man]

75. I can assure

you that I am not agreeing with the other poster that you mention. I do not think that person has common values with TC, RFK, you or I. I was speaking about the TC's comments about RFK. I fail to see any significance in Robert's being a public figure.

[mondo joe]

19. Hero worship is a fickle thing. It has to really make you wonder what is based

on to be such an easily switched binary.

[cali]

24. Really true.

And THE reason I don't indulge in it.

[Virginia Dare]

27. That's proven here on a daily basis...

athletes and politicians make bad heroes.

[Totally Committed]

26. I will be deleting my original post.

Bad judgement in more ways than one.

TC

[Virginia Dare]

28. I suspect it won't be the last time, either...n/t

[Cha]

49. I thought of you when I

first read this right after I said "oh shit". Then I read about Kennedy maybe being Senator from New York IF it happens..quid pro quo.

Lots of disappointments in the 7 years..a few good surprises..it's gonna get better SOME day!

[durrrty libby]

12. Thanks for the info. That is terrific news

Congrats Hillary

:woohoo: :applause: :woohoo:

This made my day:toast:

[The_Casual_Observer]

20. So, RFK jr must be bought off by big corporations & is in lockstep

with bush & big insurance too huh?

[flvegan]

22. He wants her Senate seat.

Also, the Kennedy/Clinton ties are pretty strong.

No surprise here.

[PATRICK]

31. I respect RFK

completely and that last speculation about the Senate seat is completely Kennedy. Too bad he couldn't knock off a GOP or DINO Senator outright though. I expect to hear certain endorsements such as this. My own House candidate(NY-29 Massa) would strongly support Hillary, as does Gen. Clark, although she not only is less progressive than he is, but would likely drag down his chances under many circumstances by arousing the GOP vote in our difficult gerrymandered district.

Taking away the GOP slander and the caution, Hillary's biggest problem is what is not there than in anything particularly scandalous or offensive. What is there is endorsements. What might not be there is votes. In any event it is important that progressives unite to move the party and nation from the ground up because the top down is not enough at this sorry stage- no matter who carries the banner. Whether someone makes that easier or harder should be a big immediate concern- and healthy argument- but not a cause for giving up the daunting larger picture.

[book_worm]

32. Does this mean no more "RFK, JR. for President" threads on DU?

[durrrty libby]

35. Now there will be 20 threads where he will be burned in virtual effigy

[robcon]

37. Maybe not burned in effigy...

I think some Hillary-haters will just find a selfish explanation in JFK jr.'s endorsement.

Although Clark took some hits for endorsing Clinton, I think a very low point in DU history was reached when several DUers called George McGovern senile or worse after he endorsed her.

I don't think we'll reach that kind of low point with RFK jr. I think the reaction will be a little muted - and maybe some anti-Clinton posters will have settled down a little.

[CarolNYC]

67. McGovern

I agree, the reaction to McGovern's endorsement was really shameful.

True, Clark took some hits and some real Clarkies were truly disappointed in the announcement but it seemed a lot of the hits were from people just waiting to find some excuse to jump ugly on Clark.

The McGovern stuff....I can only shake my head thinking about the stuff that was posted about that good and honorable man....

Some people are idiots. What can you do?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

40. For The Time Being

eom

[HughBeaumont]

38. What an absolute disappointment.

I thought he was one of the good ones. I guess he's just like all the rest. Let's SETTLE and not CHANGE. Let's just go with "The Inevitable". FUCK.

Hillary Clinton is such a horrible, shitty candidate. Corporate line-tower on free-trade two-faced on job offshoring. IWR. Bankruptcy Bill 2001. Giving the green light on Iran. Mandatory, still-Big-Insurance-controlled health care. Buddy-buddy with Rupert Murdoch. A Vichy limousine Dem lambasted with baggage. She won't turn ONE red state. Not. ONE.

We need a candidate that will UNITE the middle and left and take some Eisenhower conservatives, not divide all three and end up with an equally shitty Republican candidate.

We can do so much better than "well, she's better than any Republican". So fucking WHAT??

[Vidar]

39. I'm sorry to hear this, though it doesn't diminish by admiration for the young man.

[mdmc]

41. In NYS, you HAVE to be for HRC

She is the only game in town.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

Not me.

:hi:

[mdmc]

47. all our local leaders have fallen in line my friend

Who do you think should replace HRC as jr. Senator?
I like Maurice Hinchey myself...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

60. I like Hinchey very much too but I don't even want to go there

concerning HRC.

[Laurab]

57. Or me... n/t

[Zandor]

42. DINO!!!!

:rofl:

[Spiffarino]

44. Bad call, Bobby.

:(

[Mass]

45. Disappointing call from somebody I respect a lot.\nt

[RufusTFirefly]

50. Disappointed, but I still respect RFK, Jr.

Will history repeat itself?

Early in the campaign, Kennedy endorsed Senator John Kerry for President, but last month he expressed disappointment in Kerry's campaign and in the Democratic Party.

"The Republicans are 95 percent corrupt and the Democrats are 75 percent corrupt," Kennedy. "They are accepting money from the same corporations. And of course, that is going to corrupt you."

Kennedy: Fascist America

[RFKJrNews]

71. Hmmm, good point

RFK has been known to become disillusioned with candidates before, and he has been very outspoken about corruption in both parties. I don't see that changing.

However, based on a more recent informal correspondence between us, it seems clear that he will give his full support to whoever the Democratic nominee will be. And he plans to get out and work very hard to help that candidate win.

If the convention were tomorrow, Hillary would be nominated. But a lot can happen between now and next summer...might not be time to count those chickens just yet!

[earth mom]

51. Wow-I can't believe it. What the F is he thinking???!!!

:argh:

[desi]

54. Yesss

:kick: :toast: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[pacalo]

56. A "whew" on two points...

His support is predicated with the word "currently" and is based on the fact that "all bets are on Hillary" at this point.

If the People's Choice enters the race, RFK isn't locked into an ironclad commitment.

[orleans]

61. surprising. n/t

[emilyg]

62. Thanks. Good news.

[ronnykmarshall]

69. I'm enjoying the show.

[RFKJrNews]

72. watching the fireworks...

Popcorn, anyone?

[bdamomma]

74. hmmm.....He would be a very good Senator.

[RFKJrNews]

76. Hmmm...interesting

I just went back and counted up the "FOR/AGAINST" opinions posted in this thread, and the results from DU'ers are interesting so far:

16 people FOR Kennedy's endorsement of Clinton
21 people OPPOSED

While the results are close, the big difference I've observed is that those who support RFK Jr.'s latest move are happy to hear the news, but otherwise are somewhat dispassionate on the subject. The response from those who oppose the endorsement, on the other hand, has ranged from utter shock to cries of "traitor!" I mean, some of these RFK diehards are REALLY upset; they are sending this message out loud and clear.

It's an interesting and sticky situation, which I think reflects the larger divide within our own party at the moment.

This seems to be a fairly accurate mirror of the responses I'm hearing off the boards and from the comments posted on the draft RFK website at http://RFKin2008.com - DU'ers, please post your thoughts there as well.

[RFKJrNews]

79. Just in case you STILL can't believe it...

...he said it again on Good Morning America this weekend:

______________________________________________________________

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America Saturday to talk about this week’s award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore and the IPCC. The discussion began with some observations on the draft Gore movement; RFK Jr. urged people to respect Gore’s choice not to run and said that we will have to “look for leadership someplace else.”

But perhaps the most interesting part of the interview was his reply to the question of who he was endorsing for President in 2008.

Here’s a transcript of the October 13 Good Morning America interview with Bill Weir:

Weir: “And joining us live now from Minneapolis is another man who has made protecting the environment a lifelong cause, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President of the Waterkeeper Alliance. Good morning.”

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: “Morning.”

Weir: “Your father ran for president, convinced that was the best way to tackle big problems, but forty years later it seems Al Gore is content to act as a citizen activist. Do you agree with that decision? Do you think he would do more good to the grand cause as a candidate?”

Kennedy: “Well, I think that’s a personal decision for him. He said he doesn’t want to run so — you know, he did win once before. But I think — at this point, he’s saying that he’s not going to run. So I think we have to look for leadership someplace else.”

Weir: “Well, let me follow that up then-”

Kennedy: “That kind of leadership.”

Weir: “Yeah. Well, if he’s not in, who do you like as the most qualified candidate on environmental issues?”

Kennedy: “You know, I think all of the Democratic candidates have said the right thing about global warming. We’ve yet to see concrete plans from anybody. John McCain on the Republican side has some genuine bona fides — although I think he’s being pulled now by the gravities of the Republican primary voters to reverse some of those — that initial good work that he’s done on the issue. All the Democrats have been good on this issue. Hillary Clinton. Johnny Edwards. Obama. Bill Richardson. Chris Dodd. They’ve all been wonderful on this issue.”

Weir: “But no endorsement this morning?”

Kennedy: “I think — I’m going to be supporting Hillary Clinton in the race. I think she has the strongest record on the environment of any of the candidates and-”...

(END EXCERPT)

Read the full story HERE:

http://rfkin2008.wordpress.com/2007/10/14/rfk-jr-talks-about-gore-endorses-hillary-on-abc/

[Vinca]

81. Well, that's disappointing. All things considered, I would have

thought he'd work for Kucinich.