RFK Jr.: "I'm for Hillary"

[RFKJrNews]

KENNEDY: I’M FOR HILLARY

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-supports-clinton-for-president/

[SaveElmer]

1. And heads will now commence exploding...nt

[RFKJrNews]

4. I've seen a lot of head-scratching over this one so far...

...mostly from progressives who strongly disagree with Hillary's stance on many of the issues.

On the other hand, the more mainstream Dems I've talked to seem to be very pleased indeed that RFK Jr. is officially in the Clinton camp now.

[Tellurian]

31. It would be wonderful

for RFKjrto get Hillary's seat if she gets the nom.

[Cha]

93. Whatever.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Good For Him...

I had the distinct honor to shake his dad's hand when he was running for senator of New York... I was six years old and my mom took me up to the front of a rope line when he was campaigning in Rego Park, New York...


I'm going to post it at GD...

PEACE

DSB

[Virginia Dare]

3. What a thrill for you...

and something you can tell your grandchildren. I had a chance to meet Ethel one time in a social setting, she was very gracious, personable and kind.

:hi:

[Auntie Bush]

16. He went up the chair ahead of me at Stowe. I was due to go up

with him but they stopped the lift a few seconds and waited for Ethel to catch up. Damn! I almost had him all to myself all the way up the mountain.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. I Also Shook Al Gore's Hand In 00

At the Eola Bandshell in Orlando, Florida...

[Virginia Dare]

5. RFK Jr. is a NWO corporatist republican lite enabler?

who knew...:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. You forgot DLC

;)

[ronnykmarshall]

8. and prawn of KKKarl

:silly:

[SaveElmer]

10. But he is "hip"...nt

[ronnykmarshall]

6. Oh my.

[William769]

9. Some people are going to log on here this morning and see this thread and go.

[RFKJrNews]

11. That was pretty much the reaction allright!

You could hear the clunk of jaws dropping from miles around...:)

[Tellurian]

73. LINK TO RFKJr. Hillary Endorsement!!!

Kennedy: "IM FOR HILLARY"



http://rfkin2008.wordpress.com/2007/10/08/kennedy-supports-clinton-for-president/

[Honeycombe8]

79. Why? nt

[robcon]

12. So far the anti-Hillary crowd hasn't given him the McGovern treatment

Although calling RFK jr. senile would have been a stretch.

[cali]

13. They could always

say he's drug addled from his days of doing heroin. And I'm anti-Hillary, btw.

[SaveElmer]

15. It's still early...nt

[BigDDem]

14. Let the craziness begin...

He's a corporate whore!
DLC tool!

[stimbox]

38. No, he's not, but she sure is.

Just sayin' as people like to say.

[Odin2005]

17. The heads of the Kucinichites and Naderite trolls are exploding, methinks!

:rofl:

[robcon]

19. McGovern was an easier target to attack with venom.

I don't know how the Kucinich crowd will rationalize this.

[flvegan]

18. He wants her Senate seat.

That's something I'd like to see happen.

[Armstead]

20. Even the good guys make mistakes

Since I didn't hear his reasons for supporting the Corporate Candidate I can;t speculate on his reasons or motives at this point.

But my hunch is that he's being "pragmatic" and jumping on the "anyone but a Republican" bandwagon.

I hate this, because we are selling ourselves down the river and behaving like lemmings and supporting the GOP lite DLC yet again.

Oh well, maybe an aspirin will stop my head from exploding.

[William769]

22. You almost had a good argument but as usual, you lost it at the end.

[Armstead]

26. The part at the end is why I am so upset

I simply happen to believe that we are at a point where it's actually possible to have positive change from the Corporatist Conservative ethic that has ruined this country over the last 20 years.

And I hate to see the DLC Enablers undermining that by using their power and money to steamroll through more of the same.

[ChiciB1]

36. I Completely Agree With You! n/t

[Ninga]

21. If this is the case, then the reason is the rumor posted in the OP. If it is true, that a run for

her Senate seat is in the picture, then his endorsement is nothing more than political expediency. Pure and simple. No spin needed.

[cali]

24. And you can be so sure of this

because you know him intimately, right?

[Ninga]

40. I am not "so sure" but on the other hand "confident", and no I do not know him. But

i know politics, and there are no purist, there are no virgins, there are no strategies that are not contemplated.

And there are always quid pro quos......I will give you this, if you give me that......this by the way, accounts for pork in bills...it is how politics is played.

It would be unseemly for RFK, jr to NOT engage in a quid pro quo with Hillary........he would then have the bully pulpit of the Senate to advance his wonderful initiatives. And really, Uncle Ted most likely will endorse her as well.

[ChiciB1]

37. Just Wrote To Tell Him My Thoughts... It's Awaiting "Moderation" So

I suppose they are culling anything that's "not positive" and that's really uncouth!

[RFKJrNews]

76. Your comment has been approved

Sorry it took several hours to get your comment up on the site, we certainly wouldn't hold back any comments which are not positive about RFK Jr.. It's just been a very busy day, didn't get time to upload the new comments until this evening!

Actually, I would like to see *more* of your reactions (both positive and negative) posted on our site. We are looking for honest words from people who are not afraid to tell Bobby what they really think! He does check the blog, and your comments will no doubt be of interest to him.

Don't know if he keeps up with DU or not, so if you want to write in and tell Mr. Kennedy your thoughts on this recent development, please do so via our website at http://RFKin2008.com

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

[dogman]

101. Now that's funny.

"political expediency" and an Edwards avatar. That's a match. Edwards is the epitome of spin.

[Armstead]

25. Here's one possible reason from 2000

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F07EFD61439F934A3575AC0A9669C8B63&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FPeople%2FK%2FKennedy%2C%20Robert%20Francis

Oct 11 2000 NY Times

Robert Kennedy Jr. Endorses Hillary Clinton

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By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD
Published: September 7, 2000

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate candidacy yesterday, declaring that she would show leadership on environmental concerns he champions and would overcome the ''carpetbagger'' tag that also threatened his father's bid for a Senate seat from New York in 1964.

Mr. Kennedy, an environmental lawyer in Westchester County who had considered running for the seat Mrs. Clinton is seeking, stood at her side at the 79th Street Boat Basin in Manhattan and delivered her second endorsement on environmental issues in two days. On Tuesday, she was endorsed by the Sierra Club.

Mr. Kennedy credited Mrs. Clinton with exerting influence on the Clinton administration to take steps to protect the lands around New York City's upstate drinking water supplies, a battle Mr. Kennedy has waged for several years. He said that during a ''seminar'' he conducted for Mrs. Clinton this year, she had demonstrated a strong interest in that problem and in such other issues as cleaning up chemical contamination from the Hudson River.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

27. Something Just Occurred To Me

This makes it much more likely that Ted Kennedy endorses Hillary Clinton or makes no endorsement at all before the Massachusetts primary... Ted never endorses early in the primaries unless another Bay Stater is running; Dukakis and Kerry...

[Tellurian]

28. Ethel is supporting Obama..

maybe she'll see the light.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

29. Hmmm

Do you have a link?

I remember when Robert Kennedy won the Indiana primary on the strength of the African American vote and Ethel Kennedy said she wished "everybody was black."

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. Link

http://books.google.com/books?id=0SAfXQVZu6sC&pg=PA200&lpg=PA200&dq=ethel+kennedy+i+wish+everybody+was+black&source=web&ots=09dHp5pi16&sig=cqJpN8bjy9-desmpFH4DUh9OU18

[Tellurian]

33. Hopefully, it's not too late and she'll change her mind!

http://obama-08.blogspot.com/2007/01/bobby-kennedys-widow-ethel-would.html

[zulchzulu]

32. The Kennedys were good family friends with Joe McCarthy...

...shit happens.

Good luck to RFK, Jr. keeping a straight face if he has to speak on her behalf.

[SaveElmer]

34. And there it is...

You can always count on one of the "Three Musketeers" to chime in with something off the wall...

[William769]

45. Was there any doubt?

[desi]

70. None whatsoever...

Most of "them" are pulling their hair out at the GD thread...

:kick:

[sufrommich]

35. Are you inferring that the Kennedys are big

fans of McCartyism? Disgusting.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

39. I Suspect There Weren't A Lot Of Irish Catholic National Politicians At That Time

He dated one of the Kennedy sisters but the Kennedys did not endorse his politics...

In fact Robert Kennedy was a voice for justice on the House Unamerican Activities Committe... That's why Roy Cohn hated him...

[LeFleur1]

41. Come On

You can't possibly confusing this anti Hillary crowd with facts, can you?

Seriously, though. This "say anything to bring her down" mentality is more Republican than anything Hillary has done.

[zulchzulu]

42. DId you know RFK worked with Joe McCarthy in the 50s?

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kennedys/peopleevents/p_rfk.html

The Kennedys were good friends with Joe McCarthy. Robert worked with McCarthy for a while in 1953 on the Senate Committee on Unamerican Activities through family connections.

Listen. I love the Kennedys. RFK became radicalized to be who we know him best for after JFK was shot.

I'm just guessing that RFK, Jr. and his tepid endorsement of Clinton is more about loyalty than political agreements. If you listen to him on AAR's Ring Of Fire, he certainly doesn't sound like he supports many of Clinton's votes or limp attempts on environmental issues.

[Tellurian]

46. And RFK resigned his post after 6 mos..

knowing the personalities of the Kennedys. It appears the mean spirited, abusive, McCarthy was someone they no longer wanted to be associated with.


"Managing his brother's Senate race was Robert Kennedy's first job in politics. In 1954 family connections helped him get a job working for Joseph McCarthy's Senate Committee on Unamerican Activities, but Kennedy resigned after six months. Subsequently, he was chief counsel for the Senate Rackets Committee where he investigated corruption in the Teamsters Union."

[SaveElmer]

48. Did you know Abraham Lincoln worked with Jefferson Davis?

Did that make him a confederate...

It was a stupid random way to attack RFK, Jr. and you know it.

Why not just say you were wrong to do so and move on?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

51. I Heard FDR Collaborated With Josef Stalin

Don't tell anybody....

[Honeycombe8]

80. So did Winston Churchill. Who'd've thunk it? nt

[zulchzulu]

59. You're good at the Clintonian schtick of taking stuff out of context

Great job!

:puke:

[sufrommich]

49. RFK jr. wasn't even born until 1954.

I doubt he would consider his father's work with McCarthy as anything more than youthful naivete in his father's otherwise brilliant career. So why tarnish him by even bringing up McCarthy. It's got absolutely nothing to do with anything.

[zulchzulu]

55. Wow...

Can you read? I was referring to his father and the link to McCarthy. Politics is politics...

I really like RFK, Jr. (as well as the Kennedys) and am frankly surprised if the endorsement is true. There is nothing in print saying he did an endorsement in his own words...just some audio possibly on a radio show.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

56. If There Really Were Communist Infiltrartors They Needed To Be Exposed

Problem was there weren't any and when RFK discovered that he left...

[zulchzulu]

61. Exactly

McCarthy probably also tried tapping on his shoes in the bathroom stall too...

[RFKJrNews]

77. Tepid Endorsement

It was interesting the way RFK Jr. rather glossed over the subject when he said "Hillary is the candidate I'm supporting" this week on Air America. That was all he said. Nothing more. Didn't elaborate.

This does make me wonder how his "Ring of Fire" co-host Mike Papantonio feels right now, and if it will cause any tension between them. Pap does not seem to be in the Hillary camp at all. To say the least.

[beachmom]

43. I followed your link and it is not definitive proof he said this.

Can you please provide a direct link to audio of him saying this. You only link to the radio show. Can you please tell us where to listen. It's just that this should be iron clad, and your link is not fully definitive. I really don't want to listen to 3 hours of radio to verify:

http://ringoffireradio.com/show.asp?jid=190

[William769]

47. The link is from "Draft Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for President 2008"

If thats not proof enough...

[beachmom]

50. Which is an unofficial site. Look, he needs to specify when RFK Jr.

said it on the radio program. Even for Hillary supporters, it is only right that we actually get to HEAR what is reported that he said.

Also, check Google. This story is nowhere but here. Trust but verify is a good rule to live by.

Edited to add: I don't really care whether the story is true or not. The point is we should be able to independently verify it. I have been unable to do that.

[William769]

53. Self delete.

Wrong date

[zulchzulu]

57. I didn't know it was 2000 again

Maybe you didn't notice the date on the Times article.

:rofl:

[William769]

62. A error on my part.

Unlike some people, I can admit when I make a mistake.

[RFKJrNews]

83. Our website is not affiliated with RFK Jr.

We don't work for him or speak for him. However, we are in contact with him and have put in a request for an official statement from Mr. Kennedy as to his plans for 2008.

The story is based on two sources: his public comments on this week's "ring of fire" broadcast, and words he said to the same effect in a recent informal correspondence between us dated Sept. 19.

Because the correspondence was of a more private nature, I chose not to publish it without Mr. Kennedy's permission. As soon as we get the green light from RFK Jr., we will post his "official" response on the site.

In the meantime, his support for Hillary has become public knowledge, as he voiced this on the radio show this week. His other political plans, at least for the time being, have not been publicly announced.

[zulchzulu]

52. I'm skimming through the show and will see if this is there...

If I get a statement, I'll post an MP3. There is no transcript that I could find of the show.

[William769]

54. See post #53.

[zulchzulu]

58. An endorsement from...September 7, 2000...works for 2007?

Oh....OK. Got it.

:rofl:

[William769]

60. A error on my part.

I do believe it was you that said good people sometimes make mistakes.

[zulchzulu]

64. No biggie

It was a good endorsement back then.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

65. What Does It Matter?

You implied or inferred he had "red baiter" blood...


:rofl:

[zulchzulu]

67. No...

I implied that in politics, you can have strange bedfellows. RFK, Jr. took the gig to work with McCarthy from his dad. He left in 6 months, but he did work with McCarthy. You can't deny that.

As I also mentioned, I loved RFK especially after he radicalized his views on many things after his brother was shot.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

69. It Was A Joke

eom

[robinlynne]

44. I need an aspirin. or 3.

[BootinUp]

63. Woohoo thats a big one baby. n/t

[Cameron27]

66. WOW! Big time endorsement!

Congrats to Hillary and her supporters.

[zulchzulu]

68. MP3 of the "endorsement"

RFK Jr. talks about the 2008 race

Ring of Fire show/Hour 1/about 16:40 into the show:
http://www.ringoffireradio.com/video/RF%20100607%20Hour%201.mp3

[beachmom]

71. Thank you for doing that, Zulchzulu. He says, "Hillary, who I am supporting".

I wonder if he really does want that Senate seat. He is very good on environmental issues (well, except Cape Winds, but that's a whole drawn out affair I won't get into).

[zulchzulu]

75. Funny you mention that

I think a minute before that statement, he mentioned that Spitzer is his cousin. Spitzer would appoint someone to fill in Clinton's seat if she won...I wonder who he'd appoint... :shrug:

The Cape Winds thang... :hi:

[RFKJrNews]

94. He was talking about his cousin Arnold Shwarzenegger, Gov. of CA...

...one republican whom RFK has a surprisingly warm relationship with.

Kennedy and Gov. Spitzer are not related.

[oasis]

72. Screw RFK. Since when is winning the White House so damn important?

:grr:

[incapsulated]

74. Yeah, who needs it

Let's let Bush abolish the 22nd amendment and take our time to change everyone's mind about this....

[calteacherguy]

78. That's great! Anyone who doubts Hillary IS a progressive candidate needs to take a long, hard look

at her. If they do, they will come to the same conclusion as George McGovern, RFK, Wes Clark, and so many others.

I believe Gore will endorse her after he wins the nobel prize, and the will be the most important endorsement of all. She's going to do great things for America and the world, but it all depends on WE THE PEOPLE supporting her!

[BootinUp]

82. There is so much dis-information out there

I think people (democrats) will be happily surprised if she is the next President.

[polichick]

81. This endorsement should help calm the waters a bit...

Many environmentalists trust RFK Jr ~ and of course there's the poignant legacy of his father he carries with him. My guess is he will run for the Senate, and that's good because we need him there.

So it's a symbiotic relationship between two political families ~ not the revolution many of us would like to see, but a couple of impressive steps in the right direction.

[BootinUp]

85. There was a speech he gave in the last year

or so that I was so impressed with, all I have is the transcript. Anyways, it opened my eyes to what an important figure he is. I think Hillary will greatly value his support.

[polichick]

86. I think she will too...

She's probably tickled pink about this one ~ I sure would be!

[Honeycombe8]

84. If both the Sierra Club and RFK, Jr. have endorsed Hillary, that's b-i-g, IMO.

The environment, finally, is becoming a top issue. These two endorsements, if true, will sway a faction of the country who care about the environment and global warming. (that would include me)

I told a friend just yesterday that I wasn't sure if I'd vote for Clinton if she won the nomination. Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't. But I'd decide later. She doesn't set well with me.

But....if she gets these two endorsements, that would sway me heavily.

[RFKJrNews]

88. I don't mean to parse his words here, but...

I'd stop short of calling this an official endorsement. At this point, he is only saying that he "supports" Hillary - which could certainly be considered an endorsement - but the bigger message is that he will support whomever the Democratic nominee will be. That he will support his party and be a Good Democrat.

If the convention were held tomorrow, Hillary would be the nominee. But who can predict what may happen between now and next summer? Clinton will likely be the nominee then, but nothing is yet written in stone. I think that's why he is being cautious, as well he should be.

To clear up any confusion, someone posted an article above from 2000 where RFK Jr. endorsed Hillary in her run for the Senate. This article is 7 years old. He has not yet made any public appearances on her behalf in this race, no press release or public statement to that effect has yet been made.

[polichick]

89. It is big, and it's about time the environment was front and center...

The first Clinton administration didn't get nearly as much done as I had hoped they would when I first read that little book Bill and Al wrote while running. Al's pal Carol Browner, who was head of EPA back then, has spoken out about the Bush admin. trashing the agency ~ I think it's time to really beef the EPA up. Anyone think Gore might want to run it?

[indypaul]

87. Learned very early in political life from an old-timer

When you accept political endorsements from someone
you MIGHT inherit their friends but for sure you get
their enemies.

[Stinky The Clown]

90. Hahahahahaha

Hahahahahahahaha

:rofl:

[BootinUp]

91. kick

:kick:

[AtomicKitten]

92. Excellent endorsement.

[RFKJrNews]

95. There's another thread about tRFK/Clinton in the GD forum

here's a link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2019460

[RFKJrNews]

96. What a difference a day makes...

Just heard that Al Gore has won the Nobel Peace Prize, which brings more speculation as to whether or not he will enter the presidential race.

If he decides to go up against Hillary, he could give her one hell of a fight for the nomination. And that could possibly change RFK Jr.'s choice of who he will support in the 2008 race.

Just goes to show ya - a lot can change in 24 hours. So just imagine how much could still change between now and next year's convention.

Things are certainly getting interesting...

[BootinUp]

98. There is no chance

Gore is running. Time to wake up.

[ShortnFiery]

97. I'm disappointed in RFK Jr.

But no way I'm supporting HRC - not ever. :(

On Edit: "RFK Jr. having an eye on his father’s former Senate seat." Now the endorsement makes perfect sense to me. :shrug:

[RFKJrNews]

99. As political tit-for-tat, it makes perfect sense...

...but speaking only for me (not for others in the draft RFK movement), I'm disappointed, too. I don't support Hillary, simply because I feel like this nation needs to move forward now - a vote for a Clinton would feel like going backwards to me.

The Clintons have had their day in power; time to let somebody else drive.

Don't mean to hurt anybody's feelings, no disrespect to Hillary's supporters intended, just expressing my own thoughts on the subject.

Hard as I try, it's impossible to remain objective about this...

[redqueen]

100. This oughtta be interesting!

I can say that as for me, his endorsement does make me feel less iffy about her candidacy.

This is not just a good day, it's a GREAT day. :)

[Blue_In_AK]

102. Personally, I don't care who supports Hillary.

I don't. I can think for myself.

[Snarkturian Clone]

103. He could beat Hillary in an election!!!

What an idiot.

[RFKJrNews]

106. Yes, he could...

...in a New Yawk Minute!!!

[Terri S]

104. His mother supports Obama

I agree with mama and respect them both.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

105. Quite interesting!

Having had a conversation with RFK, Jr. in the not-too-distant past, I was impressed with Mr. Kennedy's strong stance on polluters as outright criminals.

This endorsement tells me that Mr. Kennedy would appear to believe that Senator Clinton would be supportive of strong environmental policies.

Here in WV, where the Mountain Top Removal industry uses 3,000,000 pounds (you read that right) of high explosives on us EVERY DAY, knowing that someone as environmentally conscious as RFK, Jr. endorses Senator Clinton tells us that he thinks she wouldn't balk at treating criminals like the criminals they are.

I still have no intention whatsoever of voting for Senator Clinton in the primary here. She and I simply have next to no commonality of interests. On the other hand, the word of Mr. Kennedy makes me hope that if she's nominated, I can use one clothespin on my nose instead of two when I vote for her in the General Election in November 2008, which I WILL do, if for no other reason than, even given all her myriad and profound flaws, she's still about a million-billion-trillion times better than any Repiglican running.


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