A New Kennedy Conspiracy

For the first time in American history more people have registered as Independents than the two major political parties. With people seemingly fed up with a system that doesn’t represent them, they voiced their dissatisfaction when registering to vote. One candidate placed this issue at the centerpiece of their campaign. When it was clear to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that he was being blocked from competing in the Democratic primaries the decision to “Declare his Independence” was made. The announcement took place in Philadelphia on the hallowed grounds that display the Liberty Bell, across the street from where the founders signed the Declaration and Constitution. For Independent voters it was an emboldened rally cry against the political system they rejected. It would also come to be a devastating blow to the movement in the middle of the election cycle when Kennedy would suspend his campaign. The press conference in Arizona where Kennedy made a new announcement, to form a coalition with one of the major party candidates, left some independent voters questioning his motives.

Throughout the 2024 election cycle for President many accusations have been lodged against Independent Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Some were indictments on past behavior, like sexual misconduct. Others bordered slander to give potential voters the impression that the candidate was unhinged and therefore unfit to be President. These stories included characters like a babysitter, bear, reporter, and whale. The accuracy of the press Kennedy received is questionable with attack after attack being unleashed on him. Above all the headlines, one narrative seemed to stand out. From the start of his campaign critics expressed the idea that RFK Jr. was a Trump plant in the Democratic primaries.

To say Kennedy and Trump in the same sentence may seem like a misnomer. The Kennedy family is a dynasty when it comes to liberal politics. RFK Jr. however, the once heralded environmental lawyer named by Time Magazine a “Hero of the Planet”, fell from his place of grace with the Democrats when he began to question the motives of some widely accepted health practices. Over the course of a decade, the powerhouse attorney that took down some of the largest corporate polluters, acquired a new title: conspiracy theorist. By suggesting there was a link between mercury in vaccines to the condition of autism, RFK Jr. became heretic number 1 in the public health community.

Donald Trump was also emerging as an outside threat to the Washington establishment during his 2016 Presidential run. He emphasized his business experience compared to his challengers who were career politicians. One of the most recognized slogans in that campaign was to “Drain the Swamp”. He took a firm hold on the bully pulpit to hammer out “political correctness” and any other obstacle that stood in his way. The surprise victory in Pennsylvania and some other swing states put Trump in the White House. Early in his Presidency the two political outcasts would have their first chance to work together (almost).

The Kennedy / Trump team flashed in and out of existence during a 2017 meeting with leadership from the National Institutes of Health. A position that was offered to RFK Jr., the fierce skeptic of government authority turned child health advocate, would have placed policies about vaccines in his purview. The commission for vaccine safety was ultimately abandoned and the opportunity lost. Just a few years later though, the pair found themselves in familiar territory.

During the midst of the Covid-19 global pandemic President Trump watched his prize economy collapse while Kennedy experienced the government’s overreach as they clamped down totalitarian controls. Both men were no strangers to speaking out against power and they voiced their opposition to mandates associated with managing the response to the pandemic. Both men faced costly criticism for their views, with some of their statements being censored, and their dissent eventually leading to being deplatformed by social media companies like Twitter and Instagram. The pandemic threatened the legacy of a Presidency as Trump watched the next administration make a concerted effort to undue his policies. For Kennedy the effects of the pandemic triggered an assault on the Constitution and the U.S. Bill of Rights. For each of them it was a large motivating factor to run for President in 2024.

As a lifelong Democrat Kennedy began his 2024 Presidential bid by challenging an incumbent President like his father did in 1968. Junior was well aware of the opposition he would encounter, specifically from the Democratic National Committee. With a fair and open primary his campaign felt like they could persuade voters with classic liberal policies, capturing the nomination of the party. With Joe Biden not campaigning or debating and a long list of obstacles placed their way his advisors had to convince Bobby that their road to the White House needed a change in direction. At each stop they were faced with new roadblocks erected by the DNC and they voiced their growing disdain with a list of grievances.

• He was blocked from competing in the primaries
• He was withheld Secret Service protection
• He was sued by a DNC funded Super PAC in states where he would appear on the ballot
• He was denied press by left leaning television media
• The party did not conduct and open primary after Biden stepped down and Harris was chosen instead of voted for
• The party turned from their classically held views on policies like free speech, the middle class, and opposition to war

When Kennedy experienced exclusion from a second televised debate between the two major parties there was one final announcement to be made by his campaign. Without a clear path to victory Bobby promised to withdraw from the race. His campaign amassed a following of the newly registered independent voters as well as disenfranchised voters from the left and right. Over a million people across the US signed petitions to get him on the state ballots. They trusted the Kennedy campaign to challenge the corporate corruption of the political system in Washington. Was the movement over before it ever began? The Trump camp commenced negotiations for Kennedy to be part of their transition team with a place in their administration. When Kennedy attempted to contact his former party their nominee declined to answer. With the same courage that started the Kennedy 24 campaign, Bobby suspended it, to support Trump on several key positions they shared in common.

So, was that all that motivated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to suspend his campaign and form a unity campaign with Donald J. Trump?

Another list can be created of reasons critics think RFK Jr. was running against the Democrats all along.

• Kennedy has opposed and been opposed by public health agencies that are comprised by generally liberal voters
• Kennedy has been aligned with healthcare skeptics that are comprised by generally conservative voters
• Kennedy policies like support for the 2^nd Amendment depart from generally held views by the liberal establishment
• Kennedy and Trump received large donations from the same wealthy donor
• Kennedy voiced recognition that he would be sued by the DNC to be kept off the ballot
• Kennedy was in negotiations with Trump for several weeks before his suspension speech

By intention or circumstance the Kennedy 24 campaign suspension was disappointing to independent voters that believe the two party system is a major contribution to the corruption of the federal government by Big Money. By framing some of the largest existential threats to the country (e.g. corporate capture of the government, rising national debt, and endless wars) voters were inspired that true change was possible. For the first time in a long time people had something to vote for instead of someone to vote against. So what can an independent voter do from here?

• Continue to register Independent as a sign to the establishment that change is coming
• If you believe former Democrats like RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Elon Musk joining the Donald Trump campaign have the potential to create positive change vote accordingly
  • Create a list of important policies you support with desired outcomes to hold a Trump Presidency and leadership team accountable
  • Hold Bobby accountable to dramatically improving the chronic disease epidemic in 2 years and Making America Healthy Again in 4 years of leadership
• Vote for your second choice of minor party candidates
• Start to inform yourself with the ideas of past Presidents and candidates that initiated change from the status quo of the two party system
• Learn about the history of the electoral process and ways to reform it

There have been many candidates before Trump and Kennedy that were political outsiders and challenged the two party federal governmental system. The independent movement is not confined to one person, place, or time. The few People that have been successful managed to direct the political discourse towards policies and positions supported by their constituencies. In order to gain the support of those constituencies typically one of the two major parties pandered and the person withdrew. There have been no challengers to successfully change the conversation. Which leaves us with hope that someone in the not so distant future may address the real problems that face this nation, to lead this country to a place of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all.