Robert Kennedy Jr. Says Family Members Are Wrong in Supporting Obama

[saracat]

Robert Kennedy Jr. Says Family Members Are Wrong in Supporting Obama

May 01, 2008 6:41 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Introducing Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., in Jeffersonville, IN, Robert Kennedy Jr. had some pretty harsh words for his family members who are backing Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for president.

"There are some members of my family who've decided to do the wrong thing, support Senator Obama," he said of the Democratic presidential fight.

Kennedy continued, "Part of our family is divided and our Party is divided and the reason we are divided is because we have two extraordinary candidates both running for president both who will make unbelievable presidents of this country."

Continuing his argument, Kennedy said, "but let me tell you why they’re wrong and I’m right, because I know Hillary Clinton better than they know Barack Obama," said Kennedy to a loud applause.

Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy adopted Obama as a "Son of Camelot" back in January.

Kennedy went on to speak about the attacks that Sen. Clinton received while in office saying, "she came in after enduring one of the most savage beatings of a public figure during my lifetime with people like Ken Star going spending 40 million dollars going after her relentlessly with billionaires like Richard Mellon Scaife and his whole right wing machine that sent out hundreds of millions of letters to American citizens going after her relentlessly."

Trying to connect the attacks Clinton pushed off to similar criticism President John F. Kennedy endured more than 40 years ago. "She had to endure the same kind of attacks that my father had to endure which was being called a carpetbagger when she came into New York." Kennedy pointed to Clinton's work in the upstate parts of New York to make his point saying that she"transformed those counties, which not even my father could do….."

abcnews
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/05/robert-kennedy.html

[DJ13]

1. "Im right, everyone else is wrong"

He has serious issues that go beyond this election.

[saracat]

5. My , my. His sister Kathleen Townsend must have the same "issues".

And to think he was a DU "hero". I guess only is one is an Obama fan. RFK Jr. didn't drink the Koolaid.

[DJ13]

9. His sister Kathleen Townsend must have the same "issues".

He is, in effect, telling Caroline Kennedy's children (who helped her decide on Obama) that their opinions are shit.

Yes, he does have issues, and his sister likely just went along with him.

[Darth_Kitten]

75. Maybe Caroline Kennedy should get over the Camelot Myth.......

and learn to cope with reality.

[karynnj]

88. Why are you attacking Caroline Kennedy?

There are few people who have shown the grace and class that she has supporting many Democratic presidential nominees - including Bill Clinton. She has written at least two excellent books.

Rather ironic that someone still blinded by the Clinton myth is attacking Caroline Kennedy on the Camelot myth. The fact is that those years were a time of inspiration and many people were moved to become committed because of it - those of us old enough to have understood it did. Maybe the Clinton people need to stop the mythology that there is a popular vote in the primaries.

I do know that there was an "airbrushing" of the JFK years after he was killed, but he did inspire many and made people want to be part of something bigger than themselves - that's something the Clinton years did not do - they were better than the Reagan years, but were very self indulgent.

[jasmine621]

133. Why are you call this and "attack?"

Is it so difficult for Obama supporters to hear criticism or opinions without labeling them "attacks?"

[democracy1st]

14. Richard Mellon Scaife did he say Richard Mellon Scaife

[saltpoint]

96. Your anti-woman and anti-female Kennedy attitude here is telling.

No wonder Sen. Clinton lost the huge lead and advantage she had last fall.

[grantcart]

19. He simply wants the Senate seat - its pathetic

[quakerboy]

37. Yup.

[gaiilonfong]

38. He can have the Senate seat she will LOSE THAT NEXT

after she loses the nom...NO ONE will vote for the NeoCon Hillary after what she has done...her negatives are up 13% at 59% in NY...she is finished
GOOD RIDDANCE

[JoFerret]

59. You live in your own bubble

.

[Exilednight]

114. I think you're right. I live in the NY 1st, a district she won by a landslide, and now polling.....

shows that she would lose this district to an unnamed candidate. She has four years to fix her image here, but I'll be curious to see what she will do in that time. In four years she will either run for President again, or defend her Senate seat, or - if we're really lucky - she will retire and fade into obscurity.

[reflection]

83. Sounds like a certain president. n/t

[roguevalley]

136. panty waist. get over yourself, robert. people can pick who the hell

they want. this reminds me of me and my brothers. Dipshits too.

[ruggerson]

2. I have this strange feeling Robert Kennedy is about to be

thrown under the Hummer.

[murielm99]

13. Let's you and me go sit under the bus with him. n/t

[question everything]

36. Driven by cousin-in-law Arnold (nt)

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Clinton Has Lost The Nomination

Let's put our efforts towards defeating the Republicans.

[mcctatas]

4. Not as wrong as some of my family members....

My uncle supported Huckabee...

[ruby slippers]

6. Oh boy...food fight at the Thanksgiving Dinner Table.....

[juajen]

32. Welcopme to DU! I love your ruby slippers.

NT

[dailykoff]

7. He's entitled to his opinion.

nt

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rodeodance]

22. You sound just like a RWer with your smears!!

[ruggerson]

27. grow a brainstem

and reflect on what I said and who I said it to and try to think why I might have said it to him.

[rodeodance]

30. i wish you had put your sark icon on. sorry to offend.

[PoliticalAmazon]

116. It reads to me like the "lesbians" referred to Hillary. n/t

[cbayer]

126. There's a whole lot of this going on.

I just saw someone call out lynyrd_skynyrd as a hillary supporter.

:rofl:

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dogmudgeon]

60. Ah, a whiff of Anti-Semitism!

Nothing like a dab of Eau de Zyklon-B behind the ears to complement the stench of hatred.

--p!

[gaiilonfong]

68. NO FRIGGIN SALE

BenDavid is the RACIST..............

[Lucinda]

81. Did he write your post?

[Dogmudgeon]

84. Gaiilonfong: " ... smear that on BenDavids bagel!"

"Smear," did you say?

Ka-CHING!

--p!

[Marrah_G]

104. Your comment was definitely anti-semitic- YOU are the racist here. Shame on you.

[Beacool]

92. Oh what it must be like to be so delusional.

Lay off the Kool-Aid for a few days, why don't you?

:crazy:

[Marrah_G]

102. Anti-semitic insults- this doesn't suprise me

What a nasty person you are.

Alerting on your hateful post. The Brotherhood would be proud of you.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

18. Well guess what

I really don,t think John Kennedy,s son would be backing Obama either,if he were alive today. He talked publicly about the importance of experience and the time it takes to get to it.He also broke the family tradition by attending NYU.


If you don,t get it ,here is the truth. Edward Kennedy is having it his way.Kerry is in on it too.
I don,t think I would agree that Obama may make a great president some day because I don,t think Obama can stand the test of time. And the way things are unfolding ,I am probably right.

I am sure the wrong ways about Wright have taken it,s toll on Obama over the last twenty years.
It's either under the influence of the wrong ways about Wright or overly influenced.But Wright is just one of three major wrongs about Obama.

I could be wrong, but I don,t think so.

[ruby slippers]

20. no because if he were living he would be running against him....

Clinton saw that one coming.....(ruby puts on tinfoil hat)

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

33. Maybe badgered into it.

Would be more like it. But you missed the point ,he said (experience) which means he had his own thoughts about party political desperation. J.F.K.jr. was no fool. When it comes down to party desperation those hornswogglers will run a name, a pretty face ,forge a hero image ,run the first black candidate ,what ever road desperation takes them down.

They only care about what is electable,electable is all that matters. Oh and the party doesn,t like to be told anything by it's candidate.Especially one it would rather just go away into seclusion.

And once those hornswogglers get their claws into ya, they never let up.

But hay, I wouldn't want to spoil you alls hoopla now,carry on!

[ruby slippers]

35. hm, sounds like you are talking about the Republican party....

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

41. The storey about the partys hunt

for a honest candidate to run against Ford. So they found Jimmy! He was honest and religous. Just what the democratic party thought was just so ducky perfect.Total reverse of the Nixon years.
In all that went on in those years ,party when it came time just didn't have a candidate that was ready-experienced enough to run.But it had to run somebody! So party ran Carter! He was electable. That's all that mattered to party.Now party is scared that the republicans might win. Hillary did not seem suitable to them ,so party countered with Obama. Bad bad party thing to do. Caused party to divide. Dumb thing for party to do.

Party plan didn,t work,Hillary pulls upset. Party pleads to Hillary ,drop out for the sake of party. Hillary tells party, you fools don,t know assses from elbows ,Theres no need to Fear,Underdog Is Here! frady cat party people ,Dean ,many senators and congress people must cover their screw up, beg Hillary drop out ,drop out, . Hillary tells party if I do ,party itself might drop out! Hell no says Hillary ,I won,t go.

Keep your shirts on ,and at least try to hide your fear.
But Hillary says party poopers,can,t you see the sky is falling.
There,s no need to fear chicken littles,Underdog is here.
Underdog will fix after the smoke clears.

[ruby slippers]

42. I voted for Jimmy.....but, I think Underdog is hiding under her cape....

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

43. No,I think underdog

is playing lame duck waiting for just the right moment to expose the caper. The wrong doers that pretend to be good deed doers!

[karynnj]

90. No, party set up SuperTuesday to let HRC cake walk to nomination

No one else would have enough name recognition and money to beat her in that many states - including many of her best. Tought was HRC had all the best fundraiser - it didn't work out that way. The people gave Obama more money. The media has pushed her for 8 years - but at the end it didn't work. HRC did not pull off an upset - she is losing a race that EVERYONE who was anybody said would be over on Feb 5 with HRC coronated.

[cali]

45. I think it's bizarre and unseemly to think YOU know what JFK Jr.

or any dead person would do or who they'd support- unless you knew that person quite well. You didn't.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

113. Nobody expects a Obama supporter to get it

He talked about the importance of the experience you bring with you to the white house and (the long road to obtaining the necessary experience) Now the fact is they have screwed it up so bad from within they cannot fix it their selves ,so all they are doing is screwing it up more with this Obama thing.Obama is no saviour.

It,s just another desperado move,nothing more.

They only possible way to fix their ass,s good is for the people to embrace the responsibility that comes with ownership. That's what Hillary get's.
You can say and think what you will, I have been a Democrat for a very long time! And I am here to stay! Politicians come and they go.

And I will tell you something else, no Kennedy will dispute the fact I just stated.

[my3boyz]

55. JFK Jr would back Obama just like his sister if he was still living. He would

not approve of the gutter politics that Hillary subscribes to. His mother raised him better than that. He was very close to his uncle Teddy. There is NO WAY he would approve of the behavior of Hillary.

[Darth_Kitten]

76. Well, we all know what the dead think.....

not the best way to boost up a campaign.

[Tellurian]

63. I totally agree..

Kerry and Kennedy are in it and backing Obama because they Hate the Clintons especially Kerry. Kerry is obsessed with a sick hatred for BC because he is a jealous sob and is convinced BC scuttled his election which on the face of that statement is ridiculous. Kerry won and didn't have the cojones to go to Ohio and get to the bottom of what everyone knew was election fraud. For Kerry, it was easier to continue to smear the Clintons and work behind the scenes to undermine Hillary's candidacy. It really is sad, Teddy went with Kerry for all the wrong reasons and why did he allow Caroline to get involved? Jackie would have been furious at Caroline for not waiting until the Dem Nominee was chosen and then supporting whoever was chosen openly.

Obama is a fraud and a fake. His basking in the light of JFKs and RFKs accomplishments is sickening. Both men are legitimate heroes, whereas Obama's only accomplishments we know of for sure... is producing 2 daughters. Worse, after the revelations of the Wright scandal, Obama's ideology is so far and away from what the Kennedys stood for, it's mind boggling. It isn't a stretch Obama is anti-America, anti-White, he embraced a minister promoting Black values in the vein of Black Separatism. His wife, Michelle, is of the same white racism and black separatism. Read her Thesis if you have any doubts this woman has serious racial tentions at her core. This couple sitting in the White House would be the biggest detriment to America if Obama should ever reach the seat of power.

I am sure, if we know of Obama's history and racist leanings, the Republicans are primed and ready to go with a scathing campaign to all but run Obama out of town. Which as is obvious, the end result will be a Republican occupying the White House once again for another 8 yrs simply out of the principle McCain represents American values, Obama does not.

All this being said, with Hillary Clinton we have our best chance of ensuring a democrat is elected. They know what needs to be done to bring this country back to it's standing both domestically and internationally. They will take care of all the people fairly improving living standards for all not just special interest groups. These are just a few reasons why I will continue to help her fight for the nomination until she wins and then on to the General Election helping her win the presidency BECAUSE SHE CAN!

[SammyWinstonJack]

105. They suck! Both Hillary and Obama suck. And we were played!

corprat candidates, both of them, who will dance the corprat tune if elected, just as they have as Senators.

[Tellurian]

119. No, Obama SUCKS...

My candidate stands alone as the only one able to bring this country back from the brink of the abyss.

Here is the next BOMBSHELL:

[karynnj]

89. What exactly are you impling that Kerry and Kennedy are in on?

They said precisely why they endorsed Obama - neither are inarticulate. The one thing both said was they thought the country needed to get beyond the slice and dice politics. I trust both of them and Obama more than I trust the Clintons.

[JI7]

8. weird article

he doesn't come off as too supportive in fact. he mentions Scaife who both Clintons are now friends with.

and then he mentions the carpetbagger thing as if it's been an issue in the campaign.

looks like he just wrote it up to try to show some kind of support. but his heart doesn't seem to be too much into it.

i bet he does better in the GE when he is supporting Obama.

[merh]

24. His statement is weird, he condemns Scaife and the right wing

smear machine, does he not realize that Scaife has embraced HRC and she eagerly has accepted his endorsement?

I think it is bizarre and he is out of touch.

To the hillary fans, questioning his "logic" is not throwing him under the bus, it is disputing the contents of his statements.

What say you all to his comments about Scaife and HRC's eager acceptance of his support?

[PoliticalAmazon]

117. His statements conflict each other. I've lost respect for him over this. n/t

[rodeodance]

10. I am glad he was out on the trail with her today. Thanks.

[Tellurian]

65. Good to know that, rd..

Teddy must be too embarrassed to go out on the Trail for Obama. Last I heard when he campaigned for him in PA, he visited with Obama's supporters for a pep talk..

[barack the house]

11. It's pretty poor show to run down your family in public. He only need of said they disagree.

Fine if he supportss Hillary butwhydid he have to slate his family like that. Bizarre. The negativity their side is too much at times. Plus if as he says we are divided why make it worse by running down other kennedys very odd.

[my3boyz]

56. EXACTLY! He only needed to say that he disagrees with his family

and state the reasons why. He did not need to say they are wrong! As if they are not able to select who they believe would make the best president based on their own criteria.

[Darth_Kitten]

77. RFK seems more realistic than a lot of his family members..........

Seems like he can see their strengths AND their faults.

[BenDavid]

12. I wish Robert would have said that his family members are

also wrong in supporting obama becasue my father said that a person has a moral responsibility when they see, hear bigotry and racism in any form one is obligated to stand up and take a stand and say this is wrong. Obama sat on his ass for 16 years and never uttered disapproval of what wright said in his bigotted and racist comments.....

obama blamed wright because wright accused obama of being a politician, but did not disavow any of his bigotry and racist comments wright had made. hell, it seems that obama and his wife were the only two folks in that church that did not know what wright was preaching whereas the entire community knew what wright was preaching......

[democracy1st]

16. Wright has race issues,keep hating Obama its good for your health

[BenDavid]

110. hate obama? no.....think he's unworthy and a sham? YES!!!

[rodeodance]

25. I wish he.....

would have also. But, probably not politically astute right now as he knows what he says will be blamed on Hillary.

[druidity33]

123. that pic

is so incredibly lame...

80's cheesewhizzy style...

sorry.

:shrug:

[symbolman]

44. Unless you were sitting next to him for 16 years

You dont know SHIT about what was said and what he heard..

Fucking arrogance of these hateful fucks who act like they know everything..

Its the Humanity that you Clinton lickers lack, pure and simple.. She is a drag, and so are you..

[Dogmudgeon]

61. That may be parsing it a little too closely

There's only so much anyone can say at any one time. Hillary has been slammed for this, too, and I think it's bad policy whoever does it. Neither of them are bigots, and their careers prove it.

It's likely that Obama is "punch-drunk" at this point -- ha may not be used to the rigors of a protracted national campaign. Let's keep in mind that it's (some of) his followers whose behavior is truly vile.

--p!

[laugle]

17. I'm so sick of that "Camelot" BS........

That was a perception, not a reality, but I'm not going to trash JFK.

I agree with Robert, they don't know Obama, they just like him. I'm voting for the person I feel could do the best job as president, for me that's Hillary.

BTW, I didn't particularly like Kerry, but I thought he was qualified and would make a good president, and I voted twice for him.

[rodeodance]

21. I was glad Robert jr. was

out on the trail today. Good on him.

[laugle]

28. I'm glad too. I guess he is countering Caroline

out there with Michelle today. I felt sorry for her. She sat quietly like some kind of prop......it was sad, since she has not been active in politics in many years........

I'm sure she misses her father, mother and brother very much, but Obama is no JFK!

[rodeodance]

29. thanks. i had not heard anything of Caroline role today. sitting

quietly huh. umm.. Well i have heard speak out and say that yes, obama is like JFK. go figure. She believes it....and I have to accept it.

[karynnj]

95. She has been active in politics, but mostly in the general election

She was fantastic at a Kerry rally in 2004 - speaking of how she worked on Kerry's 1972 campaign. She spoke of bicycling from school to his campaign office in 1972 when he ran a race lost to dirty tricks for Congress.

She has spoken at Democratic conventions for decades - and always got excellent reviews. She is a brilliant woman who has written at least two excellent books. She is no longer just the cute little girl running around the White House with her brother.

[dogday]

23. I totally admire Robert Kennedy Jr. I have heard him speak

many times and am impressed with the amount of intelligence this man possesses....

[tishaLA]

26. the slime machine was so bad

she now has Sid Blumenthal doing it to Obama on her behalf. Like an abused child becoming an abuser.

[rodeodance]

31. and Obama plays the victim......

he might get a few sympathy votes for his acting.

[question everything]

34. Ted cannot forgive Bill for being a President, twice, while Ted lost it

to a loser like Carter.

Caroline listens to what her teenage daughter tells her. So much for the most expensive education that money can buy.

Both of then cannot bear it that Clinton would replace Kennedy as the family leading the Democratic party. They paid for it, in blood, and no one is going to take it away from them. Not even when Maria marries a Republican.

Good for RFK Jr. Now, he has been admired on DU, would he now be trashed with insults hurled at him?

[Tellurian]

70. Thanks, you nailed it perfectly..

The Left posting here are just as obnoxious as the RW wackos.. Throw in a few visiting Trolls who signed up 3days to 3 weeks ago and blam..

Yes, the counter argument to RFK is he's kissing up because he's after Hillary seat..so predictable from the rabid smashers.

[still_one]

40. Your father was against Viet Nam, and for the War Powers Act Robert

He knew that the War Powers Act was there for a PURPOSE. Those that voted for the IWR, over-rode the War Powers Act

There were over 20 Democrats and 1 republican in the Senate who voted against the IWR

Those who voted for it, DO NOT DESERVE TO BE PRESIDENT

[H2O Man]

50. War Powers Act

1973

[still_one]

112. I know, Bobby would have been for it if he lived. His position on Viet Nam

and how it came about was very clear during his campaign for President

[cali]

46. not very gracious toward the man who became his surrogate father

or toward his mother, his siblings or his cousing Caroline. He's certainly entitled to his opinion about Clinton being the better candidate. too bad he's so frustrated he felt compelled to lash out at close family members and to go for over the top exaggeration. Sounds like the old Bobby of 30+ years ago- easily frustrated and quick to go off.

[H2O Man]

47. Re: "Trying to connect ....

.....that my father ...."

Robert Kennedy, Jr.'s father was named Robert Kennedy; President John F. Kennedy was his uncle.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[eridani]

49. It totally sucks that an election integrity activist is cheering for voter suppression

How low can he go?

[Lucinda]

82. I dunno. You'd think Obama would know better, wouldn't you?

[eridani]

137. Obama campaign members are linked to lying robocalls?

URL, please.

[McCamy Taylor]

51. He also fought to have the vote counted in Ohio. He is the fighting Kennedy.

[karynnj]

98. He did an analysis that showed what many thought

That enough votes that would have been cast were lost via various methods of voter suppression that a Kerry win was turned to a Bush win in Ohio. He includes estimates for how many votes were lost due to not having enough machines - but the fact is that votes not cast are votes that can not be used in court. Unfortunately many of the techniques - as undemocratic as they were - were not specifically even illegal.

Now, Kerry and Feingold in 2006 wrote legislation requiring that polling places be supplied with paper ballots that would be counted as regular (not provisional) ballots that would be used when wait times for whatever reasons became too long. It was blocked by the Republicans, which the senators knew it would - there stated purpose was that it could be used as a model for state law. Kerry spoke of many problems in the Senate and in speeches.

[OneBlueSky]

52. "Vote for Hillary . . . I want her Senate seat, dammit!" . . . n/t

.

[shaniqua6392]

53. We are about to see DU members smear a great Dem named RFK.

Before Obama came along, I would have never seen anyone here say a bad word about Robert. Before Obama came along, I would have never seen anyone here say a bad thing about Bill Clinton. But those days are gone. Now some DU members who are in the Obama camp will not hesitate to say horrible things about many of our great progressives who happen to support Clinton. Well, I respect Robert immensely and have been listening to him speak for several years. He has been a great voice for us and I respect his opinion and support of Senator Clinton. Thanks for posting this saracat.

[Olney Blue]

131. It's true- we have lost a lot of our heros and heroines in this campaign.....

[locker13]

54. he sounds bitter

[mattclearing]

57. I have a lot of respect for RFK Jr.

His Ohio Recount article in Rolling Stone was bar none the best piece of journalism I've read in the last four years, if not ten.

Obama is enduring the same kinds of attacks Hillary took. He may have good reasons for supporting Hillary, but the ones in this particular article weren't very compelling.

[JoFerret]

58. Obama is a divisive figure.

So this is not surprising.

[OzarkDem]

128. Yes, deliberately so

as are many of the members of his campaign.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

62. Some of his family support Republicans! (Maria Shriver) So what?

[Seabiscuit]

115. So what? The Kennedys are a very political family who argue politics at the dinner table every time

they get together. That's what.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

139. My point is they do worse than not support the most progressive candidate. Some support REPUKES! nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

64. It's easy for a Kennedy to feel comfortable with a Clinton.

It's not like the political cronyism that goes on at that level of politics, is going to affect him negatively, the way it affects some of us.

[book_worm]

66. Big deal. Many families are divided this year.

[JimGinPA]

67. RFK jr. WAs Expecting To Be Appointed Senator Of NY...

The majority of the Kennedy family is supporting Obama because he is a breath of fresh air for the democratic party.

[Stephanie]

106. That's the whole story. He was due to inherit that seat, now he won't, simple as that.

Sounds like he's a little bitter about it...

[PoliticalAmazon]

118. He can run against her. Hillary is going to be damaged goods after this, anyway. n/t

[karynnj]

69. Actually, Ted Kennedy knows both HRC and Obama better than RFKjr knows either

Note that RFKjr also says;

"Kennedy continued, "Part of our family is divided and our Party is divided and the reason we are divided is because we have two extraordinary candidates both running for president both who will make unbelievable presidents of this country."

But if you are going to base your assessment on how well the various Kennedys know each of them - Ted Kennedy is the one who in the 1990s was a leader on health (and other things - but health was HRC main issue) and who has over the last 3 years come to know Obama at least as well as RFKjr "knows" HRC. In addition, it could be possible that it is because he knows HRC well that he does not see her as able to heal the divide as Obama is.

RFKjr is being a good surrogate to HRC here and is not attacking Obama with that comment - he also may very well be inaccurate. His uncle, not he, is a Senator and in a body with just 100 people, where the nature of their job requires working together to be successful, he likely knows Obama far better - in terms of how he interacts with people on issues - than his nephew, who knows HRC socially and as someone he has likely lobbied on issues. Think of your own work place. I would say I knew more about the work style and competence of all 96 people in a division of a research group than I know of many people I know socially through community groups or my synagogue. (I might know more personal stuff on the latter - families, what food or music they like etc )

(side note - the writer of this piece is an idiot:
"Trying to connect the attacks Clinton pushed off to similar criticism President John F. Kennedy endured more than 40 years ago. "She had to endure the same kind of attacks that my father had to endure which was being called a carpetbagger when she came into New York." Kennedy pointed to Clinton's work in the upstate parts of New York to make his point saying that she"transformed those counties, which not even my father could do….."

Apparently, the writer can't tell the difference between JFK and RFK - even with the clue "jr"!!!

[MBS]

73. you got it, Karynnj

Thanks s much. Still what's happened to RFK Jr. . so disappointing. HRC is, at best (and I'm being as charitable as I can), undistinguished on environmental issues.

[karynnj]

85. I agree on the environment

I loved Kerry's use of Winston Churchill's phrase - "the years the locusts ate" to refer to all the years - I think since Carter - though he did credit GHWB on the Clean Air Act in his Faneuil Hall speech on the environment. In spite of Gore pushing, these were years when the environmental reality was ignored. Because SUVs, which were rapidly replacing an increasing number of cars, were not included in the CAFE standards, the actual real mileages per gallon for "personal vehicles" decreased.

Not to mention that WJC's environmental record in Arkansas was awful. I never understood how badly animal waste was on the streams, rivers and lakes, until reading the Kerrys' book and hearing him speak of it. The fact that his response to complaints against Tyson chicken were to set up a task force that continued until he left office to me means they have NO claim to being environmentalists. Maybe RFKjr doesn't know that it was a Tyson lawyer who "taught" HRC to play the commodities market turning $5000 into $100,000 in cattle futures.

I wonder if rumors are true that he wants the Senate seat.

[MyNameGoesHere]

71. Oh now you did it,

he once once a little darling here, the supporters of the candidate that vomits the words, hope , unity, and change is going to slay him now.

[Carolina]

72. too many drugs when he was younger!

So Bobby is saying his mother is wrong?! She knew RFK Sr. best and HE would NEVER support HRC!

[Darth_Kitten]

78. She is.........

:shrug:

[Maribelle]

74. 'better than they know Barack Obama' seems almost prophetic

Clearly obama's ducking and dodging on key relationships such as Wright and Rezko, where it takes both years and multiple iterations of obama's explaining away, only to have obama come out with yet another iteration, should be a red flag to those attempting to examine the issues affecting most Americans.

[DemVet]

79. Caroline supports Obama on the recommendation of her kids.

What a dingbat.

[AllentownJake]

87. Nice

Way to dismiss a woman who has been on the right side for her entire life.

[dionysus]

80. did you know bobby wants her to win so he can run for her open seat, right?

[blm]

86. Robert Kennedy Jr Says Richard Mellon Scaife is RIGHT and some Kennedys are WRONG.

THAT could have been the headline - easily.

[zulchzulu]

91. What comments has RFK Jr made on the Harlem non-votes for Obama?

I know he mentioned there was something peculiar...but...

As for him with his arrogant comment, he's just BITTER. He picked the wrong candidate....and he knows it.

[Beacool]

93. Thank you!!

Nice words and worthy son to his father!!!

[saltpoint]

94. You seek to sow disruption at a Kennedy picnic. Probably a poor choice of

strategies.

RFK Jr is a marvelous soul. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg is a marvelous soul.

I think RFK Jr's cousin Caroline has called this particular set of circumstances correctly.

Your gal has weobbly support among grassroots Democrats and independents, and properly so.

Senator Obama is our next president.

[Beacool]

99. No he won't be.

We'll end up with McCain.

[saltpoint]

100. No, he will be, Old Crusoe replied.

[Mass]

97. He is entitled to his opinion as you and I. But it is just HIS opinion.

[berni_mccoy]

101. RFK Jr. is Entitled to His Opinion. I respect him even though I don't agree with him.

[Freedom Train]

103. RFK Jr. speaks for me!

To hell with anybody who wants to throw him under the... Ok, this bus thing is getting REALLY old. But still! A bit of a shock to see him denounced here, I thought he was pretty much universally liked by most Democrats. Consider this kicked and recommended!

[Occam Bandage]

107. "Everyone else is wrong--*they* won't get a Senate seat by supporting Obama!"

[rox63]

108. There's a lot I admore about RFK Jr - But I disagree with him here

Besides, it's well known that he wants to run for Clinton's Senate seat.

[SeaLyons]

109. K&R

[ProSense]

111. RFK Jr. needs to explain why Democrats should support Hillary's nasty campaign tactics, not how well

he knows her.

[TragedyandHope]

120. He's right about the two extraordinary candidates

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

121. Robert Kennedy Jr.'s fucked in the head.

Ask him about mercury.

[Lilith Velkor]

122. Fuckin A.

:kick:

[Bucky]

124. What an odd way to phrase the idea that they respectfully disagree.

I'll bet the Kennedy family reunion this summer will sound just like GDP!

If Arnold shows up, they'll even have a guffawing lurker.

[OzarkDem]

125. He knows Clinton better than the others know Obama

He's probably right about that. RFK, Jr. has always been the more serious, policy oriented member of the Kennedy family, not as prone to getting wrapped up in celebrity worship.

Uncle Ted has made some odd choices lately, also, in "selling out" to Bush and the GOP to pass some truly bad legislation like NCLB and, more recently, the Genetic Anti-Discrimination Act.

If he's willing to bargain away his principles and reputation in order to get Bush to sign a crappy bill, he must be either not looking closely at what Obama really stands for or is willing to "sell out" for him, too.

RFK, Jr., however, seems willing to take a strong principled stand on the environment and other important issues and stick to them. That's the difference between him and the others in his family.

[Poll_Blind]

127. Spoken like your typical...well, you know the rest. n/t

PB

[Phx_Dem]

129. This comment

"There are some members of my family who've decided to do the wrong thing, support Senator Obama,"

doesn't sound like the Robert Kennedy, Jr. I've always admired and respected. I get that he supports Hillary, but this comment is pretty short-sited. So, all of the Kennedy family members supporting Obama -- which outnumber the ones supporting Clinton -- are wrong and he is right. Uh huh.

Or, maybe you're the one who's wrong, Robert. Just saying.

[jab105]

130. Idiots!

From the article:

"...similar criticism President John F. Kennedy endured more than 40 years ago. "She had to endure the same kind of attacks that my father had to endure which was being called a carpetbagger when she came into New York." Kennedy pointed to Clinton's work in the upstate parts of New York to make his point saying that she"transformed those counties, which not even my father could do….."


Do you think these idiots who wrote this article realize that HIS father wasn't JFK??

I'm disappointed in him going to this extent...say why Clinton is good, don't hurt Obama...they are both democrats...this is what bugs me so much about Clinton - she's out to hurt the other democrat, not just help herself...

[KoKo]

132. This Campaign has split many Dem Families ....It's a hard one on all of us.

We can see it here on DU. I don't know what to think of what he says...but it's what he believes.

[WheelWalker]

134. I have observed that two reasonable people might disagree.

[jillan]

135. I will never forgive Ted Kennedy for throwing Hillary under the bus saying she had nothing to do

with the creation of Schip - when that is pure bs. He publicly thanked her when it passed, saying that it would not have happened without her.

[crimsonblue]

138. looks like Robby has...

jumped the shark!