Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to drop his Democratic bid for president and announce he'll run as an independent or third-party candidate.

Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to announce Monday that he will drop his Democratic bid for president and run as an independent or third-party candidate, adding a new wrinkle to a 2024 race currently heading toward a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Kennedy’s campaign has teased the announcement in the days leading up to a Monday afternoon speech in Philadelphia. In a recent video, Kennedy said there is corruption “in the leadership of both political parties” and said he wants to “rewrite the assumptions and change the habits of American politics.”

The video came shortly after Mediaite reported he planned to launch an independent bid.

  • Patapon Enjoyer@lemmy.world
    772·
    9 months ago

    You’d think that if you’re gonna position yourself as a third party alternative, you’d drop the wild antivaxx shit since the crazy people already are going to vote republican.

      • IonAddis@lemmy.worldEnglish
        241·
        9 months ago

        Yeah. My eyes got WIDE open about the “function” of third-party candidates in the US after I saw in hindsight (because isn’t hindsight always clearer?) Jill Stein’s role in a prior election. They’re basically there to shave off just enough votes from one of the major parties to tilt things one way or another. Easy for 3rd parties–no matter of they’re crazies OR if they actually have legit policy stances that really should be considered, such as climate issues–to be turned into agents of chaos. People working the USA’s political system from the outside work BOTH sides–the right and the left, pretending to be either one to sow discord as it suits their goals. The more division the better, for them.

        I really want various ballot initiatives to succeed in changing how voting is done in the US, so you can safely vote for the candidate you actually want without handing the election to the worst candidate. Voting would be much invigorated if you could vote for someone with pride and enthusiasm instead of, “At least they’re not XYZ” which is what has to happen now working within the rules our system has for us.

        Here and there, a few states have implemented better systems with various flavors of ranked choice and such for their state elections, so they’re not stuck in a two-party horror show for local elections at least, but there’s a lot of hard work that has to be done before that gains enough momentum across many states and towns and smaller localities in the US that it might be feasible to change the way voting is done on a federal level.

        • Archer@lemmy.world
          8·
          9 months ago

          Yeah if third party candidates were actually serious they would work to get ranked choice voting passed then run

          • centof@lemm.eeEnglish
            12·
            9 months ago

            That is exactly what the Forward party is doing. Their top political policy position is promoting ranked choice voting.

            • Archer@lemmy.world
              3·
              9 months ago

              I have deep, intense skepticism of anything Andrew Yang touches or endorses

              EDIT: Also look at the fucking wikipedia article for the “Forward Party”. It’s literally bankers and Republicans, if I wanted to ruin the country this sounds like a great idea

              • centof@lemm.eeEnglish
                12·
                9 months ago

                I have deep, intense skepticism of anything Andrew Yang touches or endorses

                Why? I am curious why you are skeptical of him. He is literally doing what you suggested. Why are you mistrustful of him?

                • Archer@lemmy.world
                  3·
                  9 months ago

                  He’s a naive idiot who thinks business skill translates into political skill (always amusing to watch those types toss themselves into the wood chipper of primaries), and he did a vanity/brand run for President in 2020, then basically publicly admitted he got rolled by Biden’s team with his endorsement. Any of these is disqualifying. He doesn’t know what he’s doing, and he’s not serious about it.

              • centof@lemm.eeEnglish
                12·
                9 months ago

                I have deep, intense skepticism of anything Andrew Yang touches or endorses

                Okay, I have deep, intense skepticism of any current politician.

                It’s literally bankers and Republicans

                No, its not literally bankers and Republicans. All you have to do is look at the Notable member chart to see that. It does have some republicans who have joined which isn’t exactly a surprise since they are 33% of the country. As far as bankers, there was no mention of the word banker in the article so not sure where you’re getting that.

                Why are you cursing about an wikipedia article? Is it because you are angry at it?

        • centof@lemm.eeEnglish
          11·
          9 months ago

          I can certainly get that it feels like most third parties are there to siphon votes from major political parties and sow discord.

          I really want various ballot initiatives to succeed in changing how voting is done in the US, so you can safely vote for the candidate you actually want without handing the election to the worst candidate.

          Funnily enough their is a third party for that. One of the Forward’s main policy is Ranked Choice Voting.

          They plan to start focusing on local and state elections as those positions make the election laws.

          there’s a lot of hard work that has to be done before that gains enough momentum across many states and towns and smaller localities in the US that it might be feasible to change the way voting is done on a federal level.

          Indeed, there is lots of work to be done. You can volunteer with your state’s local group if you think it is important. They have groups organized in 43/50 states.

      • Whiskey_iicarus@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        2·
        9 months ago

        Not sure if the article is paywalled, but it’s not really interesting who is paying him. What would be interesting is if normal people were supporting him, but only the kooks are looking for RFK Jr to make any waves.

        • tacosanonymous@lemm.eeEnglish
          6·
          9 months ago

          The reason I disagree is that he claims to be a dem but seems to be courting some of the dumber aspects of “centrists.” He doesn’t have shot. He knows that.

          So, why is he running? I believe the answer will be found if we follow the money.

          • Whiskey_iicarus@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
            4·
            9 months ago

            I suppose I wasn’t clear. I agree that I think he is being paid just to be a spoiler. The only difference between RFK Jr and Kanye running is that RFK knows he’s being used and reaping huge personal benefits from a renewed interest in his brand.

            The money is obviously from nefarious super PACs and mega donors, NOT any kind of grass roots movement of people who think he’s a viable alternative candidate. The article I posted is just one that shows that we already know where his backing is coming from

      • TheDarkKnight@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        9 months ago

        He probably pulls more votes from older voters based on the name recognition of his father, and unfortunately with how closely associated his father was with the Democratic party I’d imagine that pulls votes from Biden. Could be wrong though, maybe he’ll corner the market on crazy street.

    • WizardofIs@lemmy.mlEnglish
      121·
      9 months ago

      You would think, but it’s ok as he’ll divide the ant-science vote.

      • cogman@lemmy.world
        41·
        9 months ago

        The danger is if he pulls some D votes because he’s a Kennedy. He’s been working pretty closely together with roger stone and steve bannon if that tells you anything about the messaging he’s been putting out.

  • st3ph3n@kbin.social
    341·
    9 months ago

    Can’t be a spoiler candidate designed to siphon votes away from Biden in the general election if he isn’t on the ballot, hence this move to run as an independent as there’s no fucking way he would win a primary.

    • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
      211·
      9 months ago

      Polls are showing hes more likely to pull votes from Trump, the “centrist antivax conspiracy both sides” nonsense.

      The Trump campaign is rearing up attacks on him now.

  • captainlezbian@lemmy.worldEnglish
    262·
    9 months ago

    He’s not wrong that there’s corruption in both parties leadership. Everything else on the other hand, completely insane about

  • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
    16·
    9 months ago

    Yep, he just announced it. Truthfully I have no idea if this schedule hurts Biden or Trump more, but my gut says the latter

    • Breezy@lemmy.world
      1·
      9 months ago

      I think this will hurt any dem candidates. Theres some older generations that might just vote for a Kennedy based solely on a name, my 76 year old granddad would be one of them.

  • FoundTheVegan@kbin.social
    101·
    9 months ago

    Well good. Not only is this more honest of his policies weird racist conspiracies, it’s also much less likely to go anywhere.

    Cool. Spoil on friend!

    • vettnerk@lemmy.ml
      4·
      9 months ago

      If anything, the more conspiratorial wing of trump voters might vote for him instead. I don’t see antivaxx Harambe-did-911 voters realistically voting democrat anyway.

      • TechyDad@lemmy.world
        5·
        9 months ago

        My father has said he really likes RFK Jr. My father also voted for Trump twice and would vote for him in 2024 if he’s the candidate - though there’s a chance he’d get pulled over to vote for RFK Jr. instead.

  • Sho@lemmy.world
    91·
    9 months ago

    Another politician trying to shave off votes, it happens every 4 years

  • kibiz0r@midwest.socialEnglish
    92·
    9 months ago

    Covid-19. There is an argument that it is ethnically targeted. Covid-19 attacks certain races disproportionately. Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.

    -RFK Jr.

    • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      91·
      9 months ago

      The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews

      This is some medieval, “How come the Jews are surviving the plague better?!”, boolshit.

      Perhaps because they have a history of practicing good hygiene?

      • captainlezbian@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        9 months ago

        “Who survived Covid most?”

        “The ethno-religious group required to practice medically sound infectious disease practices and an ethnic group predisposed to wearing masks while sick. Both are disproportionately medical professionals.”

        “Conspiracy!!!”

        • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
          21·
          9 months ago

          Yeah! You’re so smart! How did they become “disproportionately medical professionals” ?!

          ethno-religious group required to practice medically sound infectious disease practices

          Not gonna hear it. Conspiracy. I stand pat.

    • Potatos_are_not_friends@lemmy.world
      71·
      9 months ago

      Well of course. The Jewish space laser blasts anti-covid beams over synagogues and the Chinese invented the virus as well as the REAL™ cure, and everyone else has CCP activation codes inside the vaccine and will activate during the FEMA broadcast test on Oct 4th rescheduled since too many people knew about it and turned off their phones.

      He also forgot the lizard people who cured themselves with 5G waves.

    • Silverseren@kbin.social
      1·
      9 months ago

      The scientific evidence and statistics say half the opposite. Ashkenazi Jews actually had poorer outcomes overall as compared to other ethnic groups. It’s just that they were more likely to follow masking and social distancing rules and got their vaccinations, so had less infections overall. But if they did contract Covid, it was way worse for them.

      Same with the black population, (though there were issues of not getting vaccines in those communities due to past genocidal testing by the US government on said populations) so I guess he’s half right there.

  • agitatedpotato@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    71·
    9 months ago

    Lmfao and the democrat voters were worried about Cornel West siphoning the few far leftists, there goes your center right republican votes.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldBEnglish
    3·
    9 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    Asked for comment on his potential independent run, a Democratic National Committee spokesman responded with an eye roll emoji.

    Monday’s announcement comes less than a week after the progressive activist Cornel West abandoned his Green Party bid in favor of an independent White House run.

    In campaign emails and videos, he blasted the DNC’s decision not to host debates between Biden and other candidates and railed against the committee’s plan to give South Carolina rather than Iowa or New Hampshire the leadoff spot on the primary calendar this election cycle.

    Far-right and anti-vaccine influencers close to Kennedy also have sent strong signals on social media suggesting he should or will leave the Democratic Party.

    He appeared on a channel run by the Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and headlined a stop on the ReAwaken America Tour, the Christian nationalist road show put together by Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

    He also has gained support from some far-right conservatives for his fringe views, including his vocal distrust of COVID-19 vaccines, which studies have shown are safe and effective against severe disease and death.

    The original article contains 642 words, the summary contains 185 words. Saved 71%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

  • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    9 months ago

    I hope he takes votes away from donnie mostly. And the Green Party just looks like a Russian front these days - I wonder if whatever useful idiot they prop up realize that, or do they come to terms with it later?