By Adanya Day
In the bustling arena of American politics, where legacies intertwine with aspirations, the Kennedy name is once again making waves.
Son of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy Jr. stands on a familial pedestal, but it’s his own beliefs that are propelling him into the spotlight as a candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
At 70, Kennedy Jr. carries with him a lifetime of experiences, both personal and professional, that have shaped his worldview and political ideology.
His commitment to “end the forever wars, clean up government, and increase wealth for all” has caught the eyes of many especially after his rather eye-catching campaign ad that aired during this year’s Super Bowl.
Kennedy broke away from his Democratic affiliation to run for president as an Independent and while it may be a longshot he could possibly be the first Independent President.
As the founder of the Waterkeeper Alliance, an organization dedicated to protecting waterways worldwide, Kennedy Jr. is widely against pollution and corporate negligence. Waterkeeper has become the world’s largest nonprofit devoted to clean water and now protects 2.7 million miles of waterways.
As the 2024 election cycle heats up, Kennedy Jr. finds himself in the middle of a polarized United States. But his odds are favorable. A recent Gallup poll sees Kennedy Jr. ahead of Donalad Trump and President Joe Biden in terms of favorability with 52% of Americans viewing him as a favorable president.
However, it’s important to note that Kennedy Jr. is not without his controversies that may have you thinking twice about voting for him. In an interview with Secret, he was cited as stating “There’s no time in American history or human history that kids were going to shoot schools and shooting their classmates…It really started happening co-terminus with the introduction of these drugs, with Prozac and the other drugs” which made more than a few Americans turn their heads. He even, on numerous occasions, made suggestions that the CIA was involved in killing his uncle, Former President John F Kennedy.
With the nation grappling with such a polarized government, having an Independent president may offer a unique view with pressing issues such as climate change, healthcare reform,economic inequality, and sociocultural issues. Or could his controversies and belief in conspiracies block his way to the Oval Office.