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Kennedy Debunked | Vol. 1
Kennedy Debunked
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Reality: His comments on prosecuting climate deniers have been taken out of context and are false. The comments were targeted specifically to the Koch brothers who knowingly spread misinformation about climate change for profit.
The Source of the Climate Denier Claim
The video that is being taken out of context is from September 21, 2014. On this day, hundreds of thousands of people gathered to demand action on climate change, marking the largest environmental protest in history. RFK Jr. was also protesting when reporters asked him questions.
During RFK Jr.’s environmental work, he became very familiar with the Koch brothers and their schemes. Rolling Stone posted an article in 2014 about the brothers:
“According to the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Political Economy Research Institute, only three companies rank among the top 30 polluters of America’s air, water and climate: ExxonMobil, American Electric Power and Koch Industries. Thanks in part to its 2005 purchase of paper-mill giant Georgia-Pacific, Koch Industries dumps more pollutants into the nation’s waterways than General Electric and International Paper combined. The company ranks 13th in the nation for toxic air pollution. Koch’s climate pollution, meanwhile, outpaces oil giants including Valero, Chevron and Shell. Across its businesses, Koch generates 24 million metric tons of greenhouse gases a year.
For Koch, this license to pollute amounts to a perverse, hidden subsidy. The cost is borne by communities in cities like Port Arthur, Texas, where a Koch-owned facility produces as much as 2 billion pounds of petrochemicals every year.”
Quote Taken out of Context
Reporter: “What about politicians? People who deny, who express skepticism?”
RFK Jr.: “I think they are selling out the public trust and, you know, I think those guys who are doing the Koch brothers bidding and who against all the evidence of the rational mind, are saying that global warming doesn’t exist. That they are contemptible human beings and that, you know, I wish there was a law you can punish them under.”
View the entire clip below:
Key Takeaways:
Nick Gillespie and Zach Weissmueller on ReasonTV confronted Kennedy on this. Here is a summary of what he had to say:
Kennedy’s remarks were focused on the harmful actions of specific corporate entities, not on individuals who personally doubt climate change. He expressed frustration with corporations like the Koch brothers who were knowingly contributing to pollution and spreading misinformation for profit.
He advocates for legal accountability for corporations that engage in deceptive practices harmful to the public and the environment. He draws parallels to the tobacco industry, which was prosecuted for misleading the public about the dangers of smoking.
Kennedy acknowledges that his views have evolved and that he would approach the issue differently today, recognizing the complexity of the discourse around climate change and free speech.
Conclusion
The claim that RFK Jr. wants to jail climate deniers misrepresents his actual position. His statement targeted the corporate disinformation campaigns that the Koch brothers engaged in. It is also important to note that while Kennedy is an environmental activist, his policies do not align with the Green New Deal. Read more about that here.
Kennedy has been in the public eye his entire life, making him a target for intense scrutiny. The DNC has hired individuals to sift through every statement and action from his past, aiming to spin them into a smear campaign. For readers, a piece of advice: always get the context. Imagine someone dissecting your life, picking apart old posts and taking them out of context. It’s crucial to consider the full picture before forming an opinion.
For additional context at the time, view this Tedx Talk from RFK Jr. It goes over his position at the time more in depth.
Reality: Out of the top 11 donors, four typically donate to Democrats, three donate to people across the political spectrum, one has never donated before, and three primarily donate to Republicans. The three Republican donors also donated to Kennedy when he was running as a democrat.
According to a Politico article in March of 2024, “Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential bid is largely powered by a wave of new donors who aren’t political — or at least haven’t been in years.”
They go on to say, “Roughly 21,000 donors have given Kennedy’s campaign at least $200 since he declared his independent run in October, and a POLITICO analysis found that 74 percent of them did not make any political donations during the 2020 cycle.”
Methodology: Keep in mind campaigns can only accept $6,600 per person. political PACs can accept unlimited amounts. Campaigns and PACs cannot coordinate. In this article, we will be examining the top 11 donors of the PAC, American Values 2024.
This information came directly from the FEC.gov, the official campaign reporting website. I then took the top 11 donors and looked through their previous giving history on OpenSecrets.org. Finally, I performed searches by each person’s name to find background on the person.
Top 11 Donors
1. Timothy Mellon
Total Donation: $25,003,300
Background: Timothy Mellon, often referred to as “Trump’s biggest donor,” is also the largest donor to RFK Jr.’s PAC. While this connection might suggest a strong MAGA influence, Mellon’s donation history is more complex. Learn more about Mellon here.
Political Donations: Mellon has donated primarily to Republican candidates but has also donated to Democratic candidates, including Tulsi Gabbard and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). He also donated to Kennedy while he was running as a Democrat.
Policy Interests: Mellon is particularly interested in border security. He has donated over $50 million to Texas and millions more to Arizona specifically to support the construction of a border wall. This priority aligns with candidates from both parties who advocate for stronger border policies, explaining his support for RFK Jr.
2. Gavin de Becker
Total Donation: $14,000,000
Background: Gavin de Becker is a security expert and author known for his work in threat assessment and personal security. He provides security protection for RFK Jr., and they work closely together. He was featured in the ‘Who is Bobby Kennedy‘ documentary.
Political Donations: De Becker has donated to various political parties in the past, but never at the volume he has for RFK Jr. His previous donations have been more modest, indicating a significant step up in his support for RFK Jr.’s campaign. Donation History.
3. Nicole Shanahan / Planeta Management LLC
Total Donation: $4,000,000
Background: Nicole Shanahan is a philanthropist and legal tech entrepreneur. She is Kennedy’s VP pick. Before being picked as VP, she gave 4 million to the PAC supporting RFK Jr. Learn more about her here.
Political Donations: Shanahan used to donate to Democrats. Before her donations to Kennedy, her last donation was in 2020 to the DNC.
4. Mark Gorton
Total Donation: $1,000,000
Background: Mark Gorton is an entrepreneur and founder of the open-source software company LimeWire.
Political Donations: Gorton has donated to primarily Democrats in the past and some independents. View his giving here.
5. Leila Centner
Total Donation: $1,000,000
Background: Leila Centner is an entrepreneur and co-founder of the Centner Academy. Centner Academy is described as “a progressive independent ‘happiness’ school.”
Political Donations: Centner has donated to mainly Republicans, but also some Democrats in the past. She donated to the PAC when Kennedy was running as a Democrat.
6. Michael Colby
Total Donation: $500,000
Background: Michael Colby is the Principal of Colby Family Office.
Political Donations: There are many donors with the same name. I believe I was able to narrow it down to the correct person. If I am correct, Michael has donated to one Democrat in addition to Kennedy. View the records here.
7. Jeff Hays
Total Donation: $410,000
Background: Jeff Hays is a filmmaker and producer.
Political Donations: Hays’ donation history shows a bipartisan pattern, supporting both Joe Biden (2019) and Ron DeSantis (2022) before contributing to Kennedy.
8. Robert Bishop
Total Donation: $335,000
Background: Bishop was a hedge fund manager of Impala Asset Manager. The firm closed in 2022.
Political Donations: Robert Bishop has mainly donated to Republicans except for one person, Joe Kennedy III, who currently works for the Biden Administration and has endorsed Biden. Interestingly, Bishop also donated to Kennedy while he was running as a Democrat. Donation History.
9. Daniel Thropp
Total Donation: $260,000
Background: In 2012, he was deemed insane by a court and sentenced to a psychiatric hospital.
Political Donations: This is his first political donation.
10. Chris Rufer
Total Donation: $250,000
Background: Rufer owns The Morning Star Company which is a tomato packing company.
Political Donations: Rufer has a long history of donating to candidates. He appears to give about evenly to Republicans and Libertarians.
11. Abby Rockefeller
Total Donation: $250,000
Background: I believe this is the daughter of John D. Rockefeller Jr. She was very involved in philanthropy her whole life. She spent her life staying out of the public eye. She is now retired.
Political Donations: Rockefeller has a long history of giving to Democrats in small increments ($6,000 or less).
Conclusion
The claim that RFK Jr. is only funded by MAGA supporters is simply not true. While Timothy Mellon, a prominent republican donor, is indeed the largest contributor to RFK Jr.’s super PAC, the overall donor base for American Values 2024 is much more diverse.
The majority of the top donors have varied political histories, with a pretty even split of donating to republicans, democrats, or both. This diversity is expected with an independent candidate whose goal is to bring people together from all sides of the aisle.
Reality: RFK Jr. is not anti-vaxx; he is pro-science and advocates for vaccine safety, transparency, and informed consent. He has said, “My vaccination policy will not take away vaccines from anybody who wants access to them.”
1. RFK Jr. is Vaccinated
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly clarified that both he and his children are vaccinated. This fact directly contradicts the label of “anti-vaxxer.” During his testimony before Congress on July 20th, 2023, he addressed these accusations head-on:
“At one point you say I’m anti-vaxx and that’s a bad thing. The other moment you point out that all my children are vaxxed. I’m fully compliant with the vaccine schedule myself except for COVID. I took flu vaccines for 20 years straight. I have never been anti-vaxx.”
2. RFK Jr. is Pro-Science
Kennedy emphasizes the importance of rigorous testing and transparency in vaccine development. His primary concern is that vaccines should undergo the same rigorous safety and efficacy testing as other medical products. In an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen on May 26th, 2024, he stated:
“What I want is good testing, good safety testing for vaccines, good efficacy testing so that everybody knows and can make informed consent about whether they want this product or not, whether it’s good for their age group, whether it’s good for their cohort, whether it’s good for them. And let’s do the same kind of safety testing that we require for other drugs and we don’t do that for vaccines.”
Under U.S. Code § 300aa–22, the law acknowledges that vaccines have unavoidable side effects, which is why vaccine manufacturers are generally immune from liability in most cases:
“(b) Unavoidable adverse side effects; warnings (1) No vaccine manufacturer shall be liable in a civil action for damages arising from a vaccine-related injury or death associated with the administration of a vaccine after October 1, 1988, if the injury or death resulted from side effects that were unavoidable even though the vaccine was properly prepared and was accompanied by proper directions and warnings.”
RFK Jr simply believes that vaccine manufacturers should not have blanket immunity. These companies are not immune when patients have adverse effects from their pharmaceutical drugs; vaccines should be no different.
3. RFK Jr. is Pro-Medical Freedom
RFK Jr. strongly believes that vaccination should be a personal choice and opposes mandatory vaccination policies. He argues that no medical intervention should be mandated without informed consent. In the same interview with Cohen, he emphasized:
“My vaccination policy will not take away vaccines from anybody who wants access to them. My only issue is they should not be mandated. I don’t think any medical intervention should be mandated.”
Kennedy’s stance is clear: while he supports the availability of vaccines for those who want them, he opposes mandates and insists on the necessity of informed consent based on transparent and thorough safety data. The more data that is available, the more people will feel confident to make the right choice.
Take smoking as an example. Doctors at one time said smoking was fine for people, even pregnant women. While cigarettes are not banned, their use has gone down as additional science was performed. This gives consumers informed consent.
4. RFK Jr. has Never been Called Anti-Fish
Kennedy’s work as an environmental lawyer includes significant efforts to remove mercury from waterways. Mercury is a known toxin, and the CDC warns about its dangers:
“All forms of mercury can affect the nervous system and the kidneys.”
This is a stance that CDC contradicts itself on. On one hand, it says all forms of mercury are dangerous, on the other hand, they say some forms of mercury are ok in vaccines.
“Two types of mercury to which people may be exposed — methylmercury and ethylmercury — are very different.”
Through his environmental advocacy, Kennedy discovered that mercury was also present in vaccines in the form of thimerosal, a preservative. Worried moms started to appear at all his events to tell him about their experiences with vaccines and how they believe their children were harmed by them. These moms knew RFK Jr. was serious about getting mercury out of fish, so they wanted him to be serious about it in all aspects.
He campaigned for its removal from vaccines. Today, mercury is out of some vaccines, but not all. According to the CDC, “Influenza (flu) vaccines are currently available in both thimerosal-containing (for multi-dose vaccine vials) and thimerosal-free versions.”
Many vaccines also contain aluminum. “More research attention has been given to EtHg and findings have showed a solid link with neurotoxic effects in humans; however, the potential synergic effect of both toxic agents has not been properly studied,” were the findings in this analysis.
“I fought to remove mercury from fish but nobody called me anti-fish.”
This quote encapsulates his position: advocating for the removal of a harmful substance does not equate to opposing the entire category. Similarly, advocating for vaccine safety does not make him anti-vaccine.
Conclusion
Labeling Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as “anti-vaxx” oversimplifies his position and misrepresents his advocacy efforts. RFK Jr. is pro-science and focuses on vaccine safety, transparency, and regulatory reform. He supports the use of vaccines that are thoroughly tested and proven safe and believes that enhancing public trust in vaccines requires addressing valid safety concerns and ensuring that regulatory processes are transparent and free from conflicts of interest.
This mini documentary goes through the smear campaign on RFK Jr, his environmental work, how he learned about mercury in vaccines, and what he wants to do going forward.
Reality: Although RFK Jr. is a passionate environmental advocate, he does not endorse the Green New Deal. Instead, he focuses on market-based solutions and regulatory reforms, something most Americans agree on.
What is The Green New Deal
The Green New Deal (GND), introduced by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) in 2018, aims to address climate change and economic inequality. It seeks to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, transition to 100% clean energy, and upgrade infrastructure.
The GND emphasizes economic and social justice, proposing a jobs guarantee, public investment in green technologies, and support for workers transitioning from fossil fuel industries.
Contrary to what many believe, this bill seeks to address many more issues than just the environment. It also aims to address inequality through universal healthcare, affordable housing, and education.
A significant aspect of the GND is its reliance on government subsidies and interventions, which will surely add the the national debt. In contrast, RFK Jr. is against subsidizing most corporations.
RFK Jr.’s Approach
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long history of environmental activism, focusing on regulatory reform, market-based solutions, and grassroots activism. He opposes government subsidies for clean energy, believing that in a true capitalist market, companies will naturally adopt clean energy because it is cheaper and meets consumer demand.
His primary focus is on eliminating toxins from food and water, a goal that resonates with people across the political spectrum.
Key Differences Between RFK Jr.’s Views and the Green New Deal
While the GND emphasizes broad economic restructuring, RFK Jr. focuses on combating pollution and protecting natural resources through market forces.
While capitalism gets a bad name these days, it is only due to the government intervening on true free-market capitalism by awarding grants and subsidies for mega corporations. Kennedy believes that in true free market, corporations will naturally go to clean energy because it is more sustainable, cost effective, and it’s what consumers demand.
RFK Jr. has never set a specific date or expressed a desire to completely eliminate carbon emissions. He aims to reduce pollution, unlike the GND, which seeks to end carbon emissions completely by 2030.
RFK Jr.’s Environmental Policies
RFK Jr.’s campaign highlights his commitment to addressing environmental issues through free-market solutions and sensible regulations. His policies include:
- Supporting an international plastics treaty.
- Implementing safety regulations to prevent chemical accidents.
- Promoting a national bottle bill.
- Coordinating a national Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system.
- Modernizing recycling facilities.
- Ending subsidies for plastic producers.
- Holding fracking and petrochemical companies accountable for pollution.
RFK Jr. believes that climate change is a serious problem but rejects using it for profit-making schemes by big corporations and government authorities.
He has stated, “I’m not going to ask everyone to accept that or to get on board with the climate change orthodoxy,” and “in a true free market that doesn’t rely on subsidies and crony capitalism.”
Conclusion
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a committed environmental advocate who does not support the Green New Deal. His strategies focus on regulatory enforcement, market-based solutions, and grassroots activism.
RFK Jr. believes in free market capitalism, emphasizing that companies should move towards clean energy due to market demand rather than government subsidies. He prioritizes reducing pollution and ensuring a clean environment for future generations, a goal shared by many, despite differing opinions on how to achieve it.
RFK Jr. wants to give $5 billion that was promised to thousands of farmers through litigation who were discriminated against by the USDA.
The New York Post published an article titled “RFK Jr. says he would give black farmers $5B in reparations — despite ruling that it’s unconstitutional,” which is misleading. Their own citation leads you to an article of theirs that says, “Judge William Griesbach issued a temporary restraining order Thursday halting the program while the case is decided.” This was not a final ruling.
This program was never intended to give money to farmers solely based on their skin color. It was to give money to farmers who were actually discriminated against for years that resulted in a loss of their farm land.
Context
In the podcast, John Boyd detailed the systemic discrimination black farmers faced from the USDA. Historically, black farmers were denied loans and support that white farmers received, leading to widespread foreclosure and loss of black-owned farmland.
Boyd emphasized that this discrimination was not just historical but continued well into recent decades.
The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) outlines this history of discrimination in detail. In 1920, 14% of farms were black-owned, but today, only 1.7% are. Additionally, black-owned farms disproportionately receive less government funding, obtaining only 0.6% of the total funds given to farms.
Boyd mentioned that in 1997, two lawsuits were filed against the USDA for this discriminatory treatment. These lawsuits resulted in settlements that promised injunctive relief and debt relief for black farmers. However, despite these promises, the black farmers did not receive the promised land and debt relief.
John Boyd, an African American farmer and founder of the National Black Farmers Association, sums up the situation on RFk Jr.’s podcast:
“You know, here we have a debt relief measure that passed. It passed under the American Rescue Plan for $5 billion.
And then after it passed, USDA kind of dragged its feet on implementing the $5 billion, you know, getting it out to the 16,000 eligible farmers.
So USDA already know who the farmers are, already know what the amounts are supposed to be provided debt relief and they dragged their feet to do it.
They drag their feet and then we wind up white farm that started suing us in federal court around the country and Texas and then Florida and all around and how to organize our monies to defend ourselves in those courts.
And finally, after we won one or two motions in federal court, the administration repealed it by another act of Congress and the IRA bill spending bill.
So they took it all away while I was in court fighting. And here we sit in front of you.
We didn’t get the debt relief and it’s going on for decades, you know, and what I want to explain to people, I don’t want people to look at this and say these farmers want them, they give them something.
That’s not the case.
We were promised U.S. debt relief back from the 90s. We didn’t get it in two settlements. I turned to Congress in 2016.
It stripped the language, wound up getting it in 2021. And then Congress, this administration, this president repealed it by an act of Congress and they haven’t spoken the words debt relief to black and other farmers of color since they repealed it.”
Legislative Efforts and Broken Promises
Boyd also discussed the Claims Remedy Act, sponsored by Senator Ted Kennedy, which provided $1.25 billion for black farmers. Despite this legislation, black farmers have continued to struggle due to unfulfilled promises from the USDA and the federal government.
In 2021, under the American Rescue Plan, $5 billion was allocated for debt relief for black and other farmers of color. Boyd put out a statement when the act was passed, saying, “The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will help address the ongoing effects of discrimination by reducing the risk of foreclosure and increasing access to credit.”
However, the USDA delayed the implementation of this debt relief, and subsequent lawsuits by white farmers led to further complications. Eventually, the relief was repealed by Congress under President Biden’s administration, leaving black farmers without the promised support.
Misunderstood Term: Reparations
The term “reparations” is often overused and watered down. This is not the reparations that is used in the modern way. This is not giving money to people just because of skin color.
In this context, the $5 billion is not about providing new entitlements but about fulfilling court-ordered payments for past discrimination cases that were never fully resolved.
Many payouts were not fulfilled because the statute of limitations lapsed by the time these farmers saw their day in court. Boyd is seeking reparations specifically for the actual discrimination he and other minority farmers experienced with the USDA.
John Boyd shared a firsthand account of the discrimination he experienced:
“Farmers need operating loans every year to plant and harvest on time. So I’m no different.
I’m trying to get a farm operating loan and, and one particular year I was in the office and I was trying to get $5,000.
I was down. I went from, I started at 20 and by the time I left the session, I said, ‘Look, can I just get $5,000 farm operating?’ And he says no.
And here comes Farmer Earl, a white farmer.
He walks into the office, he greets him as Earl and his whole voice and demeanor changed when Earl came in. ‘Hey Earl.’ And like they were friends, he passes Farmer Earl a check for $157,000.”
Boyd further described another instance of discrimination:
“I had a poultry contract where USDA were taking the payments out of my check and was supposed to be giving me credit on my loans.
No one knows what happened to the money.
I got no credit on my loans and I wound up in farm foreclosure. And when they investigated him and asked him what happened to Mr. Boyd’s monies that Purdue Farms were sending every week, he said, ‘Well, I accidentally applied them to another poultry farmer’s assignment account.'”
RFK Jr.’s Position
RFK Jr. expressed his commitment to addressing these injustices if elected president. He emphasized that the $5 billion is not a new entitlement:
“I’m going to get rid of those people in USDA and get that money.
That 5 billion is not money that is an entitlement, it’s money that was a loan that black farmers were entitled to way back then and was stolen from them through discrimination.
You know, you, you can testify that it was personally stolen from you and that’s what the court found.
If you were white you got it, but if you were black, you wouldn’t get it.”
Conclusion
The New York Post’s headline mischaracterizes RFK Jr.’s stance. He did not propose unconstitutional reparations; rather, he highlighted the need to fulfill past promises of debt relief to black farmers who suffered from actual discrimination. This distinction is crucial for understanding his position and the broader context of the historical injustices faced by black farmers in the United States.
For more information, you can listen to the full podcast episode where RFK Jr. and John Boyd discuss these issues in detail.
The Origin of the Brain Worm Story
On May 8th, 2024, The New York Times published an article about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that caused quite a stir. The article referenced a deposition RFK Jr. gave during his divorce proceedings in 2012, where he discussed experiencing brain fog that some doctors initially believed was cancer. The New York Times stated, “The doctor believed that the abnormality seen on his scans ‘was caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died,’ Mr. Kennedy said in the deposition.”
The Story Goes Viral
Unsurprisingly, this sensational story quickly went viral, sparking both concern and humor. Amid questions about a potential presidential debate, RFK Jr. responded on social media platform X, saying, “I offer to eat 5 more brain worms and still beat President Trump and President Biden in a debate.” He followed up with a comment, “I feel confident of the result even with a six-worm handicap.”
1 in 4 People Have Parasites
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 25% of the world’s population has an infection related to an intestinal parasite. In tropical and subtropical areas with limited access to clean water and sanitation, that number is as high as 50%.
The Reality: Neurocysticercosis
On May 14th, RFK Jr. appeared on Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, where he provided clarity on the situation. He revealed that he had been diagnosed with Neurocysticercosis, a parasitic infection caused by the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. This condition occurs when the larvae of the tapeworm enter the brain, leading to various neurological symptoms, including brain fog.
What is Neurocysticercosis?
Neurocysticercosis is a common parasitic infection in regions with poor sanitation and where pork is a dietary staple. It is particularly prevalent in India and in the hog industry. The infection occurs when individuals ingest eggs of the tapeworm, which then travel to the brain and form cysts. Symptoms can range from headaches and seizures to confusion and brain fog.
RFK Jr. explained on the podcast that he had traveled to India numerous times for his work and had been involved in lawsuits against corporate hog farms for many years. He believes that his brain fog was likely due to mercury poisoning rather than the brain worm itself.
Assurance of Recovery
Today, RFK Jr. assures the public that he has fully recovered from the brain fog he experienced at the time. He emphasizes that his neurological health is intact and that he remains fit to serve in any capacity, including as President.
Conclusion
The story of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. having a brain worm is rooted in a real medical condition, but it has been sensationalized and misunderstood. RFK Jr. suffered from Neurocysticercosis, a parasitic infection common in certain regions and industries. He has since recovered and remains confident in his abilities. This incident highlights the importance of understanding the context and facts behind sensational headlines.
There is a widespread misconception that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s biggest donor is also President Trump’s biggest donor, which some use to suggest that RFK Jr. aligns with far-right ideologies. While it is true that Timothy Mellon, a major donor to American Values 2024, has also supported President Trump, this narrative lacks crucial context.
Who is Timothy Mellon?
A Philanthropic Businessman
Timothy Mellon is a prominent businessman and philanthropist. He has been in the railroad business most of his life. He was also a trustee for 21 years at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation whose mission reads, “We believe that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and we believe that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom to be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive.”
The Mellon family keeps out of the spotlight and rarely responds to interviews. Most of what we know about Timothy Mellon is through official public records. Although, Mellon’s autobiography, panam. captain, will be published on July 23, 2024. The book’s cover features a quote from RFK Jr., “Tim Mellon is a maverick entrepreneur who embodies the most admirable qualities of what FDR called ‘American Industrial genius.'”
Mellon’s Contributions
Donation Limits and Rules
It is essential to distinguish between campaign donations and contributions to Super PACs. Campaigns can only accept a maximum of $6,600 per person, while Super PACs can receive unlimited donations. However, PACs cannot coordinate directly with the campaigns they support.
Mellon’s Contributions
According to FEC records, Mellon has made five donations to the American Values 2024 PAC, totaling approximately $25 million, with the last donation dated April 23, 2024. This makes Mellon the largest donor to the PAC supporting RFK Jr.
Mellon made three donations while RFK Jr. was still running as a democrat.
American Values 2024 has currently raised just shy of $50 million to date.
Make America Great Again, Trump’s second biggest PAC, has raised about $182 million since 2021. $25 million of this total came from Timothy Mellon.
Cross-Party Support
Source: Opensecrets.org
While Timothy Mellon primarily donates to Republicans, he has also supported Democratic candidates such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Tulsi Gabbard. Note that these donations are much smaller, but they are still contributions to the opposite party.
Border Security Focus
Timothy Mellon donated $53.1 million in stock to the state of Texas to help build the border wall.
Mellon’s significant donation to Texas for the border wall underscores his commitment to border security, a priority shared by both RFK Jr. and President Trump. It is logical that Mellon would support candidates who advocate for policies he believes in.
The Broader Context
Family Connections
The Mellon family is no stranger to the Kennedy family. Bunny Mellon, a member of the Mellon family, was best friends with Jackie Kennedy, wife of President John F. Kennedy. Read more about their friendship.
Mega-Corporation Donations
Critics who highlight Mellon’s donations to RFK Jr. as evidence of far-right alignment ignore a broader trend in political donations. Many mega-corporations, including Amazon, Alphabet (Google), and Meta (Facebook), donate to both political parties.
Out of the top 25 donors in the 2024 election cycle reported by opensecrets, 9 of them have given to both republicans and democrats.
Out of the top 51 organizations that have donated in the 2024 election cycle, 32 have given to both republicans and democrats. Four of these organizations give evenly to both parties.
What RFK Jr. Has to Say:
RFK Jr. spoke to Brian Tyler Cohen on May 26th, 2024 where he was asked about Timothy Mellon.
“Brian and I want to run a campaign that appeals to both sides I want to run a campaign that makes Republicans forget they’re Republicans and Democrats forget they’re Democrats and everybody remember that they’re Americans.”
“I think Tim Mellon would prefer me to be president of the United States because he thinks that I would make a better president and that…if I’m not not going to be president that he would prefer president Trump to President Biden. I have a lot of donors who are in the same state…but Biden’s their second choice.”
Not a Far-Right Alignment
The claim that RFK Jr.’s biggest donor being President Trump’s biggest donor indicates far-right alignment is misleading. Out of the PAC’s top ten donors, only Timothy Mellon is an established republican. Timothy Mellon is a complex figure who keeps to himself which makes it difficult, if not impossible, to understand his true intentions behind his donations.
His donations appear to have the goal of achieving strict border security, rather than a strict partisan allegiance. This is underscored in his significant donations to Kennedy’s Super PAC even when he was a democrat.
Reality: According to the polls, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. does not fit the definition of a spoiler. The polls point to one obvious spoiler in the 2024 presidential election, and that is President Biden.
Definition of a Spoiler
A spoiler candidate is traditionally defined as one who cannot win the election under any circumstances and only serves to pull votes away from a candidate who otherwise could have won. Many believe that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) is a spoiler candidate whose presence in the race would primarily serve to get President Trump re-elected. However, current polls show a different story.
Polling Data Analysis
Contrary to popular belief, polls indicate that RFK Jr. pulls more votes from President Trump supporters than from President Biden supporters. Additionally, the data shows that whether or not RFK Jr. is in the race, President Biden loses to President Trump. By definition, this makes President Biden the spoiler, not RFK Jr.
Let’s examine three major polls to clarify this:
Harvard-Harris Poll
- Head-to-Head: President Trump 53%, President Biden 47%
- With RFK Jr.: President Trump 45%, President Biden 40%, RFK Jr. 14%
NY Times/Siena Poll:
Biden/Trump/Third Parties
- Head-to-Head: President Trump 49%, President Biden 43%
- With Third Party Candidates: President Trump 42%, President Biden 36%
Kennedy/Shanahan Campaign’s Zogby Poll:
- Respondents: Over 26,000, significantly more than typical polls (1,000-2,500 respondents)
- Results: President Biden does not win against President Trump alone, against RFK Jr. alone, or against both of them. However, RFK Jr. beats President Trump one-on-one and President Biden one-on-one.
RealClearPolitics Analysis
These results clearly show that RFK Jr. is not merely a spoiler. He holds substantial support that could redefine the race entirely.
RealClearPolitics provides a comprehensive hub of all major polls and averages them together. At the time of this article, the averaged polls indicate that President Trump wins in key swing states and across all polls combined. This further supports the argument that President Biden, not RFK Jr., fits the definition of a spoiler, as he appears to be the candidate less likely to secure a victory in the general election.
First-Time Voters and Unique Support Base
Many of RFK Jr.’s supporters are first-time voters or individuals who would otherwise not vote if he were not on the ballot. CNN just released a poll that asked disenfranchised voters who they would vote for. RFK Jr. received 37%, Trump 30%, and Biden 12%. CNN also discused how RFK Jr. pulls more votes from Trump than Biden.
This further proves that his candidacy does not detract from President Biden’s potential voter base, but rather brings new voters into the political process who would not participate in an election between only President Biden and President Trump. This also shows that RFK Jr. pulls more votes from President Trump.
The Reality of the Situation
The 2024 election is unprecedented in many ways. Both President Biden and President Trump are the oldest presidents in history, adding uncertainty to the race. Just as football fans say, “Any given Sunday,” this November could be “Any given November.” Both candidates could face unforeseen circumstances, such as legal issues or health problems, that might impact their viability.
The largest presidential poll to date indicates that RFK Jr. would win in a head-to-head race against either President Biden or President Trump. This makes him a true major candidate, not a spoiler.
RFK Jr.’s presence in the race challenges the traditional dynamics and offers voters an alternative that polls show is not just viable but potentially victorious. By the true definition of a spoiler, President Biden fits the role more accurately than RFK Jr.
Conclusion
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is far from being a mere spoiler candidate. Polls consistently demonstrate his ability to pull significant support, especially from President Trump voters, and his potential to win in direct contests against both President Trump and President Biden. Additionally, his candidacy mobilizes first-time voters and those who would not otherwise vote, further proving his impact on the 2024 election. As the political landscape continues to evolve, RFK Jr.’s candidacy represents a legitimate third option that could change the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
6 out of 105 Kennedys Publicly Endorsed Joe Biden
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent environmental attorney and activist, has faced criticism from various members of his family, leading to the misconception that his entire family does not support him. Despite this perception, it is crucial to understand that only 6 out of approximately 105 close Kennedy family members have publicly endorsed Joe Biden. This has led to misinformation suggesting the entire family is against RFK Jr. and endorses Joe Biden.
When family members do speak about RFK Jr.’s candidacy, they often refer specifically to his independent ticket. For example, Kerry Kennedy stated, “We cannot have Trump in for four more years.” Similarly, in an interview with CNN, when asked whether she sees her brother’s campaign as a danger because it siphons votes away from Joe Biden or because of his policies, Rory Kennedy responded, “It’s really about siphoning votes from Biden.” This underscores that their concerns are not primarily about RFK Jr.’s policies but rather the fear that he might act as a spoiler candidate.
Timeline of Events
July 21, 2023: Jack Schlossberg’s Instagram Reel
On July 21, 2023, Jack Schlossberg made an Instagram reel from a car, where he criticized RFK Jr.’s candidacy by saying, “I have no idea why anyone thinks he should be president.” He also gave controversial talking points about President Biden’s success, including statements like “he ended our longest war, he ended the COVID pandemic, and he ended Donald Trump.” We encourage readers to visit his social media pages to form their own opinion on his credibility. Jack Schlossberg’s Instagram and Jack Schlossberg’s X profile.
October 9, 2023: RFK Jr. Announces Independent Run
On October 9, 2023, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that he would be running for president as an independent candidate. This decision marked a significant shift from his previous alignment with the Democratic Party and sparked immediate reactions from his family. Remember, the Kennedy family has been a part of the Democratic Party for generations, long before even JFK. RFK Jr.’s separation from the party was a shock, not only to his family, but to all.
Family Reaction:
Four family members took to social media to express their concerns, stating, “The decision of our brother Bobby to run as a third party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country.” It is noteworthy that they made no public comments about his presidential run until he decided to run as an independent. Anthony Shriver, RFK Jr.’s cousin replied to this post saying, “I was so proud to be standing next to my cousin Bobby today. His energy and values are everything our family believes in.”
March 17, 2024: St. Patrick’s Day Event
On St. Patrick’s Day, Joe Biden and several Kennedy family members took to social media to post an image of a large portion of the Kennedy family with President Biden. Many people took this photo as an endorsement when no such endorsement was given at the time. The photo did not even show half of the Kennedy family.
The Hatch Act
If there had been an endorsement given on St. Patrick’s Day, Joe Kennedy III may have been in violation of the Hatch Act. This act restricts federal employees from engaging in certain political activities to maintain a nonpartisan federal workforce. As a Special Envoy, Joe Kennedy III must adhere to these restrictions to avoid conflicts of interest.
April 19, 2024: Official Endorsement for Joe Biden
On April 19, 2024, an official endorsement for Joe Biden was made by five Kennedy family members. This endorsement brought the total number of endorsements to 6 out of 105 family members. Many news sources report that 12-15 family members endorsed Joe Biden that day, but no official record is available online. The only clear proof of an endorsement is from this video that was posted to social media after the event.
Family Members Endorsing Joe Biden
Despite the visible presence of some Kennedy family members in support of Joe Biden, these are the family members who are on record officially endorsing Joe Biden. These endorsements have often been interpreted as a broader family consensus, which is not the case.
- Joe Kennedy III: Works as the U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs.
- Kerry Kennedy: Runs Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and has publicly endorsed Biden.
- Rory Kennedy: An acclaimed filmmaker who has worked on projects funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Kathleen Kennedy Townsend: Works for the Department of Labor as a representative for retirement and pension issues, which ties her to the Biden administration.
- Chris Kennedy: Owns a commercial real estate firm and has endorsed Biden.
RFK Jr.’s Response to the Endorsements
In this interview, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responded to his family members’ endorsement of Joe Biden. He emphasized that his family has learned to debate each other while still maintaining love and respect. He acknowledged that five family members work for the Biden administration and mentioned the Kennedy family’s historical ties to the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
Conclusion
The claim that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s whole family does not support him is a misconception. While some family members have publicly endorsed Joe Biden, it is important to recognize the diverse views within any family. RFK Jr. has received significant support from other family members who are actively involved in his campaign such as Amaryllis Kennedy who runs his campaign. Public disagreements do not equate to a lack of familial love and support, and it’s essential to consider the full spectrum of family and political dynamics. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and ultimately, their own vote. It is uncommon for families to agree on everything and the Kennedy family is being held to a standard no other family is.
