I recently took time to rummage through old political stuff, some of which goes back more than 60 years. There are buttons and bumper stickers, and plenty of political brochures. It’s mostly Democratic stuff, but somehow a couple of Goldwater brochures and even one from George Wallace got thrown into that file. I had no interest in the politics of the latter two, but the materials document the history of those days.
Included also are some items for a candidate that I did have an interest in – Robert F. Kennedy – Bobby. He served as a principled Attorney General and then as the Senator from New York. In 1968 he ran for president.
I was in college when Bobby ran. I heard him speak and shook his hand. I have an autograph somewhere. He was a man dedicated to justice and to improving the wellbeing of all Americans.
The Kennedy materials include pictures of campaign stops. Many of the pictures include his really big family. There was substance to what he said, well beyond the bumper sticker politics of the 21st century. The pictures, of course, include the young Bobby Junior. My, how politics have differed from father to son.
Junior, of course, has hitched his wagon to the Trump caravan. Junior owns a piece of everything that Donald Trump has done.
Things that Robert F. Kennedy spoke and wrote about still have relevance today. Here’s a sample:
RFK spoke about the Vietnam War, not the one with Iran. His words, however, translate well in the current political environment. Here is what Bobby said: “for two years I have been concerned that our course [in the war] would not bring peace; would not stop bloodshed; and would not advance the interests of the United States.”
RFK on law and order: “We will reestablish our domestic tranquility only when we resume our march toward constitutional justice – so that every American citizen has a fair chance at a job and an education and a decent place to live.”
On taxes: “we must reform the flagrant tax loopholes which enable too many Americans to escape their fair share of the cost of shaping our nation’s destiny.”
On the reconciliation of Americans: “We must close the gap between black and white, rich and poor, young and old in this country… I want the United States of America to stand for hope instead of despair, for the reconciliation of men instead of the growing of world war.”
The clown cabinet that Junior is a part of stands for none of these things. Their total focus is on loyalty to Donald Trump, regardless of what the Constitution says.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s focus is on bizarre beliefs about health care and vaccinations. His policies are already doing great harm to Americans. Trump’s interests are mainly in personal enrichment, so he is content to let Junior pretty much do as he pleases.
Robert F. Kennedy died tragically 58 years ago. He would have opposed pretty much everything that Junior stands for or aligns himself with today.
When the history of the Trump Administration is written in coming years it will report on how he fostered divisions in America; how he damaged the economy and hurt the lives of millions of Americans; and how his personal vendetta foreign policies wreaked havoc around the world. Kennedy Junior, as part of the Trump administration, brought shame to his family and harm to Americans he was assigned to help. God help the United States of America.
Bluesky @kenkruly
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