Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s attempt to purchase relevance with the Democratic party seems to have been definitively thwarted. Insiders privy to the situation have revealed that Kennedy has failed in his negotiations to secure a top notch administrative position in exchange for endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in her apparently struggling campaign.
While Kennedy’s popularity in the polls has taken a disheartening nosedive, sources from within his camp apparently relay that he has been eager for a meeting with none other than Kamala Harris. His proposal, misrepresented as ‘endorsement talks’, seems little more than a political transaction promising her his support in return for a lucrative cabinet position.
Sadly, for Kennedy, his attempts have been about as successful as the Biden administration’s public approval ratings, i.e, not very. This intriguing piece of political theater came to attention earlier when it was first published in The Washington Post, triggering quite a stir among the public.
Kennedy took to text on Wednesday night, with a dramatic tone that seems woefully unconvincing. ‘We’ve reached out repeatedly through the highest level intermediaries,’ he typed out, seemingly attempting to sound aggrieved. ‘We’ve been told that they have no interest in talking with me.’ One can’t help but wonder why.
It appears the Harris campaign, despite its apparent free fall in popularity, wasn’t so desperate to engage with Kennedy. As polls suggest, his decision to incessantly attack President Biden over summer only resulted in diverting support from Trump supporters. Ironically, Harris seems to fare slightly better in certain surveys when Kennedy throws his hat in the campaign ring.
Backed into the corner by dwindling polls and insufficient fundraising, Kennedy, the supposed spoiler of the race, seems to court exit strategies. As Kennedy’s potential dropout continues to fuel speculations, one must wonder if he’d choose to endorse Harris or Trump, or if either would even accept his endorsement.
Kennedy, who prides himself on his willingness for cross-party dialogue, now appears lost in a conversation with himself more than anything else. He expressed on Wednesday night that he wants to discuss the possibility of a ‘unity government’ with leaders of both parties, which would be an excellent punchline if it weren’t so wildly unrealistic.
The Post previously uncovered a potential negotiation between Kennedy and the former president, Mr. Trump. In this conversation, it seemed like Kennedy proposed bagging a public health leadership role in exchange for his endorsement. A phone call between the two men revealed Trump encouraging Kennedy to quit the race and rally for him.
Certainly, the former president addressed Kennedy with enough honey to trap a bee: ‘I would love you to do something,’ Trump said. ‘And I think it’ll be so good for you and so big for you. And we’re going to win.’ In this call, however, Kennedy stayed mostly silent.
These discussions possibly hint at a secret cabinet position offer to Kennedy from Trump’s advisors. Those in the know convey that these conversations were initially tentative and open-ended. Naturally, political circumstances were also distinctly different then. Biden’s capabilities were yet to be thoroughly undermined, and he trailed significantly behind the former president.
Kennedy, meanwhile, has found himself entangled in scandal after scandal. Some of these involve breathtakingly stories of buffoonery, while others are decidedly more serious. Yet, the political universe has united in serving him a generous portion of negative headlines.
Earlier this month, Kennedy confessed to leaving a dead bear cub in Manhattan’s Central Park in 2014, proving himself to be not only out of touch but also recklessly irresponsible. In what he described as an ‘amusing’ act, Kennedy demonstrated a gravity of a personality flaw that would be hilarious if it weren’t real.
However, that scandal was soon overshadowed by an even more serious court case. This week, a court in Albany, NY validated what many had been speculating, as Kennedy was officially removed from the ballot in New York.
The court found him guilty of using a ‘sham’ address to maintain his New York residency. It’s almost amusing how consistently he seems to trip up when looking for shortcuts. His political career seems to be a series of self-created obstacles and potholes he consistently falls into.
All in all, it is fascinating, albeit sad, to see such questionable tactics fail to bring about any success for Kennedy. His legacy becomes one of failed attempts at political negotiations, awkward boycotts, and a tumultuous journey through the political fields. But then again, one could argue that he fits perfectly into the current Democratic camp, which has come to be characterized by disappointment and failure.