The Perfect Enemy | Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlines potential platform amid speculation of presidential run - WMUR Manchester
May 15, 2024

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlines potential platform amid speculation of presidential run – WMUR Manchester

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlines potential platform amid speculation of presidential run  WMUR Manchester

A scion of a famous political family spoke about the environment, COVID-19 vaccines and the possibility of running for president during an appearance Friday in New Hampshire.Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held his American Stage event at St. Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics.The environmental lawyer began with the long history of his work with the Waterkeeper Alliance in New York. “To choose between economic prosperity on the one hand and environmental protection on the other is not true,” Kennedy said. “Good environmental policy 100% of the time is identical to good economic policy.”The focus on such issues gave insight into Kennedy’s vision for community building and the national problems he wishes to solve. Kennedy dedicated a significant portion of his speech to the COVID-19 vaccine and the threat he said it poses to Americans. “We know that there is some environmental exposure that is causing these ,” he said. “I suspect that vaccines are the biggest cause.” In the post-pandemic world, he called out Dr. Anthony Fauci in his book “The Real Anthony Fauci.” When Kennedy mentioned his book, there were a few in the crowd who brought their copy and held it up in solidarity.The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, along with other health organizations and experts, describes the COVID-19 vaccines as “safe and effective.”Though there were positive reactions to Kennedy’s COVID-19 message, many students said it was intriguing but not what they were expecting. “I thought this event was going to be more about the first-in-the-nation primary,” said St. Anselm College student Ellie Duffin. “It’s important to keep New Hampshire first.”Duffin said she didn’t agree with Kennedy’s views on vaccines. “I personally do not agree; however, it was informative to hear about the other side,” she said. “I knew a little bit about his background, but I knew more about his environmentalism– I do agree with that side of his views.”Kennedy acknowledged the New Hampshire primary, but very briefly, saying he disagreed with the changes to the primary calendar approved by the Democratic National Committee. “The primary has been held here, and (the changes are) just wrong,” Kennedy said. Another college student, Jacob Akey, had a broader view of the event.“He gave a very strong speech. It was packed with emotion and just the right mixture of nostalgia for the Kennedy family’s history in New Hampshire,” Akey said. “He did a really phenomenal job of connecting his environmental advocacy and support for the continued New Hampshire primary.”After Kennedy’s remarks, the audience had the opportunity to ask questions. One man asked about a potential run for president in 2024, which garnered applause. “I’m thinking about it,” Kennedy said. “You know, I passed the biggest hurdle, which is that my wife has greenlighted it.”With a campaign potentially on the horizon, he would face greater hurdles, especially his controversial take on vaccines. WMUR political director Adam Sexton asked how Kennedy would approach an individual skeptical of his vaccine activism. In response, Kennedy said: “Show me where I got it wrong.”

A scion of a famous political family spoke about the environment, COVID-19 vaccines and the possibility of running for president during an appearance Friday in New Hampshire.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held his American Stage event at St. Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics.

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The environmental lawyer began with the long history of his work with the Waterkeeper Alliance in New York.

“To choose between economic prosperity on the one hand and environmental protection on the other is not true,” Kennedy said. “Good environmental policy 100% of the time is identical to good economic policy.”

The focus on such issues gave insight into Kennedy’s vision for community building and the national problems he wishes to solve.

Kennedy dedicated a significant portion of his speech to the COVID-19 vaccine and the threat he said it poses to Americans.

“We know that there is some environmental exposure that is causing these [pandemics],” he said. “I suspect that vaccines are the biggest cause.”

In the post-pandemic world, he called out Dr. Anthony Fauci in his book “The Real Anthony Fauci.” When Kennedy mentioned his book, there were a few in the crowd who brought their copy and held it up in solidarity.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, along with other health organizations and experts, describes the COVID-19 vaccines as “safe and effective.”

Though there were positive reactions to Kennedy’s COVID-19 message, many students said it was intriguing but not what they were expecting.

“I thought this event was going to be more about the first-in-the-nation primary,” said St. Anselm College student Ellie Duffin. “It’s important to keep New Hampshire first.”

Duffin said she didn’t agree with Kennedy’s views on vaccines.

“I personally do not agree; however, it was informative to hear about the other side,” she said. “I knew a little bit about his background, but I knew more about his environmentalism– I do agree with that side of his views.”

Kennedy acknowledged the New Hampshire primary, but very briefly, saying he disagreed with the changes to the primary calendar approved by the Democratic National Committee.

“The primary has been held here, and (the changes are) just wrong,” Kennedy said.

Another college student, Jacob Akey, had a broader view of the event.

“He gave a very strong speech. It was packed with emotion and just the right mixture of nostalgia for the Kennedy family’s history in New Hampshire,” Akey said. “He did a really phenomenal job of connecting his environmental advocacy and support for the continued New Hampshire primary.”

After Kennedy’s remarks, the audience had the opportunity to ask questions. One man asked about a potential run for president in 2024, which garnered applause.

“I’m thinking about it,” Kennedy said. “You know, I passed the biggest hurdle, which is that my wife has greenlighted it.”

With a campaign potentially on the horizon, he would face greater hurdles, especially his controversial take on vaccines.

WMUR political director Adam Sexton asked how Kennedy would approach an individual skeptical of his vaccine activism. In response, Kennedy said: “Show me where I got it wrong.”