RFK Jr. Talks about Gore; Endorses Hillary, on ABC

[RFKJrNews]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America Saturday to talk about this week’s award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore and the IPCC. The discussion began with some observations on the draft Gore movement; RFK Jr. urged people to respect Gore’s choice not to run and said that we will have to “look for leadership someplace else.”

But perhaps the most interesting part of the interview was his reply to the question of who he was endorsing for President in 2008.

Here’s a transcript of the October 13 Good Morning America interview with Bill Weir:

Weir: “And joining us live now from Minneapolis is another man who has made protecting the environment a lifelong cause, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President of the Waterkeeper Alliance. Good morning.”

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: “Morning.”

Weir: “Your father ran for president, convinced that was the best way to tackle big problems, but forty years later it seems Al Gore is content to act as a citizen activist. Do you agree with that decision? Do you think he would do more good to the grand cause as a candidate?”

Kennedy: “Well, I think that’s a personal decision for him. He said he doesn’t want to run so — you know, he did win once before. But I think — at this point, he’s saying that he’s not going to run. So I think we have to look for leadership someplace else.”

Weir: “Well, let me follow that up then-”

Kennedy: “That kind of leadership.”

Weir: “Yeah. Well, if he’s not in, who do you like as the most qualified candidate on environmental issues?”

Kennedy: “You know, I think all of the Democratic candidates have said the right thing about global warming. We’ve yet to see concrete plans from anybody. John McCain on the Republican side has some genuine bona fides — although I think he’s being pulled now by the gravities of the Republican primary voters to reverse some of those — that initial good work that he’s done on the issue. All the Democrats have been good on this issue. Hillary Clinton. Johnny Edwards. Obama. Bill Richardson. Chris Dodd. They’ve all been wonderful on this issue.”

Weir: “But no endorsement this morning?”

Kennedy: “I think — I’m going to be supporting Hillary Clinton in the race. I think she has the strongest record on the environment of any of the candidates and-”...

(END EXCERPT)

Read the full story HERE:

http://rfkin2008.wordpress.com/2007/10/14/rfk-jr-talks-about-gore-endorses-hillary-on-abc/

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

1. WTF?!?

Bobby should know better. I know he hinted that he'll run for her NY seat, but I doubt he'd resort to something so self-serving.

As informed as this guy is on the war, globalization, telecommincations and more, what is he thinking? Why pick the most corporate of all the candidates? I'm totally baffled on this one. I love Bobby, but it's on the level of Wellstone endorsing Zell Miller.

[RFKJrNews]

2. At least he prefaced it with "I think..."

...meaning he reserves the right to change his mind.

Many in his progressive base of supporters hope he does.

At least judging by the comments recently here at DU, on our blog (http://RFKin2008.com), and what I hear privately.

[Frances]

3. People on DU have posted Hillary's record and her record

is very good on most grading systems.

That said, I have not decided who I'll vote for. I voted for John Edwards in 2004.

[sandnsea]

16. Someone has to be appointed to it

Isn't that right? I wouldn't call it self-serving exactly, but the writing is pretty well on the wall in regards to Hillary; and it would be a lot easier for him to get the appointment instead of having to deal with an ugly election before real voters have a chance to get to know him.

[MonkeyFunk]

4. It was reported over a month ago

that he was endorsing her.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F07EFD61439F934A3575AC0A9669C8B63&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FPeople%2FK%2FKennedy%2C%20Robert%20Francis

[RFKJrNews]

5. That article is 7 years old

The article Monkeyfunk references above is from Sept. 2000 - RFK Jr. endorsed Hillary in her bid for the US Senate.

[RFKJrNews]

6. The Kennedys and the Clintons have long been political allies...

...so the endorsement makes sense, at least in that regard.

The Kennedys endorsed Bill Clinton in `92 and `96 as well.

[MonkeyFunk]

8. LOL

i am so sorry! I googled RFK Clinton endorse and saw the Sept. byline.

I was pretty sure I'd read here within the last month or so that RFK had endorsed Clinton's presidential bid. If this is the first time he's said it, I must've confused him with one of the other big endorsements she received.

Sorry about that!

[RFKJrNews]

17. No problem

MonkeyFunk, you're not the first to have made that error. It would be easy to get the two confused, given the September date...but it was Sept. 2000, not 2007.

Another recent thread here at DU referenced the same article and accidentally portrayed it as recent. But Bobby did not make any official endorsements of Hillary's presidential bid until now.

[gorekerrydreamticket]

7. Johnny Edwards? n/m

[Mutineer]

9. Tell me again why I'm supposed to care what RFK Jr. thinks?

Yeah sure, he's a good Dem and he's done some good things in his career but honestly? I really don't give a damn who endorses who. That holds no sway with me and I refuse to fall at the feet of any politican and worship them and do what they tell me to do because that's what I'm "supposed to do".

[Tom Rinaldo]

12. It is a point of data. What if any importance you assign his decision

is utterly up to you to decide. It is not exactly a strange concept that sometimes people take into account the choice made by someone whom they respect when it comes time to make their own decision. If you don't particularly respect RFK Jr. then it is moot. If you do then maybe it matters a little, maybe it matters a lot, or maybe it still does not matter to you at all who he supports for President. To each his own, but obviously some endorsements matter at least somewhat to some people or candidates wouldn't seek them so avidly.

[Zandor]

10. Freeeeeeeeeeep!!

:rofl:

[incapsulated]

11. Huh?

???

[flpoljunkie]

13. Sounds like a hedge or perhaps RFK, Jr. is not quite sure of his endorsement...

Kennedy: “I think — I’m going to be supporting Hillary Clinton in the race. I think she has the strongest record on the environment of any of the candidates and-”...

[incapsulated]

14. He has already endorsed her

This is from October.

[RFKJrNews]

19. You may be right...

...there is still plenty of time between now and next November. Things could change.

As for me, I plan to make RFK Jr. my write-in candidate, regardless of who he endorses.

[MGKrebs]

15. Dang. Another lefy hero we have to throw under the bus.

Getting crowded under there.


:banghead:

[RFKJrNews]

18. If he didn't endorse Hillary...

...he would be the only Kennedy to "break away from the pack", as it were. The Kennedys have always endorsed the Clintons in every race - for as long as I can remember.

Could RFK Jr. go against his own family, even if in his heart of hearts he wanted to support another candidate? Probably not, methinks.