Posted on 06/30/2023 9:14:49 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
I know it’s customary to say, “I hate to say ‘I told you so.’” But I don’t hate it, so I’m just going to say it: I told you so.
Last week, I wrote an article titled “What’s the Big Deal about RFK Jr?” The main thrust of the piece was that I did not understand why I was seeing so many libertarians and even conservatives fawning all over Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running to win the Democratic presidential nomination.
I still don’t get it. But I do think some are finally starting to realize he may not be the candidate he portrayed himself as previously—especially when it comes to the gun issue.
In the article, I brought up how some folks were claiming Kennedy’s appearance on a Twitter Space a few weeks ago indicated that he had changed his mind on his previous anti-gunner stance and that he no longer wanted to take people’s firearms. I pointed out that he didn’t actually say that. “I don’t think it’s the right thing right now because it will just polarize our country,” he said, in reality.
But now, more footage has surfaced solidifying my original theory that Kennedy is not as great on guns as he would like us to believe. Let’s take this first clip in which the candidate affirms that he would have no problem signing an “assault weapons” ban, if both Republicans and Democrats agree on the legislation.
Yesterday, during an interview with Reason, RFK Jr. once again echoed what he said on Wednesday about signing an Assault Weapons Ban.
He states that if there was a consensus and a majority of GOP and Dems passed the bill he’d sign it.
The question is will that ever happen? pic.twitter.com/U9M2BIADfQ
— Will Fite (@WillFiteForYou) June 30, 2023
Here’s another clip in which he makes the comments again. It comes after he suggests exploring various factors that may contribute to gun violence, including the potential role of antidepressants, video games, cell phones, and social media.
ICYMI: Last Night @RobertKennedyJr said the causes for gun violence need to be researched more.
Says if a consensus could be reached by Dems and GOP he would sign an Assault Weapons Ban.
This contradicts his statement of “not taking people’s guns away”
— Will Fite (@WillFiteForYou) June 29, 2023
This last clip might be a bit nitpicky on my part, but who cares? Just look at how Kennedy responds when Bill Maher claims the Second Amendment is a problem when it comes to mass shootings. Before you accuse me of picking those nits, ask yourself this: How would YOU have responded to that statement, dear reader? If you’re anything like me, you would never have let that slide without defending the good ol’ 2A. Yet, Kennedy just moves on to talking about video games and blah blah blah.
Y'all notice how RFK reacts when Maher says the Second Amendment is a problem?
How would YOU have responded? pic.twitter.com/EYq60U4kEf
— Jeff Charles, Liberty Nerd🏴 (@jeffcharlesjr) June 28, 2023
After the aforementioned clips surfaced on Twitter, I did see some high-profile libertarians change their minds on Kennedy. How could they not? While he had previously stated that he would not take away anyone’s guns, his affirmation that he would sign an assault weapons ban should raise eyebrows. It makes sense to assume he is engaging in political maneuvering.
I woke up this morning thinking seriously about endorsing RFK for president
I go to bed tonight absolutely certain that I will not
His flip on
-assault weapons ban
-Mom's for Liberty
+supporting affirmative action nonsenseMakes him a non-starter for me
Genuinely disappointed— Liberty Lockdown w/ Clint Russell (@LibertyLockPod) June 30, 2023
I understand that people change their minds over time. But from where I sit, Kennedy’s transformation was much too sudden for me to trust it. Moreover, he had deleted previous tweets in which he claimed the National Rifle Association was responsible for the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. He made other anti-gunner arguments in the past as well. During the Twitter Space, he never acknowledged his previous stance. It seemed to me that he was just telling the mostly conservative and libertarian audience what it wanted to hear.
Of course, much of this debate is irrelevant because Kennedy has about as much of a chance of defeating President Joe Biden as I do of winning a marathon. Still, for Libertarians especially, it makes more sense to focus on pushing liberty-minded candidates instead of being enamored by the new shiny object—just because he happens to say a few things we like.
Tulsi Gabbard too but so many on FR have a crush on her. She is bad news.
He’s been ultra-left forever. As discussed here seemingly regularly for the entire tenure of this forum...suddenly in the last few months a handful seem to revere him.
Snake in sheep’s clothing? Why would he want to disarm America when he said the CIA took out his father?
It was never a secret.
not news to anyone. btw, he’s for abortion, too. giant shock.
so what. if the choice is between ‘anti-gunner’ Brandon, and anti-gunner, RFK, i’ll take RFK any day of the week. it’s a no brainer.
What’s his position on J6?
Yep. I have been saying for months that despite him saying a few things that ‘we’ like, he is still a leftist elitist at heart.
I’m amazed how many ‘conservatives’ get all excited when someone on the other side occasionally says something sane.
Kennedy would be a significant improvement over Biden, if we get stuck with one or the other. The main difference is Kennedy is more honest about his support of liberal insanity, and has at least SOME questions about gain of function, and the new definition of “vaccines.”
His appeal to the right is he may be a thorn in Joe’s side and he’s anti vax.
Just because he says a few things right and doesn’t appear to be a corrupt crook like Joe Biden it doesn’t mean he isn’t still a leftist kook. I actually halfway respect him for bucking the standard democrat/marxist line on some issues and there is the appeal of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” when it comes to Biden. However, I don’t think for a second that he is really a libertarian at heart, he’a still a hard core leftist.
RFK, Jr., is his father’s son, 100%.
A big-government leftist who hasn’t connected the dots with respect to the reality of the big government being corrupt to the bone. Maybe he’ll get it. But he’s not there yet.
RFK, Jr.: Climate Skeptics 'Should Be at the Hague with All the Other War Criminals' FR thread
You left out the statement before that. Also the moderator was obviously bating him with the question about banning assault weapons. I think at that point he has lost patience and his answer that he would sign a bill IF there was consensus in both parties and IF it got to him was made to shut her down. Prior to that he was very clear that he was not going to take away guns. That USSC decisions on guns made it a very unlikely. He has spoken of his support for the 2nd Amendment many times.
He also brought up school shootings and his belief that SSRIs should be researched to see what if any role they played in the behavior of the shooters. He talked about how common shooting clubs used to be in schools without mass shootings being connected to students having easy access to guns.
I found it interesting that in numerous interviews he acknowledges that a large number of people believe the only thing that kept the government from totally taking away more rights during the pandemic was gun ownership. He defines himself as a constitutional absolutist and includes the 2nd amendment in that.
His stance on abortion will keep me from voting for him.
The only thing I was pleased to hear is that he would like to see an end to late term abortions. But if he believes the Democratic party will ever again go for “Safe, legal, and rare.” he is mistaken. Unless he is willing to go “Abortion on demand without apology.” He will be considered as anti-woman.
He’s a Democrat. That says it all. If he was so conservative why would he BE a Democrat.
Yep.
yes, and hope that’s true about his position on abortion, but doubt he’d get the ‘abortion on demand’ vote no matter what his position. he’s just too out-there conservative, and truthful for them in too many other areas.
imo, he has to beat Ill-legitimate without those groups. i think he may get some smart GOP ‘operation’ crossover support, if he courts it. as i recall, Rush did that to billery the first time with great effect, although it ultimately led to obi-woke. but thank God, largely due to his ineptness, the tea party fought him to a stand-still, so it worked out for the best. i still shudder when i think of pierre delecto getting in.
He was also disappointed with the supremes on student loans
“suddenly in the last few months a handful seem to revere him.”
Perhaps he’s the first ‘main stream’ democrat we’ve seen in decades? There used to be Blue Dog democrats, loved lower taxes, 2nd Amendment, and a strong military.
Not so much with the democrats these days.
Think what you want about RFK, he’s been on Bannon’s Warroom for the past three years and people respect his knowledge, particularly with teh vaccines and Fauci’s history. He’s in the know on a gret many things.
RFK is like a Democrat Trump.
That said, Trump/Kennedy 2024!
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