« Previous | Main | Next »

Robert Kennedy Jr. Says Family Members Are Wrong in Supporting Obama

Share

May 01, 2008 6:41 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Introducing Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., in Jeffersonville, IN, Robert Kennedy Jr. had some pretty harsh words for his family members who are backing Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for president.

"There are some members of my family who've decided to do the wrong thing, support Senator Obama," he said of the Democratic presidential fight.

Kennedy continued, "Part of our family is divided and our Party is divided and the reason we are divided is because we have two extraordinary candidates both running for president both who will make unbelievable presidents of this country."

Continuing his argument, Kennedy said, "but let me tell you why they’re wrong and I’m right, because I know Hillary Clinton better than they know Barack Obama," said Kennedy to a loud applause.

Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy adopted Obama as a "Son of Camelot" back in January.

Kennedy went on to speak about the attacks that Sen. Clinton received while in office saying, "she came in after enduring one of the most savage beatings of a public figure during my lifetime with people like Ken Star going spending 40 million dollars going after her relentlessly with billionaires like Richard Mellon Scaife and his whole right wing machine that sent out hundreds of millions of letters to American citizens going after her relentlessly."

Trying to connect the attacks Clinton pushed off to similar criticism President John F. Kennedy endured more than 40 years ago. "She had to endure the same kind of attacks that my father had to endure which was being called a carpetbagger when she came into New York." Kennedy pointed to Clinton's work in the upstate parts of New York to make his point saying that she"transformed those counties, which not even my father could do….."

May 1, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (186)

User Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

It is very interesting that Ted or Caroline have never defended Obama again since all his controversies came out...at least no MSM reported it...

They are regreting now....

Posted by: True Truth | May 1, 2008 7:24:12 PM

Robert Kenndy Jr has the courage to stand up for what he thinks is right. Ted Kennedy should take note of his qualities. At last, a Kennedy with fortitude and common sense. Jim Mannion

Posted by: James R. Mannion | May 1, 2008 7:25:41 PM

again, instead of standing up for his candidate, which I could respect, he seeks to knowck down the opponent. If your candidate is the best one, you don't have to knock the other one down. there is a reason why he is winning.

Posted by: Louis | May 1, 2008 7:27:25 PM

Actually, Ted and Caroline have been out campaigning for Obama.

Posted by: lily | May 1, 2008 7:28:32 PM

I was present at an Obama meeting in Indiana on the anniversary of the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. The person who introduced Obama declared that if Robert Kennedy were alive, he would have supported Obama. I thought that declaration involved a tremendous amount of audacity - that the speaker had absolutely no way to know know who Robert Kennedy would have supported - and to use Robert Kennedy's name and memory in that manner was morally wrong. Robert Kennedy, Jr. speaks for himself. And he is absolutely right.

Posted by: Rebecca | May 1, 2008 7:29:43 PM

Their may be backlash in Massachusetts if Obama is the nominee. Gov Patrick ( Obama's just words man) is becoming very unpopular in Massachusetts - Not that Obama wont win the state but Kennedy and Kerry ARE LOSING FAVOR AMONG DEMOCRATIC VOTERS IN THAT STATE - FAST!

Posted by: John in Cape May | May 1, 2008 7:30:36 PM

It amazes me when the Hillary supporters accuse Obama of lying. Have we forgotten about Hillary and Bosnia, NAFTA, CAFTA, the gas tax holiday, etc. I could go on and on. The Clinton supporters are truly delusional.

Posted by: jane | May 1, 2008 7:31:10 PM

Obama is the wrong candidate, he is just stumbling and mumbling in the debatates, to stupid in my opinion.People finding out now.

Posted by: Francis | May 1, 2008 7:34:18 PM

I think Robert Kennedy Jr. is much smarter than Ted and Caroline Kennedy!!! Thank you for standing up for Hillary! I listened to his speech about American politics before, and I really believed he's an intelligent man. Today he proved even more so by endorsing Hillary!!!!!

Posted by: Cattie | May 1, 2008 7:36:47 PM

Thank you Robert Kennedy, Jr. Finally someone who makes sense!

If it wasn't for Saturday Night Live, the news media would have forced Hillary out a long time ago.

To Hillary - your support is here and growing!

Posted by: Sharon | May 1, 2008 7:37:29 PM

RFK, Jr. is out supporting his candidate.

Kerry Kennedy was on Morning Joe last week talking about her book but also throwing in support for Hillary.

Why are the supporters of Obama so silent?

Maybe they don't want the annual reunions to be awkward because they chose Obama who is simply unelectable.

Rise, Hillary Rise!!!

Posted by: LOM | May 1, 2008 7:43:58 PM

Have any of you Hillary supporters ever thought the other Kennedy's aren't supporting Hillary because they DO KNOW Hillary? If Hillary were in the White House she would make Boss Tweed look like
Abraham Lincoln. Why don't you go ask your candidate why she has requested 3 times more earmarks than any other senator in history? She is a liar and a crook. She will sell out the American people to the highest bidder. Good thing we won't get a chance to see.....because Dems have already spoken , Obama will be the nominee!! HaHa!!!

Posted by: Char | May 1, 2008 7:54:19 PM

@Char | May 1, 2008 7:54:19 PM:

Since you can't say anything nice about Clinton, how about you give us all some specifics as to why Obama is the superior candidate. Or even why you support him?

Posted by: LOM | May 1, 2008 8:03:24 PM

Mr. Kennedy's father would be proud of his son for saying what he believes in this matter, and he would be proud of brother John's daughter for her better judgement.

Posted by: TOM | May 1, 2008 8:32:43 PM

Thank you Robert Kennedy, Jr. Eventually, your family will come around when Hillary Clinton takes office as the next President of the United States. She is clearly the best candidate, always has been.

Robert Kennedy is a good judge of character [unlike a few other people I could easily mention].

Posted by: Peggy Sue | May 1, 2008 8:32:59 PM

Wonderfully thoughtful. Unfortunately, Ted and Caroline are "bad wagoners." Each day they're being proven wrong. Ted likes Obama because he's ultra liberal. The problem with this is there is no lee way for other thought. Being liberal is great, but being too far left doesn't allow any moderate thought and doesn't allow them to be open to considering views across the aisle. Obama can say what he wants, but he spends too much time trying to convince us that no one can be right except him, that if there is opposition to him, it is not only unconscionable, but it's ridiculous to disagree with him or not allow him to have his way. Senator Clinton makes mistakes. She is sometimes disengenous. She, like he, is a politician. But I trust her more, and she's getting my support.

Posted by: Julia | May 1, 2008 8:38:59 PM

Robert Kennedy Jr has betrayed his own family and his own values, he is making very bad mistakes by supporting the old politics, Hill the Bosnian General, the Kennedies are all about innovation, change, imporvement, equal justice and equal rights. God bless America and God Bless Obama and the rest of the Kennedies. OBAMA08.

Posted by: BKMC | May 1, 2008 8:41:37 PM

I appreciate your enthusiasm and passion for your canidates. But to say that someone does not have a good judge of character because they don't share your opinion just shows what kind of character some of you have. Everyone has their own opinion, it doesn't make them right or wrong. That's what's great about this country we can each have own opinion without disrespecting one another.

Posted by: ll | May 1, 2008 8:49:49 PM

I guess now that Hillary and the GOP are working together to stop the change candidate, all is forgiven? Hillary would probably make a deal with the Devil if it meant she would win (or at least he wouldn't win). You've got to wonder what evokes such animosity from the Obama haters that they would even turn against their own family if they didn't comply with the Clinton directives.

Posted by: Mark | May 1, 2008 8:53:15 PM

This is the intelligent man and gave the truth comments about Hillary.

Thank you very much Robert Kennedy Jr.
We appreciate it .

Go Hillary...

Posted by: blue Irish | May 1, 2008 9:02:40 PM

Post a comment