Camelot in the Doghouse

In the United States, family is the basis of our society. Not to say that this is exclusive to the United States, but here we hold the family in high regard as compared to entities outside the family. The common aphorism of “blood is thicker than water” lets relatives know that the collective of the family is to be protected from an outsider who presumably has no vested interest in the family’s survival over that of his own.  

The natural corollary of the individual’s duty to the family is the family’s duty to the individual. It is expected that the family reasonably support an individual member in his endeavors, especially if success brings prestige to the family. If the family breaches its duty to support the individual, then that releases the individual from any duty to the family, and that has repercussions which sometimes ripple far beyond the family unit to affect the country as a whole.

Thus it was disheartening to see the Kennedy family disparage Robert Kennedy Jr’s presidential candidacy throughout his campaign. The family trotted out President John Kennedy’s daughter (current ambassador to Australia) and grandson, RFK Sr’s grandson Joe III (ambassador to Northern Ireland), Ted Kennedy’s widow (ambassador to Austria) and son, all of whom dumped on Robert Kennedy Jr. in favor of Joe Biden, a figurehead so feeble and ephemeral that he was swapped out of the presidency as easily as one replaces a lamp’s fused light bulb. If these are family values to the Kennedys, then this is a dynasty which should meld into oblivion.  

As the Kennedy family betrayed its duty to rally to RFK Jr’s candidacy – or at least to publish no dissent against him – all bets are off. Today RFK Jr. discontinues his campaign and has just endorsed the Democrats’ arch nemesis, Donald Trump for U.S. President. By many major polls, RFK Jr’s endorsement at minimum confers on Trump a five percent advantage, quite enough to seal Trump’s victory, especially in swing states.

Of course, some of RFK Jr’s policy objectives could have been better served by endorsing the Libertarian Party’s nominee Chase Oliver, and that would have been a principled stance to take. That said, given the millions of dollars invested into RFK Jr’s campaign, it is understandable that he endorse Trump as the surer route to a cabinet position. What is certain is that if Trump wins, those cushy Kennedy ambassadorships won’t be renewed. Camelot’s in the doghouse now!