Bobby Kennedy Stands By His Woman

[RFKJrNews]

KENNEDY STANDS STRONG FOR HILLARY

While Hillary Clinton was finding her voice in New Hampshire, Caroline Kennedy found her man in Barack Obama.

Senator Edward Kennedy is now lending his voice to the Obama campaign, along with his son, U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy. The three Kennedys appeared before a huge rally of Obama’s supporters at American University today, and on the same hallowed ground where JFK gave his landmark 1963 address, all heartily endorsed Obama.

In the flurry of media coverage that followed throughout the day, the story was too-often reported as a blanket stamp of approval from the entire Kennedy family. This, of course, is not true. But why let facts get in the way of such a delicious big story at such an “historic” moment as this?

For the record, anyway - if anybody wants `em, here are the plain ol’ unadorned facts:

While Senator Obama now has the support of the last living member of John F. Kennedy’s immediate family and his only surviving brother, many in the media today seemed to forget (or perhaps willfully ignored) that Senator Hillary Clinton already gained the endorsements of several important Kennedys months ago; the sons and daughters of Robert Kennedy.

Back in early October, this blog reported that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was supporting Hillary Clinton for president. Over the next two months, other media outlets gradually picked up the story, culminating in a formal endorsement on Nov. 29th. Soon thereafter, Bobby hit the campaign trail for Clinton in Iowa, and was joined in New Hampshire by his sisters Kathleen and Kerry. The mainstream media hardly noticed at the time.

Today was a different story entirely, as we all witnessed. All three cable news networks carried the American University rally live (NBC even aired it in it’s entirety), and the pundits went plumb Camelot crazy the rest of the afternoon; discussing historical and political ramifications of the Caroline, Patrick and Ted endorsements at length with an endless stream of historians, journalists, strategists, and Obama supporters.

Little was heard from the Clinton camp today in response. Whether by design or because the media was too high on some fine vintage Kennedy golddust, Hillary’s supporters were noticeably absent from most of the various cable news roundtable discussions.

Finally, late in the day, Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend stepped up to the plate for Hillary. In an exclusive interview with MSNBC, Kathleen was all smiles and seemed totally unshaken by the earthquake of the other Kennedys endorsing Barack Obama.

When asked about the “split” in the Kennedy family over this presidential race, Kathleen laughed it off and said, “don’t all families fight about politics over the dinner table? Of course, the Kennedys don’t agree on everything. We never have. But we respect each other’s opinions and choices, even when we have our differences.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. echoed his sister’s words later when CNN caught up to him late this afternoon. “I love and respect my uncle, Senator Kennedy, but I still believe that Hillary Clinton has the leadership and experience to lead this country right now, as I always have.”

Anyone who may have been hoping that RFK Jr. would defect to join the Obama camp is likely to be disappointed. As it stands today, he’s standing with both feet firmly planted in Hillary’s corner — and is making no apologies.

FULL STORY< PHOTOS< MORE COVERAGE HERE:
http://rfkin2008.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/bobbys-standing-by-his-woman/

[libbygurl]

1. Glad to hear about RFK Jr's solid endorsement of HRC. And those of sisters Kathleen & Kerry, too.

So why aren't the media paying as much attention to these Kennedys as to Caroline and Ted?

[RFKJrNews]

5. That IS the question, indeed

I know this was a very historic event today, it was a beautiful moment. I'll admit I shed a few tears...and felt more than a few goosebumps.

But the question of media bias must be raised in all fairness. I was honestly taken aback comparing the lack of coverage given when Bobby Kennedy's kids endorsed Hillary a few months ago to when John F. Kennedy's daughter & brother endorsed Obama today.

It's a fair question to ask...and yet this thread sunk on DU moments after it was posted. So it appears that Hillary's supporters care less about it than the MSM. The lack of interest/response, even from her own supporters, is puzzling indeed.

If Robert, Kerry and Kathleen are serious about helping their candidate win, they'd better get busy. They need to hit every talk show, hit every Super Tuesday state, and get the message out there. Time to strike while the iron is hot.

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. Over the last few years RFK Jr. has head and shoulders been my favorite Kennedy

I'm talking about before any of them endorsed anyone for President. And in saying this I am not being disrespectful toward any of the other Kennedys who I also respect. I just have been really really impressed with RFK Jr.'s work on the environment and on election integrity.

[cd3dem]

3. Kathleen said Hillary was her choice all the way

I was happy to see that not every Kennedy drank the kool-aid...

[fujiyama]

15. What kool-aid? So some members of the family backed Hillary...others backed Obama...

They're a prominent political family made mostly of democrats. Democrats don't agree on everything all the time...That's why we have primaries and debates and disagreements....

I'm sure Bobby, John, and Ted argued about politics all the time. I argue with my family members and we're all dems. Hell, I'm sure some members of the family even backed Edwards...maybe they're not as prominent.

[cd3dem]

20. yes, families disagree...

but Ted is following the kool-aid of the media... does he support Obama because Obama has better ideas? Hillary and Barack are about the same... the media makes Obama look untouchable and Hillary is negative...

[RFKJrNews]

21. Right on the money

since you obviously see the bias, perhaps you'll enjoy this:

"HAS THE MEDIA ALREADY CROWNED OBAMA KING?"
http://rfkin2008.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/has-the-media-already-elected-obama-president/

[cd3dem]

24. people even think Obama and JFK have/had the same experience

JFK was a U.S. congressman and U.S. senator from Jan. '47 to Dec. '60 (13 years), he would have never been elected with two years in the senate... his being a Catholic was a major hurdle to climb...

but Obama after two years in the senate and one year campaigning is ready on "DAY ONE"

riiiiiight!

thanks for the read!

[KennedyGuy]

4. My kinda Kennedys...

[Beacool]

6. I'll take Bobby Jr.'s endorsement over Teddy's

any day of the week. Thank you Bobby!!!!!!!!

[jasmine621]

7. Me too. nt

[fujiyama]

16. LOL

You know how silly that sounds?

My Kennedy is better than your Kennedy! :eyes:

Seriously, I don't see why it's a big deal that different members of their family backed different candidates. They're a large family and they each have different perspectives. I'm sure RFK Jr. has worked with Hillary, being that they're from NY, and is confident she would be a good president. Likewise, his cousin and uncle disagreed.

[CarolNYC]

8. Thanks for posting that...

It is curious, the difference in media coverage, isn't it?

Of course, here on DU, when RFK Jr. endorsed Hillary, everyone was ascribing all kinds of ulterior motives to his decision. Surely, no one would endorse Hillary because they actually think she would make the best President. Only Obama's endorsements are real....

Good for Bobby...I do love him, no matter who he endorses.

[mrmx9]

9. Well Ted Kennedy is a Senator - his endorsement is more important!

[RFKJrNews]

12. without question

Ted Kennedy is the great liberal lion of the Senate, and his endorsement carries a lot of weight (no pun intended). Naturally, everyone has been on the edge of their seats waiting for his word, and when it did arrive, it was exactly the opposite of what was expected. that's news. no doubt.

When Caroline Kennedy breaks a nearly 30 year silence to endorse a candidate (one who is not a family member, no less!), that's news, too.

But when Bobby Kennedy's kids - several of them in fact - endorse a presidential candidate, that's news as well. Especially when the candidate just happens to be the occupant of their father's former senate seat. (And maybe RFK Jr.'s future senate seat?)

I'm not stumping for Hillary or Obama. Haven't chosen a candidate yet. don't have a dawg in this tussle. But as someone who has spent more than 20 years of my life in newsrooms as a News Director, this lopsided coverage of the "duelin' Kennedys" thing really bothered me.

Just google up some MSM video of Hillary's campaigns in iowa and New hampshire, when she had Bobby's kids on the trail with her. There were no interviews, no photo-ops, no big televised rallies with kennedy speeches like what we saw today. Matter of fact, all CNN did in NH was 2 seconds of footage of Hillary giving someone named "Bobby" a hug.

Tha'ts right. No last name given. (lotta folks sittin' there at home asking, "Bobby who?") His name was not slated at the bottom of the screen. He was not identified at all. Can you frickin' believe that?

Same with Kerry and Kathleen in NH. no media coverage whatsoever, except some of the local stations/papers.

To quote Obama: "there are things that aren't right, and then there are some things that just ain't right." And that just ain't right.

[fujiyama]

19. There is no doubt that RFK was a great man

and would have been an amazing president - but unfortunately he never had a chance to serve.

And while the disparity in coverage in endorsements may be frustrating, I don't think anyone can find it too surprising considering Ted and Caroline are both directly related to JFK...I think that's why those two two endorsements are getting more coverage.

[libbygurl]

10. Ain't that the truth...

...'Only Obama's endorsements are real....'

This anti-Hillary bias exists not just in the regular media, but on DU as well. Really disappointing.

I've really become suspicious of so many fanatical pro-Obama people here on DU, wondering if some of them might not be from the right-wing cabal in disguise (an easy thing to do with the anonymity of the Internet).

[fujiyama]

18. The reason Obama's two endorsements get more coverage is really quite simple

First of all, both Teddy and Caroline are much higher profile personalities - being the last surviving brother (and long time senator) and daughter of a legendary president.

Bobby has done some great work, but does not have the same influence as the other two. Maybe in time he will, but not yet anyways.

[ruggerson]

11. recommended

[RFKJrNews]

13. shameless self-kick

for those who missed the thread last night. It was posted pretty late.

[calico1]

14. Nice. The only thing I noticed is that

the author stated that Ted was the last living member of JFK's immediate family. Aren't Jean Kennedy Smith and Eunice Shriver still living?

I wish the media would give fair coverage to these Kennedy endorsements. RFK was a great man too.

[RFKJrNews]

23. Yes, Jean and Eunice are still alive

Eunice was for Dodd. I don't know who, if anyone, Jean is supporting.

The piece is written correctly:

"While Senator Obama now has the support of the last living member of John F. Kennedy’s immediate family (note: that would be Caroline) and his only surviving brother (and that would be Ted)..."

[calico1]

25. You are right.

I was thinking "immediate family"--mom, dad, siblings of JFK. But the immedidate family becomes your own when you get married and have kids.

:hi:

[BlackVelvet04]

17. Good for Robert.

Of course the media have ignored this.

[Maribelle]

22. Sweet.

Thanks