# Robert Kennedy, Jr. - Dolt or Moron? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 14, 2015, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638 "2015-04-14T13:16:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/41 "2015-04-15T12:33:19Z")
> [@Haberdash](#): > > The Daily Show, Salon, and HuffPo define the mainstream of Democratic thought. If you say this, I get to say that RedState and Newsmax define the mainstream of Republican thought. Both statements are ridiculous. Anti-vaxx sentiment runs across the spectrum of American politics, and while it’s certainly possible that it leans a little more to one side than the other, it is thankfully a very small minority opinion **anywhere** - though unfortunately a large enough number that it can cause problems. To suggest that RFK Jr’s opinion enjoys mainstream support because he once appeared on TDS and had an article published in Salon is the height of ridiculousness, as well as it suggesting that Democrats only support vaccination because Rand Paul said he didn’t. A kook got through the system - yes, on the strength of his last name. Democrats have, as effectively as they have been able to, pushed his view to the margins. Are Republicans been able to say the same? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/42 "2015-04-15T13:07:54Z")
At this point, we should recognize that while Republicans/the right wing hold a considerable lead in supporting pseudoscience, antivax sentiments are fairly evenly divided between left and right\* (I could bring up Michele Bachmann and Dan Burton as examples of (R) standing for Retarded, but prefer not to induce nausea so soon after breakfast). RFK Jr. is indeed The Compleat Jackass on the subject of vaccines, and you don’t need to quote Fox News. > **[The Conspiracy-Ridden Worldview of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.](https://slate.com/technology/2013/06/robert-f-kennedy-jr-vaccine-conspiracy-theory-scientists-and-journalists-are-covering-up-autism-risk.html)** > > There are two sides to almost every story, and sometimes we publish both of them. That’s true even for science. When the new edition of psychiatry’s... [http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2015/04/09/the-annals-of-im-not-antivaccine-part-15-robert-f-kennedy-jr-and-the-vaccine-associated-holocaust/](http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2015/04/09/the-annals-of-im-not-antivaccine-part-15-robert-f-kennedy-jr-and-the-vaccine-associated-holocaust/) > [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > And to continue my never-ending rant about the state of journalism today, why the FUCK is this in the linked story? > Why bring this boob into it? And since you did, why so little information? He wrote it? Submitted it? Been getting some nasty looks, phone calls, actual threats? Dr. Pan is the author of the California bill that would end the personal belief exemption for getting one’s kids immunized (the bill that RFK Jr. is stomping around protesting). He reports getting death threats (i.e. via e-mail). And I can believe that crazies in the antivax camp would do this. Dr. Paul Offit, an outspoken vaccine advocate, has been unable to do promotional book tours because of such threats. And in Australia, an antivaxer recently posted a bomb threat on social media after a venue there backed out of an agreement to host a prominent U.S. antivaxer. \*obligatory Fair And Balanced note that Sen. Hillary Clinton helped pressure the CDC to spend time and money studying “Morgellons disease” (a psychosomatic disorder in which people fantasize alien fibers coming out through their skin), and Obama during an early Presidential campaign appearance [played footsie](http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/obama-vaccines-views-suspicious-114837.html) with the idea of a vaccine-autism connection. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/43 "2015-04-15T13:36:35Z")
> [@Haberdash](#): > > The Daily Show, Salon, and HuffPo define the mainstream of Democratic thought. > > TDS gave RFKJ a platform. Salon used to publish pieces like this: [http://www.salon.com/2000/08/02/autism\_5/](http://www.salon.com/2000/08/02/autism_5/) as well as an article by RFKJ. Anti-vaxx bullshit has been a mainstay on HuffPo for its whole existence. > > I’m very glad that Rand Paul said something dumb about vaccines a few months ago. It caused Democrats who previously tolerated or endorsed the anti-vaccine conspiracy theory to suddenly find the motivation to do a total flip-flop. This will result in fewer children dying, and had a markedly swift effect on people like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, who joined longtime stalwarts of solid vaccination science such as Scott Walker in finally taking an unambiguous stand in favor of immunizations. > > But, let’s not rewrite history about how we got here – antivax was a left-wing thing for a while and the main organs of “progressive” thought were what publicized it to the type of people who don’t listen to the Alex Jones show. And that Salon article was written back in 2000. As even you acknowledge, “antivax was a left-wing thing for a while”. That while was a decade ago back before the science on the issue had been debunked. Democrats didn’t suddenly flip a few months ago - “let’s not rewrite history”. They had figured it out years ago. Check out this board, for example, and see how many anti-vaccination posts you find in the last five years. All sensible people abandoned the anti-vaccination movement long ago. But Chris Christie and Rand Paul are supporting the idea in 2015. As far as I know, there are no Democratic candidates supporting anti-vaccination in 2015. Anti-vaccination now belongs to the people who don’t believe in science and those people apparently vote for Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/44 "2015-04-15T14:58:16Z")
The dolts and morons are the people giving him airtime and print space. Because they overtly only care because he is a Kennedy. But no one is calling them out. He was on the Daily Show ! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/45 "2015-04-15T15:42:22Z")
This doesn’t have to be a partisan issue. The guy is a little off. The anti-vax thing is just one example of that. Falling into that 10 years ago is one thing, holding that belief now shows that he is definitely a couple of tacos short of a combination platter. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/46 "2015-04-15T16:23:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > And that Salon article was written back in 2000. > > As even you acknowledge, “antivax was a left-wing thing for a while”. That while was a decade ago back before the science on the issue had been debunked. Democrats didn’t suddenly flip a few months ago - “let’s not rewrite history”. They had figured it out years ago. Check out this board, for example, and see how many anti-vaccination posts you find in the last five years. All sensible people abandoned the anti-vaccination movement long ago. > > But Chris Christie and Rand Paul are supporting the idea in 2015. As far as I know, there are no Democratic candidates supporting anti-vaccination in 2015. Anti-vaccination now belongs to the people who don’t believe in science and those people apparently vote for Republicans. Ten years ago, anti-vac was a Democratic idea, and Obamacare was a Republican idea. I’m very happy with this trade. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/47 "2015-04-15T17:21:10Z")
I’m not - Obama will fuck up vaccinations now. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/48 "2015-04-15T17:53:35Z")
If you like your polio, you can keep it! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/49 "2015-04-15T17:55:45Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > If you like your polio, you can keep it! Anyone who likes polio is not an upstanding citizen. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/50 "2015-04-15T18:30:18Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Anyone who likes polio is not an upstanding citizen. _\_ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/51 "2015-04-15T18:33:13Z")
> [@Haberdash](#): > > I knew the Kennedy family was devoted to destroying America . . . No, you didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/52 "2015-04-15T18:40:40Z")
The poor kid has affluenza. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/53 "2015-04-15T18:49:15Z")
Okay, admit it. The secret Democratic plan is to bring back polio so we can have another FDR. Measles and whooping cough are being brought to create his cabinet officials. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/54 "2015-04-15T18:58:32Z")
> [@Haberdash](#): > > Here’s The Daily Show fawning all over his anti-vax conspiracy theory in 2005: > > [Comedy Central The Daily Show Fan Page](http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/uwf623/robert-f--kennedy--jr-) > > RFK Jr’s interest in causing children to die has been long known. You wishing it wasn’t true because you can’t admit someone with his last name or party ID card is such an idiot reflects only on you. I don’t know much about RFK Jr’s position on vaccinations but I do know about Fox news. I also know that your super power to wrongly read someone’s mind is functioning quite well. Fox News is a hate group filled with bigots, your defense of them by attacking others who refuse to slurp up the same drivel you partake in does not help your case. Would you kindly cite another credible news organization that has an objective write-up of your claims? ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/55 "2015-04-15T19:10:33Z")
So why would anybody take anything written by a guy like Kennedy seriously? He is not a scientist, knows nothing about statistics, and has a reputation for dishonesty. Rolling Stone is not a serious magazine-it focuses on human interest stories, not scientific discussions. As for the freedom NOT to have your kids vaccinated, that has to be measured against the harm that re-introducing long gone diseases into the population can do. Tuberculosis is now being seen in the USA-mostly because of immigration from 3rd World countries. Is it a good idea not to treat those exhibiting TB symptoms? The idea that non-scientists like Kennedy can have anything worthwhile to say (about vaccinations) is absurd. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/56 "2015-04-15T19:16:47Z")
Ralph! Where the hell ya been, man? We missed you! ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/57 "2015-04-15T19:17:06Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > No, you didn’t. Yes, he did. > [@YogSosoth](#): > > I don’t know much about RFK Jr’s position on vaccinations but I do know about Fox news. I don’t know much about Fox News but I do know you’re an idiot. > [@ralph124c](#): > > So why would anybody take anything written by a guy like Kennedy seriously? Because he’s a Kennedy. Democrats are still dying to suck a Kennedy dick and since the media are the Democrats bitch they report stupid shit like this. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/58 "2015-04-15T19:52:34Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > The idea that non-scientists like Kennedy can have anything worthwhile to say (about vaccinations) is absurd. Well, he is a sort of politico. True, he has not (yet) held elective office, but he’s considered it and his endorsement is sought after. Sure, I care more about what scientists say, but since a politician can make laws concerning vaccinations, their views are non-absurd. ---
**Author:** ![Haberdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Haberdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haberdash)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/59 "2015-04-15T19:59:51Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I don’t know much about RFK Jr’s position on vaccinations but I do know about Fox news. I also know that your super power to wrongly read someone’s mind is functioning quite well. Fox News is a hate group filled with bigots, your defense of them by attacking others who refuse to slurp up the same drivel you partake in does not help your case. > > Would you kindly cite another credible news organization that has an objective write-up of your claims? Lots of True Believer Dems in this thread who apparently think that something _becomes untrue_ if Fox News reports on it even if it’s well-attested in neutral sources. How painful is it for you people to admit that a Kennedy is a moron? Does it actually cause you physical discomfort? ---
**Author:** ![Haberdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Haberdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haberdash)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638/60 "2015-04-15T20:01:05Z")
Like, I gave you a VIDEO of the man himself very laboriously explaining all of his own stupid beliefs to Jon Stewart of all people, and you apparently belief this was fabricated by Fox News to embarrass the holy family of the blue states! How fucking insane is that! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-kennedy-jr-dolt-or-moron/717638.md?page=4)