By Grace Vuoto
President Joe Biden is thwarting the democratic process by standing in the way of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s rightful place on the upcoming presidential debate stage.
Biden and the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, have agreed to participate in two debates: One on June 27 hosted by CNN and another on September 10 to be held by ABC. Yet, independent candidate Kennedy, who left the Democratic Party in disgust during the primaries, is now being denied a spot in the limelight.
It is no wonder that Biden, in particular, does not wish to hear from him. Kennedy has stated, without equivocation, that the real threat to democracy in 2024 is not Trump but Biden. The formerly beloved party of his father, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy Sr., and his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, is now a shadow of its former self; the party is careening into extreme leftwing ideology, censorship and oppression of those with alternate views. Biden does not want Kennedy pointing the finger at him, stating: “You are part of the problem, now.”
Kennedy insists he is on track to meeting the CNN requirements. By June 20, his name will appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to possibly reach 270 electoral votes during the election. His campaign also asserts they have met the 15 percent criteria in four national polls.
“I look forward to holding Presidents Biden and Trump accountable for their records in Atlanta on June 27 to give Americans the debate they deserve,” wrote Kennedy on X, touting his campaign’s vigorous pursuit of matching the stated criteria.
And the majority of Americans agree that Kennedy should be there: 71 percent of registered voters surveyed in a recent Harvard CAPS/Harris poll say that independents who meet the criteria should participate in the debates.
Kennedy, a brilliant lawyer, author and activist, has a unique perspective to share—one that indicts the policies of both political parties in recent years.
He stood firmly against lockdowns during the pandemic and was ahead of his time in issuing warnings about the harmful side effects of the vaccine. He blames both Trump and Biden for surrendering cherished American freedoms in a moment of national hysteria.
He rejects the monstrous deficits both parties have accumulated and stands in opposition to open borders and forever wars. Unlike his fellow former party members, he is not willing to bow to an out-of-control deep state that wields its power in the shadows. Nor does he hide the deplorable facts about the recurring collusion between the Democratic Party and Big Tech to censor speech. And he vows to end the toxicity and polarization of the current political climate.
Kennedy’s original perspective, taking policy positions from both political parties, highlighting the failures of both parties and showcasing the shortcomings of both candidates, resonates with a significant segment of the population that is deeply dissatisfied with the current choices. Both as a result of the sacrifices made in the past by his family and his current hard work to meet the requirements, he has earned the right to stand shoulder to shoulder with Biden and Trump on those presidential debate stages.
The public also needs the full account of why he left the Democratic Party. Democrats rigged the primaries against him, forcing him to exit in order to have a platform. Now, petrified he will be a spoiler, the Democratic National Committee has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing him of illegal coordination with a political action committee that is backing him. Thus, the long arm of “lawfare” will be wielded against him too if necessary.
The great tragedy is that Kennedy’s life experiences have prepared him for this particular moment in time. Yet, ironically, his family’s party, soaked in the blood of two political assassinations, now rejects him precisely because he stands so forthrightly for liberty.
This is a story Americans must hear.
-Grace Vuoto, Ph.D. is a political commentator and columnist. She can be heard Wednesday mornings at 9:00 am on The Kuhner Report WRKO-AM 680. She is also Co-host of “The Conversation with Stephen and Grace,” Saturday mornings, 11:00-1:00 pm, on iHeart’s WXTK 95.1 FM.
I agree with you that Kennedy should be allowed to debate with Trump and Biden. The fact that the Democrats have shut him out only shows how scared they are of him. I disagree with many of his political stances, but he’s earned the right to be on that debate stage.