Opinion editor's note: This article is part of the New Voices collection and was written by a first-time Star Tribune Opinion contributor. For more information about our efforts to continually expand the range of views we publish, please see below. startribune.com/opinion/newvoices.
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A former professional wrestler and current NFL quarterback is not a new idea for me as a running mate. Apparently, Robert Kennedy Jr. disagrees with this opinion.
According to the New York Times, Kennedy is scheduled to announce his running mate on March 26th, including former Minnesota governor and professional wrestler Jesse “The Body” Ventura and the New York Jets' starting quarterback. Aaron Rodgers said he is one of the top candidates.
Since that announcement, Mediaite has reported that Nicole Shanahan, a California-based lawyer and Kennedy campaign ally, is the likely running mate.
While this seems to put a stop to speculation about what a campaign would look like with Rodgers and Ventura on its side, it still speaks volumes about the nature of Kennedy's campaign.
Given their knack for intrigue (something Kennedy himself has expressed a liking for), the overlap in interests is readily apparent. It goes without saying that Mr. Ventura ran a successful independent campaign for governor of Minnesota in 1999.
It's unlikely that either Rodgers or Ventura will make the final selection, especially with the spotlight now on Shanahan (but be prepared to face a cacophony of boos if Kennedy proves me wrong). ). Placing these two men at the top of President Kennedy's list appears to be nothing more than redundant publicity to strengthen his anti-establishment agenda.
The fact that Kennedy appears to have actually chosen Shanahan is further proof of this. Kennedy wants the support of paranoid podcast listeners without fully committing to them.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for anti-establishment independent candidates, and there are things I like about Kennedy, especially his attempts at corporate oligarchy with the acquisitions of BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard. It is an attitude of active criticism. By 2030, they will account for more than half of the S&P 500 and 60% of housing.
How the two-party system is failing the American people, and tolerating a growing corporate oligarchy will only further shrink the middle class and disenfranchise the entire nation from the “Great American Experiment.” I can write so much about this that it makes me feel nauseous. “But in this case, Kennedy does us no favors.
If you want an independent candidate who challenges the status quo, promotes change in the two major parties, and provides rational voting options, then denounce ashwagandha, spout conspiracy theories, and play for the Jets (of all teams). The vice presidential candidate is not suitable. enough.
At least Mr. Ventura has experience as a governing official. He falls into a similar category in terms of the sheer volume of conspiracies that have spewed out over the years, but I think he's much more interesting than Rogers making damning claims about Sandy Hook and then doubling down. . Needless to say, I despise Jimmy Kimmel as much as the next guy, but making false claims about someone's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein may be a bridge too far.
What's more, Kennedy's claims about vaccines causing autism and chemicals in water causing gender dysphoria, to name a few, undermine his campaign as a reliable independent worthy of your vote. It raises questions about its legitimacy.
It's really disappointing to see this for one of the most popular independent candidates in the upcoming election. No Labels have been embarrassed time and time again in their push for a moderate two-party bill. It goes without saying that a moderate third party who challenges the status quo will be disappointed.
Perhaps in the current American political climate, the seats left for independent presidential challengers are setting the stage for conspiracy peddlers. But with a name like Kennedy, I expect more.
Donald Trump's meteoric rise to political prominence has seen many people attempt to follow in his footsteps, but most have failed. Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy come to mind, with the former being more critical than the latter. Nevertheless, the antics of both men never stood a chance against Trump, and attempts to appeal to Trump's base only led to humiliation for both in one way or another.
This is where Kennedy quickly finds himself. He's not necessarily trying to steal Trump's thunder like others, but he's profiting from the political wave left in Trump's wake.
While Kennedy seems to be getting a relatively equal amount of votes from both parties, I'm sitting here trying to make a holier-than-thou appeal to the lesser of two evils and criticizing certain candidates. I'm not saying you have to vote for.
What I'm saying is, if you're looking for an alternative to the options presented to you, to escape the status quo and the culture war of retaliation, is this the answer?
At best, this was a PR stunt to bring in the press and interest conspiracy theorists. Worst of all, Kennedy actually wanted a football quarterback with limited common sense and a mushroom habit to be his second-in-command in the “free world.” Is this really our savior?
Now, this is a more fundamental appeal. Would you want to support a guy who wanted to make a former Packer his vice president? I didn't think so.
Spencer White is an opinion editor for the Minnesota Daily, a student-run newspaper serving the University of Minnesota campus and surrounding communities.
