In 1960, John F. Kennedy became the first Democratic candidate to effectively use TV ads in a presidential race, which helped him win against Richard Nixon. His media team created a catchy campaign song and edited it to create shorter TV spots. The ads emphasized Kennedy’s youth and creed and urged people to vote Democratic. They featured photos of former presidents and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Fast forward to 2024, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate known for his anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, used an edited version of the campaign song and imagery from the 1960 ad in a 30-second ad during the Super Bowl. The ad seemed to take a swipe at President Joe Biden’s age and urged people to vote independent.
RFK Jr.’s decision to run as an independent candidate instead of seeking the Democratic nomination was met with opposition from four of his siblings, who signed a statement denouncing his plans. They believed his candidacy to be dangerous for the country and not in line with their family’s values. After the Super Bowl ad ran, another Kennedy family member, Bobby Shriver, publicly apologized to RFK Jr. for any pain caused by the ad. RFK Jr. responded with an apology of his own, claiming that his campaign had no involvement in the creation or airing of the ad.
Despite his apology, the ad remained pinned at the top of RFK Jr.’s social media profile, raising questions about the sincerity of his apology. The Democratic National Committee filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, alleging that RFK Jr.’s campaign was receiving an improper benefit from the super PAC’s efforts to qualify him for state ballots. The super PAC, American Values 2024, claims to support Kennedy in order to restore the soul of democracy and take back the political system from corporate interests. However, it has received donations from Trump backers, leading some to question its true intentions.
The DNC’s Rapid Response Director criticized RFK Jr.’s candidacy, stating that he is nothing more than a Trump stalking horse in the race. The ad’s connection to a large Trump donor further supports this claim. RFK Jr.’s candidacy as an independent and his use of the iconic JFK campaign song and imagery seem to be a ploy to draw attention away from Joe Biden and potentially draw Democratic voters away from him. Overall, RFK Jr.’s campaign and the Super Bowl ad have sparked controversy and raised concerns about the integrity and intentions of his candidacy.
