RFK Jr. sparks furor with possible Aaron Rodgers VP pick

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s consideration of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers as a running mate has sparked a backlash and renewed scrutiny of the player’s controversial past comments. ing.

Rogers is one of the few candidates confirmed by an independent campaign to be on the short list of vice presidential candidates ahead of an announcement expected later this month.

If elected, Mr. Rogers would be a strong candidate as Mr. Kennedy looks to build momentum toward running as an independent. But strategists on both sides say that while a nomination like Rodgers could help Mr. Kennedy garner more attention he hopes for his candidacy, the future Pro Football Hall of Famer’s past comments about Sandy have come under scrutiny. said he could be controversial. Hook shooting and vaccines.

“Having a flashy celebrity as your running mate is one way to get people’s attention,” said Jared Leopold, a Democratic strategist. “In terms of electoral effectiveness, getting someone like Aaron Rodgers is really a wild card.”

Rodgers has spent nearly two decades in the NFL as one of the league’s top quarterbacks. He played most of his career with the Green Bay Packers and was traded to the Jets last year.

But Mr. Rogers has shared his political views on several issues in recent years, particularly the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the development of vaccines to combat it.

The four-time NFL MVP faced widespread backlash in 2021 after misleading the public about his vaccination status. He told a news conference that he was “vaccinated,” but did not disclose that he had not received the coronavirus vaccine and was instead using alternative homeopathic treatments.

Rodgers later claimed he was a victim of the “woke mob” and cancel culture, and accused the NFL’s protocols for dealing with the spread of the virus to take into account players’ vaccination status.

Mr. Rogers also criticized his home state of California’s COVID-19 policies more broadly, spread false information about pandemic and vaccines.

He has recently found himself facing controversy such as: CNN coverage Rogers reportedly shared conspiracy theories about the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Two people familiar with the matter said Mr. Rogers claimed the shooting was an inside government job and that the media was helping cover it up.

“What happened at Sandy Hook was an absolute tragedy,” Rogers said in response to the report Thursday.

“I do not and never have thought that the incident would not have happened. Again, I would like to reiterate that we have learned from this and other tragedies and are taking steps to prevent unnecessary loss of life. I hope we can identify them,” he said in a post on the X Platform, formerly known as Twitter.

Democrats have criticized the possibility of selecting Rodgers as Kennedy’s running mate, saying it makes sense given Kennedy’s own anti-vaccine past.

“Given the choices made by conspiracy theorists, it’s no surprise that this is the final candidate,” Democratic National Committee senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill said in a statement.

Another notable name on the list of candidates is former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, a former wrestler and actor who was elected as a third-party candidate.

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler dismissed Rodgers as a running mate, saying, “The people of Wisconsin know from painful experience that Aaron Rodgers has a tendency to choke when it matters most.” “There is,” he told reporters. The comment was in reference to the many playoff losses the Packers suffered during Rodgers’ time with the team.

But strategists warn that, as with Kennedy himself, Mr. Rogers could have an unclear but noticeable impact on the race.

Leopold said Rogers could appeal to voters leaning toward former President Trump.

“Football fans skew male, and football fans who still like Aaron Rodgers skew even more male, so there’s a real possibility that Aaron Rodgers will steal young people who are sympathetic to Trump,” he said. he said, adding that it was “hard to say” who was who. Mr. Rogers’ selection would be an even bigger blow to the relationship between Mr. Trump and President Biden.

Bill McCoshen, a Wisconsin-based Republican strategist, agreed that Rodgers could appeal to NFL fans who see him as part of Trump’s MAGA movement. He said Kennedy currently appears to be pulling a little more support from Biden than from Trump, but it’s close.

Mr. McCoshen said Mr. Rogers, if elected, could have a bigger impact on the race in the key battleground state of Wisconsin than in other states. Rodgers played 18 seasons with the Packers and is considered one of the greatest players in franchise history.

The 2016 and 2020 presidential elections were both decided by less than 1 percentage point.

McCoshen said the biggest impact could come from Green Bay’s media market, which is a swing area and one of the top markets in the country for presidential elections.

“If you repeat most national campaigns over and over again, you’ll see that this market is one of the top five in the country,” he said. “Incredible amounts of money are invested in the Green Bay market every cycle.”

But McCoshen added that Rodgers may be plagued by controversial comments in the past.

“If he were to go down this path, he would quickly realize that the bright lights of politics are actually hotter than the bright lights of the NFL, and that may not be to his liking,” he said. .

President Kennedy praised Rogers in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, calling him a “veteran” and “critical thinker.”

Joe Zepecki, a Democratic strategist based in Wisconsin, believes that even a small amount of support, received by a hypothetical Kennedy-Rogers ticket, could make a difference in what would be a very close 2024 race. He emphasized that it has the potential to bring about

“While we laugh at this absurdity, we should also be clear about the risks,” he said.

He said he expects Democrats to go on the offensive to define who Kennedy is and, if he is elected, who Rogers is.

“Aaron Rodgers will be stripped and exposed in a way that even those who watched him dissect will not understand.” [Chicago] Bears defense,” Zepeki said.

In January, Rodgers faced a threat of legal action from late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after Kimmel baselessly claimed that a list of Jeffrey Epstein’s associates “really hopes never to be made public.” exposed.

Mr. Rogers did not apologize after it was shown that Kimmel’s name was not on the published list.

President Kennedy’s plan to announce vice presidential nominee will be announced as NBC reported The Democratic National Committee is building a team to deal with third-party and independent candidates in 2024, focusing on communications, opposition research and legal issues.

Biden’s supporters argue that a third-party challenge would likely only undermine the president and hand the election to Trump.

Meanwhile, Republican strategist Matthew Bartlett said Kennedy’s family legacy is a driving force behind him and could appeal to less knowledgeable Democrats who are disillusioned with Biden. . But he said Mr. Rogers could make Mr. Kennedy even more appealing to right-wing voters who are angry about pandemic-related restrictions under the Trump administration.

“Not many Democrats dreamed of Aaron Rodgers joining their party. But some people in far-flung corners of society probably didn’t want to hear the outlandish things he’s said over the years. “Some people may be leaning towards it,” Bartlett said.

He cited other celebrities who have entered politics, such as businessman and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who had admirable traits but struggled electorally when dealing with partisan politics.

Mr. Bartlett said Mr. Rogers is counted as an established voice with a reputation, but remains outside of mainstream appeal.

“Everyone’s first thought is, ‘Hooray Mary!'” he says.