‘Delusion has destroyed a country’: ‘The View’s Joy Behar claims Robert F Kennedy Jr's candidacy could jeopardize Biden’s reelection bid
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Joy Behar, co-host of 'The View,' didn't hold back her criticism of Robert F Kennedy Jr during the Thursday, March 28, episode. She expressed deep concerns that his third-party candidacy could jeopardize President Biden's chances of re-election.
"Someone has to ask him why are you doing this? Why do you want to destroy the election and hand it to Trump if possible?" Behar remarked, questioning Kennedy's motives directly.
Behar's rebuke and concerns
Behar emphasized the weight of Kennedy's family legacy, suggesting that his actions were dishonoring the principles upheld by his ancestors.
"He’s a Kennedy. His forefathers are rolling over in their graves. His own family is telling him — we already have one clown in the race. Do we need two of them?" she added.
The discussion on 'The View' reflected broader anxieties among Democratic strategists and members of the Kennedy family, who fear that Kennedy's candidacy could split the vote and ultimately benefit Trump. This fear is not unfounded, as past elections have shown the impact of third-party candidates on the final outcome.
While co-host Sara Haines acknowledged the desire for alternative voices in politics, she cautioned against the timing of Kennedy's candidacy, suggesting that it could be more appropriate in future elections.
"I just don't think it's this election," Haines added, implying that while there may be room for third-party candidates in the future, now might not be the time.
Behar's warning
Behar remained steadfast in her conviction that Kennedy's candidacy posed a grave threat to the nation, particularly in light of the close race between Biden and Trump.
She warned of the dangers of complacency and urged viewers to recognize the potential consequences of allowing Trump to secure another term in office.
"Well, I think many times delusion has destroyed a country and that’s what we’re dealing with here with this. The polls are too close," Behar feared, highlighting the potential impact of Kennedy's candidacy on the election outcome.
"People are starting to focus and realize the danger that Trump poses. I believe that," Behar continued.
Begala's alarm and dissent within Kennedy family
Democratic strategist Paul Begala echoed these concerns, likening third-party candidates to "cockroaches in the kitchen", highlighting their potential to disrupt the electoral process and sway the outcome in favor of Trump.
"Third parties elected Donald Trump in 2016, about six to seven percent of Americans voted third-party. That third-party vote dropped to less than two, which is how Biden won. So, anything over two, Democrats are in trouble. Kennedy alone is getting 15 in some of these places."
"So yeah, my view is third parties, they’re like cockroaches in the kitchen, OK?" Begala remarked, illustrating the potential impact of third-party candidates on the election.
Even within the Kennedy family, there were vocal dissenters to RFK Jr's candidacy, with his sister Rory expressing worries about the impact on Biden's chances. She emphasized the importance of the election and the need to prevent any actions that could tip the scales in Trump's favor.
"It's really about siphoning votes from Biden," Rory said. "The polls I'm seeing, Bobby takes 70% of the votes from Biden and 30% from Trump. I feel strongly that this is the most important election of our lifetime. There's so much at stake and I do think it's going to come down to a handful of votes in a handful of states."
"I do worry that Bobby just taking some percentage of votes from Biden could shift the election and lead to Trump's election," she said, expressing her concerns about the potential consequences of Kennedy's candidacy.
