Mounce:   Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!

Hear that? “Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!” The acclaim of a mob of adoring, young college women? No. The attempt to convey affection, to evoke memories of the real Bobby Kennedy, former Attorney General and former U. S. Senator, assassinated in 1968!

It is a term now used frequently, nauseatingly, by numerous Republican Congresspersons, fawning over Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., son of Bobby Kennedy. They use it to pretend they know him, to pretend they are his friend. Kennedy was confirmed by the U. S. Senate, 52-48, on February 13, 2025, as new Secretary of Health and Human Services. Senator Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, former Republican majority leader, (and polio survivor) voted a resounding “NO”! “I will not condone re-litigation of proven cures—and neither will millions of Americans.” (“Health News,” NPR, 13 Feb 2015).

Yet, McConnell and those millions, lost! Who is this new Secretary? Who is the current Robert F. Kennedy (RFK, Jr.)? I met him. I don’t pretend to know him. But the Political Science Association of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, invited him to speak, back in the Fall of 2015. Rolf Niederstrasser, our club President, joined me (I was the Faculty Sponsor) and other students. We sat at the small table in the Ball Room. When he entered, I teared up; he was then, in so many ways, reminiscent, not only in name, of his famous, deceased father.

But the dinner, before his speech to the campus, was quite odd. He was strangely silent. Conversation was rough. Students were perplexed. Asked who he thought would win the upcoming presidential election, he simply answered, in his gravely voice, “Hillary.” When then asked, a bit later, “who will you vote for?” he said “Hillary.” That was the extent of the evening repartee. He asked no questions, made no other conversation.

However, at the Auditorium (now demolished, replaced), filled to the max, including high school seniors, he gave a riveting, hour-long discourse on environmental issues. He focused on filthy rivers, noting that (at that time) the local Rio Grande/Rio Bravo was one of the most polluted. He promised, if requested, to help solve that problem. All with no notes! Students responded with tumultuous applause.

How time flies! How time changes things. RFK Jr. was then, still a Democrat, still in good graces with his famous family. Later, he briefly became an “Independent.” Then, more recently, he endorsed the current President (the one who claimed he had won the previous election), a Republican. Now, he has power he did not attain previously; he had campaigned for the presidency.

He joins a non-elected, not-confirmed head of DOGE—unauthorized–department of government efficiency, Elon Musk. He is enabled by the current President, to “downsize” government; they may close as many as 450 Federal offices across Texas, some of which assist ailing Veterans and those with disabilities (“Downsizing,” San Antonio Current, 16 February 2025, by Sanford Nowlin).

Moreover, RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccination stances threaten to increase the growing number of cases of measles and other infectious diseases in the state and nation (Brad Reed, “Doctors Slam Anti-vaxxers Amid Measles Crisis,” Raw Story, 18 February 2025). Bottom line: “The country is less safe, with threats from anthrax to Zika” (Kelly Rissman, The Independent, 17 February 2025, in her “Disease Detectors Fired”). Mass terminations are coming, despite the certain spread of bird flu, Covid 19, and other viruses.

Not enough? Kennedy’s plans include limits on other vaccines. He has made false claims that vaccines are linked to autism; he wants to end “aggressive suppression” of psychedelics and raw milk. Previously, he advocated eliminating fluoride from drinking water. Scientists—and regular people—are appalled. That is, fired are “disease detectives” or first responders, who are on the front lines of controlling disease outbreaks (Sean Craig, “RFK Jr. Cuts Center for Disease Control Staff,” Daily Beast, 15 February 2025).

One tires of reading, citing the numerous accounts of anti-health positions and actions of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. I wish I had more positive news. I wish there was an obvious way to counter such negative policies. Some say, “things will change” only when things get worse, when the closures of agencies hit home, economically, when the lack of disease control affects more and more people. Others contend “people knew what they were voting for; they got what they deserve.” Some, maybe. Half? But the other, more sensible half? Which are you? Will “Bobby” save you? 

Make no mistake about it. RFK Jr. wants to be President. Wants to follow his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, his father, Bobby, Robert F. Kennedy, who would have been President, had he not been assassinated. If not stopped now, the country will regret it. Meanwhile, it might be fun to watch the “battle of the Titans” – RFK Jr., Elon, and… you know who, jockey for more power, as they gamble with our lives. Any bets?

Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by writer Dr. Gary Joe Mounce, a professor emeritus (political science) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He can be reached by email via: gjmounce@gmail.com.

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