Robert F. Kennedy is coming to Bitcoin Miami
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaking in Berlin on 29 August 2020. Sean Gallup—Getty Images
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the long-shot candidate challenging Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic nomination, believes the CIA had a role in the assassination of his uncle, JFK. He opposes vaccines on the grounds that they are a medical conspiracy, and he has fueled a theory that Bill Gates is out to control us all with microchips. In other words, he’s a jerk.
But since Kennedy’s family is political royalty, he is no ordinary tough guy. Thanks to his pedigree, he has an oversized megaphone and can call out audiences who otherwise wouldn’t pay attention to him or his crazy ideas. Those audiences include the crowd next week at the annual tribal gathering known as Bitcoin Miami, where Kennedy will make his first official appearance as a presidential candidate.
He was invited to speak because he is an outspoken advocate for crypto, and recently defended the industry against the White House’s apparent attempt to use the banking crisis in an attempt to stifle it. His positions on crypto have been correct, or at least defensible – unlike, say, his baseless stance on the “harms” of 5G – and so it’s understandable that the Bitcoin crowd is rolling out the red carpet for him.
You could also argue that at a time when crypto is under attack from the most powerful people in the land, the industry needs to embrace any political allies it can find. Meanwhile, it’s also true that polls show that vast majorities of the country dread the idea of a rematch in 2020, and some people would rather take a flyer on someone else — even a known jerk — than have to choose between again a geriatric and a fascist coup enabler.
Still, the crypto world should be careful not to embrace Kennedy too closely. This is partly because he’s also being bolstered by some nasty figures from the far right – including Steve Bannon, Alex Jones and Tucker Carlson – who are no doubt trying to cause mischief ahead of the election. But it’s also because, if crypto is looking for political torchbearers, it has much better options on both the left and the right, including Ritchie Torres (DN.Y.) and Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who can accomplish far more for the cause .
Kennedy may think he needs the crypto vote, but it doesn’t need him.
Jeff John Roberts
[email protected]
@jeffjohnroberts
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