Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined Patrick Bet-David for a live town hall event at Valuetainment’s studio in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was asked an array of questions and opened up about his father, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated.
A full recap of the event can be read on VT.com.
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Fans of VT and supporters of Kennedy were invited to attend the event in person. We went around the room before and after the debate asking people for their positions on the candidate and their overall thoughts on the conversation.
Last Wednesday, Valuetainment hosted a town hall with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Guests had the opportunity to meet, listen, and talk with the presidential candidate. In case you missed the livestream, visit PBD Podcast channels to watch. pic.twitter.com/kzrYjyGGhD
— Valuetainment Media (@ValuetainmentTV) December 11, 2023
After the Debate
A few different audience members said they thought RFK’s weakest moment was his statement on transgenderism. When asked what he thought about transgender surgeries for kids, Kennedy said his views were not fully formed on the matter and that he needed more data. One attendee said his ignorance on the issue was particularly noticeable because of how well-researched and detail-oriented he is on every other subject. After the debate, one woman said she loves his fighting spirit and thinks he is a genuine champion of “the little guy.”
Several said his strongest moment was when he spoke about his father. A man named Byron said RFK’s analysis of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) was his stand-out moment. Another man named Bradley from Virginia said his strongest quality was just the sheer fact that he is an outsider.
On his lack of support among baby boomers, one attendee chalked it up to traditional media outlets largely ignoring him and preventing his message from getting to their audiences, which are on the older side.
One individual, a huge Kennedy supporter dressed in Kennedy campaign gear, said he thought Kennedy’s story about his father was the most fascinating part. They said his strongest point was getting rid of toxicity in food to combat declining life expectancy among Americans. Another echoed this, saying his views on health are most important to him.
That was the main takeaway for many: RFK’s strongest credential is that he is anti-establishment. They did not agree with everything he said, but the fact that he was anti-establishment earned their respect.
All attendants said the event would help his chances, if only more voters could hear what he had to say.
"He has a very difficult record to defend in California."@RobertKennedyJr shares his thoughts on @GavinNewsom pic.twitter.com/cX94y8OVDM
— PBD Podcast (@PBDsPodcast) December 6, 2023
Before the Debate
What political party are you registered with?
We got a variety of responses to this question:
“Independent.”
“We’re Canadian — but if we were American we would be Republicans.”
“I’m a registered Democrat.”
“Republican.”
Did you move because of the pandemic?
Several attendees were South Florida natives. Many of them said they were thankful for the fact.
One couple from Canada said they did not move, but wished they had.
One man, a Republican in his 30s, said he moved to Florida from Connecticut due to the pandemic and its aftermath.
Did your political views change at all because of the pandemic?
“I was swayed into the middle from the left,” answered a man from Fort Lauderdale.
The couple from Canada said their political views “strengthened” toward the right: “I became a little more conservative due to the pandemic,” the husband said. When asked what brought them to the event, they replied, “RFK and PBD, man: two of the most captivating voices in society today.” A crowd of others said “ditto” to everything they said.
A registered Democrat from southern Florida said he was let down by institutions in general but in particular the Democratic Party and the “shenanigans” it has been up to. He said his trust in the government declined greatly.
Several registered Republicans said their views had become more conservative due to the pandemic.
One man who identified as conservative/libertarian replied that his views have always leaned that way but have deepened over time.
An attendee from Wisconsin who identified “with no political party at all” said the economy is most important to him and said inflation since the pandemic bothers him greatly.
Why are you interested in RFK?
“Everything about him. The left and the right side of his policies. And I believe he’s authentic,” said a registered Independent from Fort Lauderdale.
A registered Democrat said he is personally independent and his opinion on both parties has soured, which is why he is attracted to RFK who is “a breath of fresh air.” He specifically said he likes his views on “the border,” “never ending wars,” and how he aims to make more transparent “some of these big institutions like our health administration to the military-industrial complex.” He said the border is his number one issue, and sees it mainly as a problem of national security and terrorism. He also commended RFK for bringing attention to the “erosion of the middle class over the last couple of years.”
A registered Republican said he said he likes what RFK has to say and the great variety and diversity of his political views.
Another Republican said he likes RFK’s defense of free speech. He added that he likes his skepticism toward the medical establishment: “not the fact that he’s anti-vax but that he questions the vaccines.” A third Republican approved of the fact that RFK adds “a certain balance.” She said RFK has certain “views and visions” that are compelling to her. She said being independent “is a great thing” and said she thinks he has a positive influence on the 2024 election. A fourth Republican cited his trustworthiness and his authenticity. A fifth said our country “needs Trump” to get our country back on track, but was interested in what RFK had to say.
A young man who said he was raised by a Democratic single mother and has had many of his views changed by the PBD Podcast said he believes most Americans are closer to the center than the left. He said he worries RFK will not get enough votes, and could take votes away from Trump. He said RFK was his number one choice, Trump is his second, and Biden is dead last.
One man had flown from his home country of Iran for the event and was sporting an Armenian flag pin on his lapel. He said of all the candidates RFK seems like he would be the most “common sense” and the “least dividing.” The man seated next to him agreed, saying he is “in the middle.”
A libertarian attendee said RFK strikes him as a “human being.” While many politicians seem “mischievous” and “dishonest,” RFK seems like someone who really cares, he said. He cited his charitable organization Children’s Defense and his humanitarian background. He added that his Kennedy background gives him legitimacy in his eyes, and that he loves the fact that he is taking on “the pharmaceutical mafia.”
Two attendants, April and Byron, said they liked Kennedy, approved of his decision to run Independent, and said they liked his courage to oppose the mainstream narrative on the pandemic and the COVID vaccines even if they didn’t agree with everything he said.
One attendee was from Germany, who came because it was a Patrick Bet-David event. He said few people in Germany know about Kennedy. He said people in Germany think Trump is a racist, although he personally disagrees and finds him interesting. He added that Germans think Americans are crazy in general.
Number One Issue Going into 2024?
We received the following answers:
- Economy (most common response to the question). One cited home prices and another said inflation.
- Whether the candidate is anti-establishment
- Border
- Unity
- Health
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