Robert Kennedy Jr. On Obama Administration: If Asked I Will Serve

Expressing deep satisfaction -- almost relief -- with the election of Barack Obama yesterday, Robert Kennedy Jr., the longtime environmental activist and member of the Democratic Party's most cherished family, said he would serve the next president if asked.

"You know what, I would be of service in any way that the administration asked me to be," Kennedy told the Huffington Post. "But I am also very happy and I believe I am being effective doing the stuff I am doing currently."

On Wednesday, Politico reported that Obama was strongly considering putting Kennedy at the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. The appointment would represent a major and early victory for environmentalists and would undoubtedly please Kennedy's cousin, Caroline Kennedy and uncle, Sen. Ted Kennedy - who was an instrumental Obama backer during the primary and is in poor health.

Robert Kennedy downplayed the idea of any imminent announcement, saying,
"I haven't had that discussion with anyone in my family about" joining the Obama administration.

And yet he did not hide his pleasure with the election of the Illinois Democrat. Saying it would be great "just to have a President who can give a speech and who can write," Kennedy compared the sensation of Tuesday night to the "kind of feeling that the French had and the Belgium and the Scandinavians had when Europe was liberated."

Kennedy, who works as an attorney and officer for the environmental group Riverkeeper, said he saw in Obama's ascension to the presidency many of the political traits that defined his uncle and father's runs at the office.

"His disposition is very much like my uncle," he said, referencing President John Kennedy. "The intellectual passion and the coolness and the dry humor. And I think his obsession and his preoccupation with justice, and including all of the different members of our society -- he just understands that we have to go forward as a community... The extraordinary demonstrations on election night and through this morning, with young people, we didn't even see that magnitude of demonstration in 1960 when my uncle was elected."

Much of Kennedy's excitement, however, is linked not to the similarities between Obama and his family members but rather to the overhaul of the environmental agenda that the president-elect has planned.

"I think that Barack Obama understands that energy must be the centerpiece for his administration. That there really are two big issues, one is health care and the other is energy," he said. "And energy is intertwined with all other issues. If we can get off of foreign oil, for instance, we can save 700 billion a year. We can pay back the Wall Street debt we just ran up in just one year."

"That whole dark cloud of the Bush administration," he added, "has all the sudden been lifted."

Comments

[ceti]

Best choice for the EPA, hands down. This is actually getting my hopes up that the new administration is going to hit the ground running and running fast.

He will have his work cut out though, EPA was virtually neutered under Bush.

[TimesArrow]

I've heard Bobby speak about Rahm Emanuel on Ring of Fire. Bobby said stuff really good or really bad about Rahm. I can't remember, does anyone remember?

[Sportswoman]

I can think of no one more qualified for EPA CHIEF than RFK Jr., Mr. Environment. This man has been an articulate spokesman for the environment since forever, and has a take-no-prisoners attitude about corporate breaches of the law. We need him in that capacity!

[devinsbuddy]

Fantastic!

[DemocracyinTrouble]

Whoa... this will be an interesting portfolio for Robert Kennedy Jr. As a fellow Albertan in the country of Canada, we have come across Mr. Kennedy quite a few times in the recent years. Our Premier will be quite keen on following this possible appointment and any discussions with Alberta will be quite significant. Alberta holds considerable fresh water access and of course a huge oil resource that the USA needs for consumption. Any move to label our oil resource as dirty would be a mistake. We are an incredibly friendly country with very easy access and an ability to ramp up more oil production as the USA weans itself from overseas oil. We have fresh water to use as a negotiating tool also. Do not dismiss Albertan's resolve on this matter.

Interesting times ahead for everyone.

[Hechizera]

Oh wow! You mean picking someone for an environmental post who actually cares about the environment? Ability trumps loyalty? What a concept. The heavens are about to fall...

[TimesArrow]

I love Bobby! All of us who listen to Ring of Fire know how honest and a good person he is! Bobby stuck up for Sam Seeder, when the filth at AAR cancelled his show. Bobby on air said, "What in Hell is Mark Green thinking!". Remember, Sam was the first media person to expose Lieberman for the filth he really is. Back when the Democratic Underground first started, no person could say anything negative/truth about Lieberman because your ID would be banned/cancelled. I know, my ID was banned at least five times then I gave up on the DU. Not until Sam started telling the truth about Lieberman on national radio did the DU allow user to post truth about Lieberman. So my hero Bobby stuck up for my second hero Sam. I hope Bobby hires Sam as spokes person.

[JustLynn]

RFK JR would be an excellent choice for the EPA....he has the intelligence, the drive, and the background ....

[Hechizera]

Oh wow! Naming someone to an environmental post who really cares about the environment? Instead of naming a political hack who was a personal friend from way back? Who'da thunk it?!

[bluevalentine]

I pray that Obama does utilize RFKr's brilliant mind, hard work, and integrity in the position of heading the EPA. We need someone we can believe in to protect our health!

[laurie91020]

Excellent choice.... Passion + Position + Presidential SUPPORT = SUCCESS!!!!!

[deanna1970]

Link to vanity fair article - it was enough to sell me on RFK Jr

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/05/rfk_manifesto200805?printable=true&currentPage=all

[miguelobrien]

And, maybe, just maybe, they can do something to stop the murder of wolves, bears and polar bears in Alaska. Thank God for Sarah Palin. Otherwise, we might have just gone on not knowing the evil they are doing up there.

Hey, Sarah, I'm really, really pro-life too. But my definition of life includes innocent wildlife. Everybody, please watch the snuff vids from up there and know that the AK game and fish, under her auspices, went to wolf dens and shot the pups in the head, CONTRARY to law.

I have guns, I hunt, but only if I need something to eat. The Commandment about Thou shall not kill, in the original language, says, "Thou shalt not murder." They knew, those old Hebrews, the difference.

In fact, Kosher [and Islamic] law decrees that one does not kill an animal in the presence of another.
And we think they are barbarians. Anyone been to a CAFO or a slaughter house in this country lately?

[miguelobrien]

Such a deal. The children of the Kennedy martyrs carrying on for their fallen fathers. Like destiny, like justice, like godness.

[miguelobrien]

Case in point: the post by warmglobe. some idiotic thing about scoring heroin. my only guess is that warmglobe is the one thinking about heroin. Neither Obama nor RFK could be performing publicly and brilliantly, as they do, being even in the same building with smack.

warmglobe is smack. maybe he is the one scoring and writing his smack on this blog.