Sometimes, affirmation hearings for cupboard positions don’t include raucous applause or screamed proclamations of affection. However then once more, most cupboard nominees are usually not Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an oddball participant on the trendy political scene if there ever was one.
Kennedy’s family has spoken towards him all through each his failed presidential marketing campaign and now his Senate affirmation course of, most lately through a letter during which cousin Caroline Kennedy referred to as him a “predator.” However he has impressed ardent assist from different quarters together with his MAHA (Make America Wholesome Once more) platform. He’s particularly standard with the “did my very own analysis,” “earth mama,” wannabe Instagram mommy-influencer sorts, they usually made actually made their presence recognized all through Wednesday’s Senate festivities, with shrieks that have been extra befitting of a teenybopper at a mall live performance than for the halls of Congress. When the listening to was recessed two hours in for a five-minute lavatory break, screeches of “We love you, Bobby!” could possibly be heard over the stay feed.
Past the panting followers, just a few extra acquainted faces have been seen lending their assist to Kennedy, his squad of shiny-haired cheerleaders: Spouse Cheryl Hines was there, regardless of Kennedy’s sexting scandal with a journalist, and provided her husband a peck on the lips because the listening to began. Over his shoulder, she could possibly be seen blinking quickly all through the hours of question-and-answer-dodging, main some on social media to joke that she was making an attempt to transmit a message in Morse Code. Maybe she was simply grappling emotionally with the thought that if her husband is confirmed, she’ll have to stop shilling her $20 MAHA-scented candles inside 90 days, denying the world extra staged Instagram movies of her septuagenarian husband within the buff. A sacrifice for God and nation, certainly.
Former Fox Information host Megyn Kelly, who has declared her assist, was additionally in attendance, as was Vani Hari, author of the Meals Babe weblog, a number of books, and perpetual variations on “I can’t imagine how many ingredients are in this cereal.” Hari, in an attention-grabbing scorching pink blazer, gold costume earrings, and brilliant crimson lipstick, was unmissable as she nodded animatedly all through the listening to, smiling vastly at instances, like when committee member Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, stated that he believed that Kennedy had a “divine objective” to satisfy in his proposed function. Hari introduced her 8-year-old daughter, clad in pale pink, alongside for the journey, as a result of what pre-tween doesn’t dream of a mommy-and-me day watching Kennedy dance round questions on his previous drug use, alleged mistreatment of animals, anti-vaccine views, and newly aired stance towards reproductive rights?
Marla Maples, the ex-wife of the current president, was seated additional again within the chamber. Kennedy superfan Jessica Reed Kraus, who on Tuesday posted to her Instagram tales on @HouseInhabit begging for assist stepping into the listening to, apparently had her want granted. She shared snaps of herself holding yet another baseball cap, this one studying “Affirm RFK Jr.” (as a result of if a hat doesn’t say it, then is it even value saying?), and a text-only slide insisting that the committee “affirm Bobby based mostly merely on his tan.”
Kennedy will sit for a second affirmation listening to Thursday.
