Presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has apologized for any pain caused to family members after a supportive super PAC ran an ad at the Super Bowl.
Independent candidate for president Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK) has issued an apology to a handful of family members offended by the content of a political ad run at the Super Bowl.
According to Tony Lyons, the co-chairman of the super PAC, American Values 2024, it paid $7 million for the ad that ran nationally just before halftime of the game. The 30 second video drew heavily on the 1960 presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s uncle, former President John F. Kennedy.
Google Trends showed that internet searches for “RFK” soared after the spot was broadcast, with terms related to Mr. Kennedy receiving about 100 times more searches than average. However, there was backlash from individuals in the family, including from RFK’s cousins, Mark and Bobby Shriver, who were angry that their late mother’s face was used in the video.
In a Feb. 11 post on social media platform X, RFK apologized to the members of the Kennedy family and said that the content of the ad was made without his knowledge, as according to FEC rules, his campaign is not allowed to consult with PACs.
“I’m so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain,” RFK said in response to the backlash.
“The ad was created and aired by the American Values Super PAC without any involvement or approval from my campaign … I love you all. God bless you.”
Federal campaign finance laws ban political campaigns from working directly in cooperation, consultation, or concert with super PACs. This includes candidates requesting or suggesting where, when, and how a super PAC airs its political communications.
Mr. Lyons told The Epoch Times that the criticism was coming from only a few family members “who have attacked Bobby publicly ever since he announced his independent run.”
“They disagree with him on protecting freedom of speech, the need for real science on vaccine safety, for ending the foreign wars, for protecting our border, etc.,” he said. “This had nothing to do with the ad. This is campaign dirty tricks. These people work both directly and indirectly for Biden and this is exactly the type of political game that disenfranchises Americans.”
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