NFL
By: Zachary Draves
There used to be a time where a presidential ticket had pedigree and prestige. The leading candidate from each party and their running mate were expected to possess skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and practicing decorum.
They conveyed a sense of seriousness about wanting to do right by the American people and to lead the free world with dignity regardless of where they stood on the major issues, so long as those positions were based in reality.
Now we have descended so far politically and culturally that a Robert Kennedy Jr. can merely suggest that Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers would be on the short list as the potential running mate for the independent ticket in the 2024 presidential election.
On Tuesday, RFK Jr. announced that Rodgers was being considered as a potential running mate along with former wrestler, former Minnesota governor, and notorious conspiracy theorist Jesse Ventura. The only reason why his name was even mentioned is because RFK Jr. has joined their ranks as someone who traffics in conspiracy theories, namely ones pertaining to COVID-19 and the vaccine, which Rodgers has promoted in recent years.
(Courtesy: X/@RobertKennedyJr)
In 2022, Rodgers admitted that he misled the public during the previous season when she said that he was “immunized” from the virus when he in fact he wasn’t vaccinated.
If that wasn’t enough, CNN reported on Wednesday that Rodgers expressed in private to at least two people that he believed that the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 was somehow faked, mirroring the beliefs of another notorious conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
This, mind everyone, is about the slaughter of 20 innocent children and 6 teachers.
In a normal world where 2+2 is 4, this would be laughed off as complete hogwash by the masses. However, we live in a time where the promulgation of disinformation is commonplace, the articulation of said disinformation is given a major platform, and where public service is looked at as another reality show aimed at amplifying personalities as opposed to the will of the people.
Even though most of the talk is about Rodgers, Ventura shouldn’t be immune from criticism either. He has a long history of promoting conspiracy theories including the idea that the 9/11 attacks were somehow a false flag operation orchestrated by the government.
But Rodgers is more well-known and has a greater platform. So in this instance, he deserves greater scrutiny.
(Courtesy: Getty Images)
What this shows is that the whole idea of what it means to be a public servant has been completely upended and in turn serves no one except to enhance his public profile. This is also a deep abiding assault on the legacies of notable public servants, including athletes, who took the job seriously.
Those names include Bill Bradley, Ralph Metcalfe, Dave Bing, Jack Kemp, J.C. Watts, and President Gerald Ford to name a few.
Three Democrats and three Republicans who dedicated their lives to mastering their craft both in sport and in their subsequent careers in public service.
It didn’t necessarily matter where they stood politically. All that mattered is that at their core each prepared themselves for that role and possessed the skills that were needed.
(Courtesy: Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today-Jets Wire)
We should have learned from the calamity of Hershel Walker’s Georgia senatorial campaign in 2022 that going into public service requires an ounce of intelligence of how the government works and what is in the best interest of the people.
Will Aaron Rodgers become RFK. Jr.’s running mate? It shouldn’t come as a surprise if he does in this current climate.
It wouldn’t matter in the long run because the odds of RFK Jr. reaching the White House are greater than the Jets having a shot at the playoffs.
But it does say something about where we are as a society where you can just throw out a famous name, attach them to a presidential ticket as a possible running mate, and expect everyone to go along with it as something that’s normal.
When in truth it lessens the severity that is needed when people’s rights, livelihoods, and sense of security are on the line.
Talk about a flag for offside.
