Last week we reported that rumors were circulating that New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was at the top of the list to be independent presidential nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Now, however, it appears that Rodgers is no longer in the running for this position.
Rodgers presumably out of action
On Friday, Kennedy took to social media to post a video saying he’s made his vice presidential pick and that “this isn’t any of the people they talked about.” That would apparently eliminate Rodgers, who had been rumored for days to be at the top of Kennedy’s shortlist.
Mediaite reported that Kennedy will name Nicole Shanahan, a California lawyer and businesswoman once married to Google co-founder Sergey Brinn, as his running mate when he makes the official announcement in Oakland on March 26. A source close to the campaign said Rodgers is out of the running.
“They align on numerous issues,” the insider said of Kennedy and Shanahan. “The campaign is also looking for a candidate who can help fund the voting access initiative.”
“He could put millions of dollars into the campaign to help fund the ballot initiative, which makes it financially attractive; however, she lacks the qualifications to actually do the job,” the source added.
A Kennedy campaign spokesperson declined to consider Shanahan as a potential pick, telling News Nation: “There has been a lot of speculation in the media. The official announcement will be March 26 in Oakland. We hope to see you there.”
Related: Jets’ Aaron Rodgers on RFK Jr.’s list for VP
Kennedy enthused about Rodgers
Kennedy was raving about Rodgers as recently as last Wednesday. He praised the former Green Bay Packers quarterback.
“And we want someone young to take care of that generation. Aaron Rodgers is tested in battle. He got up. He’s been hammered in the press, he’s stood up for the things we believe in,” Kennedy said last night, according to The Hill. “I like that part of his character. He’s a critical thinker and I think we need that right now, as you know [artificial intelligence].”
“My father said that one of the duties of life as a democratic citizen is to maintain a constant attitude of skepticism towards authority,” he added. “And I think Aaron proved that.”
“He is also someone who I think will help me get the country back to health,” Kennedy concluded. “You know, she’s 40 years old. He is focused on his health. He is very attentive to health problems. And you know, that’s one of the things I’m going to do: one of the key parts of my agenda is to get the country back to health.
Related: Aaron Rodgers calls media’s Sandy Hook story fake news
Rodgers’ Sandy Hook controversy
Rodgers’ chances of being Kennedy’s vice president may have been negatively affected by a CNN report. The article cited anonymous sources who said that in 2013, the NFL star claimed that the Sandy Hook mass shooting “was actually a government inside job and the media was intentionally ignoring it.” One of these sources claimed that Rodgers said that “Sandy Hook never existed… All those kids never existed. They were all actors.”
Rodgers immediately responded by shooting down this report.
“As I have said in the past, what happened at Sandy Hook was an absolute tragedy. I am not and have never been of the opinion that the events did not take place,” Rodgers said in a statement posted on social media.
“Once again, I hope we will learn from this and other tragedies to identify signs that will allow us to prevent unnecessary loss of life,” he continued. “My thoughts and prayers continue to remain with the affected families along with the entire Sandy Hook community.”
It is unknown whether this relationship influenced Kennedy’s decision-making when it came to choosing his running mate.
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