Democratic Party Suffers Loss of Direction and Soul, Says RFK Jr.'s Former Running Mate

Nicole Shanahan, former running mate to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., decried the Democratic Party's decline, accusing it of losing its "soul" and "direction." She condemned the party's personal attacks on Kennedy following his endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

Nicole Shanahan, the former running mate to environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has expressed deep concern over the state of the Democratic Party. In an interview on "Jesse Watters Primetime," Shanahan decried the party's decline, accusing it of losing its "soul" and "direction."

"This is wild. I'm asking myself what happened to the party of 'when they go low, we go high,’ because right now, they're just going lower and lower and lower," Shanahan lamented. "And I'm shocked, I'm saddened, I'm worried for them, honestly."

Democratic Party Suffers Loss of Direction and Soul, Says RFK Jr.'s Former Running Mate

Shanahan's comments came in response to criticism directed at Kennedy after he endorsed Trump at a rally in Arizona. MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell had suggested Kennedy "fully disgraced" his father's name, while Democratic strategist James Carville called for his institutionalization.

Shanahan expressed disbelief at the vitriol directed at her former running mate, whom she described as "one of the kindest" people she knows. She insisted that Kennedy harbored no ill will and sought a "unity government" with Trump.

Democratic Party Suffers Loss of Direction and Soul, Says RFK Jr.'s Former Running Mate

"He doesn't have a bone of revenge in his body," Shanahan said. "He's one of the kindest people I've ever met, and he doesn't care who you voted for."

Kennedy's endorsement of Trump drew a strong reaction from his family, with five of his siblings issuing a statement to disavow his decision. They condemned it as a "betrayal" of their family's values.

Democratic Party Suffers Loss of Direction and Soul, Says RFK Jr.'s Former Running Mate

Shanahan acknowledged the rift within the Kennedy family but declined to comment on their response. She did, however, defend Kennedy's right to make his own decisions.

"I believe in his right to make the decisions that he believes are best for our country, and I stand by him," she said.

Democratic Party Suffers Loss of Direction and Soul, Says RFK Jr.'s Former Running Mate

Shanahan questioned the Democrats' priorities, particularly their focus on issues such as transgender rights and climate change. She argued that they were ignoring pressing concerns such as healthcare and economic inequality.

"I'm worried about the party, quite frankly. They've lost their way. They seem to be more interested in optics and political theater than in actually solving problems," she said.

Shanahan's comments reflect a growing sentiment among some Democrats who are disillusioned with the party's direction. They argue that the party has drifted too far to the left and become too focused on social issues at the expense of economic concerns.

Whether the Democratic Party can regain its footing and win back the trust of these disillusioned voters remains to be seen. However, Shanahan's comments serve as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the party in the 2024 presidential election.