The Bear Necessities of Political Controversy
Well, folks, just when you thought the presidential race couldn’t get any wilder, along comes a story that’s sure to make you pause and scratch your head. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent candidate with a penchant for the unexpected, has found himself in a rather unbearable situation. It seems our would-be commander-in-chief has a bit of a skeleton in his closet – or should we say, a bear cub in Central Park? This tale of political intrigue and wildlife misadventure is not just another fish story; it’s a glimpse into the unpredictable nature of campaigns and the skeletons that can come roaring out when you least expect them.
The Bare Facts
In a preemptive strike against an upcoming New Yorker article, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took to social media to confess his involvement in a bizarre incident from 2014. During a falconry trip in the Hudson Valley, Kennedy came across a bear cub that had been hit and killed by a vehicle. Instead of leaving the cub or reporting it to authorities, Kennedy decided to take matters into his own hands – literally.
Initially planning to skin the bear and use its meat, Kennedy’s plans changed due to time constraints. In a moment of questionable judgment, he and his friends decided to stage a scene in Central Park, making it appear as though the bear had been hit by a bicycle.
“Let’s go put the bear in Central Park and we’ll make it look like he got hit by a bike” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Fallout
The discovery of a dead bear cub in Central Park naturally caused quite a stir. Media attention was immediate and intense, with law enforcement launching investigations into the mysterious appearance of the out-of-place animal. Unbeknownst to Kennedy at the time, his own niece, Tatiana Schlossberg, wrote the original New York Times article about the incident.
“Like law enforcement, I had no idea who was responsible for this when I wrote the story” – Tatiana Schlossberg
The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation eventually determined that the 6-month-old, 44-pound cub had died from blunt force injuries consistent with a vehicle collision. However, the mystery of how it ended up in Central Park remained unsolved – until now.
Political Ramifications
As Kennedy campaigns for the presidency, this revelation raises questions about judgment and decision-making under pressure. While some may view this as a harmless prank, others might see it as a concerning lapse in ethical behavior.
“This was a little bit of the redneck in me” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy’s decision to come forward with this information ahead of The New Yorker’s article demonstrates a proactive approach to potential scandals. However, it remains to be seen how voters will react to this unusual chapter in his past.
Sources:
Quotes:
“Looking forward to seeing how you spin this one” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Source: Mr. Kennedy’s social media post
“I pulled over and I picked up the bear and put him in the back of my van because I was going to skin the bear” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Source: Video posted by Mr. Kennedy
“It’s going to be a bad story” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Source: Video posted by Mr. Kennedy
“Like law enforcement, I had no idea who was responsible for this when I wrote the story” – Tatiana Schlossberg
Source: Statement to The New York Times
“This was a little bit of the redneck in me” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Source: Video posted by Mr. Kennedy
“The cause of death was blunt force injuries consistent with a motor vehicle collision” – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Source: Necropsy report mentioned in The New York Times article
“A woman was walking her dog in Central Park when she noticed it lying under some bushes, partly concealed by an abandoned bicycle” – The New York Times
Source: Original 2014 article in The New York Times
“Let’s go put the bear in Central Park and we’ll make it look like he got hit by a bike” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“Luckily, the story died down after a while and it stayed dead for a decade. The New Yorker somehow found out about it, and they just — they’re gonna do a big article on me” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“Looking forward to seeing how you spin this one, @NewYorker” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“So, I pulled over and I picked up the bear and put him in the back of my van because I was going to skin the bear, and it was in very good condition, and I was going to put the meat in my refrigerator” – Robert Kennedy Jr.
Source: Video posted on X by Robert Kennedy Jr.
“And the bear was in my car, and I didn’t want to leave the bear in the car because that would have been bad” – Robert Kennedy Jr.
Source: Video posted on X by Robert Kennedy Jr.
“I said let’s go put the bear in Central Park and we’ll make it look like it got hit by a bike” – Robert Kennedy Jr.
Source: Video posted on X by Robert Kennedy Jr.
“The next day, it was like it was on every television station. It was the front page of every paper and I turned on the TV and there was like a mile of yellow tape and there were 20 cop cars, there were helicopters flying over it” – Robert Kennedy Jr.
Source: Video posted on X by Robert Kennedy Jr.
“So many questions remain unanswered. How did the bear end up in Central Park? Was there foul play involved? Did she die in the park, or was she dumped there?” – Tatiana Schlossberg
Source: New York Times article by Tatiana Schlossberg
- https://apnews.com/article/robert-kennedy-rfk-bear-cub-central-park-f7e6cba9aa19dc2066a8d9c543974a97
