Mike Collins from Georgia has sparked outrage with a crass joke about the Kennedy family

 

Republican Representative Mike Collins from Georgia has sparked outrage with a crass joke about the Kennedy family and their history of assassinations. In a tweet, Collins wrote, "You either die a Kennedy with a hole in the brain or live long enough to become a Kennedy with a hole in the brain." This comment was made in response to news that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a dead parasite in his brain, which was discovered in 2010.

Collins' tweet has been widely condemned, with many calling it tasteless and disrespectful to the Kennedy family. Fred Guttenberg, the father of a Parkland school shooting victim, and David Simon, the creator of The Wire, were among those who criticized Collins' comment. Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) also responded, calling Collins' tweet "messed up" and accusing the GOP of defiling the name of President John F. Kennedy and mocking his assassination for attention.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. himself seemed to poke fun at the report about his medical scare, tweeting that he would "eat 5 more brain worms and still beat President Trump and President Biden in a debate." However, many have criticized Collins' comment as going too far and being insensitive to the Kennedy family's history of tragedy.

This is not the first time Collins has faced criticism for his tweets. Last week, he praised mostly white Ole Miss students who jeered at a lone Black pro-Palestine protester, which he later walked back. His comments have sparked concerns about his judgment and sensitivity, and many are calling for him to be more mindful of his words and their impact.

In a time when political discourse is already highly polarized, Collins' comment has only added fuel to the fire. His tweet has been viewed nearly 5 million times, and many are calling for him to apologize and show more respect for the Kennedy family and their legacy. As a public figure, Collins has a responsibility to use his platform wisely and avoid perpetuating harmful and offensive rhetoric.