A rare brain disorder robbed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of his strong speaking voice

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s gruff speaking voice, which at times can make him hard to understand, was front and center during Thursday’s contentious Senate Finance Committee hearing.

The Health and Human Services secretary’s halting delivery was frequently interrupted by senators anxious to get their points across during their five minutes of allotted time.

Kennedy, 71, has spasmodic dysphonia, a rare neurological condition in which the muscles that open and close his vocal cords spasm involuntarily, creating a strained or strangled quality to his speech. Kennedy has publicly discussed how the condition robbed him of his typically strong speaking voice in his early 40s.

“At that time, I was making a lot of my income doing public speaking, and I could speak to large halls without any amplification,” Kennedy said in a February 2024 interview while running for president.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/rare-brain-disorder-robbed-robert-212219677.html

So that's what a worm-eaten brain gives you.

[Klarkashton]

1. It's not about how he sounds it about what he says.

[NJCher]

6. ya' think?

I don't. I'm a public speaking teacher (also English). In our field we have the utmost respect for a message that is clearly delivered. This is a physical disability that prevents him from communicating clearly in a job where clarity is of the utmost importance.

Of course, since he is such a liar, maybe it's good that he's handicapped in message delivery.

Each of us has to ask of ourselves: "Is this the highest and best use of my talent?"

In his case, there are any number of avenues he could take. He didn't have to take a job for which he is not qualified nor well suited.

[TheProle]

12. This is some ableist bullshit.

I'll take the right official tapping out the truth and well-intentioned plans on the table in Morse Code if that's what it takes.

He is NOT that person, but this is still a shitty take, imo.

[NJCher]

16. Not me

I have standards.

[TheProle]

17. How about Pres. Biden's stutter?

Did you consider that "a physical disability that prevents him from communicating clearly in a job where clarity is of the utmost importance"?

[NJCher]

22. no

Not in the same category as Kennedy at all.

[BannonsLiver]

2. Are we sure it didn't happen during his crack smoking phase decades ago?

[BeyondGeography]

3. Along those lines

A comedian (think it was Martin Short) said if you want to imitate RFK Jr. all you need to do is pretend you’re speaking while holding in a hit from a joint.

[Scrivener7]

4. That's the story he tells. Maybe it's true, but so far the source of everything I've ever heard

from him was his own fevered imagination, so I doubt it.

And it does sound a lot like crack-pipe voice.

[milestogo]

19. He sounds a lot like Susan Collins

who I believe suffers from the same thing.

[Rebl2]

5. I think

one of his sisters voice sounds like this as well. Don’t ask me which one, but I have heard her speak before and she sounds similar to him.

[EYESORE 9001]

7. For one guy, he sure has run up against some unusual medical issues

Whut dunnit? Bear meat? Pangolin peckers? For someone who follows every conspiracy theory that lumbers down the pike, he sure ignored alarms over prions (google it yerself). It’s one area of study that I believe transcends mere CT. They’re real, and they’re out there. I’ve sworn off wild game until…well, until RFKjr is ousted along with the entire rump regime. Science!

[bluedigger]

8. What a horrible thing to happen to a complete asshole.

[Ms. Toad]

9. Nothing to do with brain worms, or drugs, or anything else people were mocking him about yesterday (and today).

It's a real condition. Anyone who has listened to the Diane Rehm show (NPR, off the air for a few years now) should instantly recognize his condition from how he sounds. Not to mention that this is not new information about him.

Although he deserves scorn and ridicule for WHAT he says, how he sounds is the consequence of a disability - and ridicule should be off the table.

[Orrex]

11. Now that I am in possession of the facts, I regret mocking him for his voice

Thank you again for clueing me in yesterday.

[Ms. Toad]

13. You're welcome! n/t

[RobinA]

14. True, But Biden

had a known condition too, and it didn't stop anyone from making fun of his delivery.

[Ms. Toad]

18. I don't recall anyone on DU making fun of Biden for stuttering

And I hope you're not suggesting emulating those who did.

[ancianita]

10. It can also be one of the secondary bad health effects that 14 years of heroin addiction can cause.

Abuse your body long enough, and the most stressed parts can break down -- both brain and vocal chords, in his case.

[malaise]

15. Or heroin?

That is all

[Hekate]

20. Spasmodic dysphonia is not caused by brainworms. Please do just a teeny bit of research, people

[hamsterjill]

21. Well whatever it was, it also affected his mental capacity.

Because he obviously does not have the mental capacity to understand basic science. He was not able to answer questions posed to him, and he makes up "data" and information on the spot to substantiate his lies.

Do not ask me to have compassion for this person. His actions could very well get people killed, and I take that a little personal when it involves me and my family. I don't give a fuck what caused his condition; he's incompetent to be in the position that he is in.