ROBERT F. Kennedy Jr. has secured the US Senate’s confirmation to lead the Department of Health & Human Services under the new administration.
Kennedy triumphantly fought through intense hearings grilling his stances on abortion, vaccine safety, and chronic illness before securing the top spot.
Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee joined forces to approve Kennedy’s nomination on Thursday, while Democrats voted against the controversial environmental attorney’s confirmation.
Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer made a last-ditch effort to derail the pick as he branded the lawyer a “dangerous” conspiracy theorist and asked for a scientist to take his place.
“The fact we’re even here, voting on this wildly unqualified conspiracy theorist to trust with one of the most life or death jobs […] should be an affront to every senator and American,” the enraged Democrat said.
“Please, think one last time about this vote. Is he an expert, a scientist?”
All of the 14 Republicans on the committee voted yes to confirm Kennedy, except Trump-skeptic Senator Mitch McConnell, who wrote a last-minute no.
Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy was undecided on Kennedy’s nomination, but he ended up approving the controversial pick.
Before he cast his vote, Cassidy grilled Kennedy during his January 29 confirmation hearing, saying his past “undermining confidence in vaccines with unfound or misleading arguments” concerned him.
Despite his brutal remarks, Cassidy said he had several “tense conversations” with Kennedy and the White House over the weekend and on the eve of the committee’s vote.
Cassidy teased he would vote yes when the time to vote arrived.
On the other hand, all 13 Democrats on the committee opposed Kennedy’s vote.
POSITION OF POWER
In this new position, Kennedy will lead a department with a massive $1.7 trillion budget and 80,000 employees who work to regulate the medical industry.
Under his leadership, the department will determine the safety of vaccines and prescription drugs and strategize the allocation of resources to Medicaid and Medicare.
Kennedy sharply diverges from his predecessors with his skepticism toward modern medicines, as he’s more interested in a holistic approach to tackling obesity and chronic illness.
He also has criticized federally funded healthcare programs, claiming that most consumers feel private insurance plans provide better coverage.
Plus, the political scion doesn’t come from a medical or scientific background. Instead, he works as an environmental lawyer and has assisted with lawsuits filed against drug companies.
He’s also conducted exhaustive research for his bestselling book The Real Anthony Fauci, which unravels the history behind the man who was in charge of Covid-19 response efforts.
Republican lawmakers have come to Kennedy’s aid throughout his various controversies and believe his independent philosophies will appeal to the American electorate.
“Mr Kennedy is committed to reorienting our approach to healthcare and restoring faith in our institutions,” said Republican Senator Mike Crapo.
RFK JR CONFIRMATION CLASH
During the tense three-hour confrontation with Republican and Democratic lawmakers on January 29, Kennedy defended his radical ideology, but insisted he would run the Department of Health & Human Services with transparency.
Kennedy has vowed to reduce the use of artificial food dyes, ensure vaccines are only distributed to Americans through “safe science,” promote the consumption of whole foods, and end the chronic disease epidemic in the country.
“In my advocacy, I often disturb the status quo by asking uncomfortable questions,” Kennedy said in his opening statement.
“Well, I’m not going to apologize for that. We have massive health problems in this country that we must face, honestly.
“And the first thing I’ve done every morning for the past 20 years is to get on my knees and pray to God that he would put me in a position to end the chronic disease epidemic and help America’s children.”
However, Kennedy was immediately faced with criticism.
In my advocacy, I often disturb the status quo by asking uncomfortable questions.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon said Kennedy’s record showed he “embraced conspiracy theories, quacks, and charlatans especially when it comes to the safety and efficacy of vaccines.”
“He has made it his life’s work to so doubt, and discourage parents from getting their kids life-saving vaccines,” Wyden added.
“It has been lucrative for and put him on the verge of immense power.
“This is the profile of someone who chases money and influence wherever they lead, even if that may mean the tragic death of children and other vulnerable people.”
Like Wyden, several members on the Senate Finance Committee board ripped into Kennedy’s past anti-vaccine rhetoric in podcast interviews and in his books.
Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent of Vermont, displayed photos of two white onesies that were sold online by the Children’s Health Defense, a nonprofit co-founded by Kennedy in 2016.
‘I AM PRO-SAFETY’
The slogan on the onesies read “Unvaxxed, Unafraid” and “No vax, No problem.”
“You’re coming before this committee and you say you are pro-vaccine,” Sanders questioned.
“And yet your organization is making money selling a child’s product to parents for 26 bucks, which casts fundamental doubt on the usefulness of vaccines.”
“Are you supportive of these onesies,” Sanders asked Kennedy, who resigned from the Children’s Health Defense in December after being nominated to President Donald Trump‘s cabinet.
“I’m supportive of vaccines,” Kennedy replied.
Kennedy stood his ground and rejected the accusation that he is anti-vaccine, insisting, instead, he is “pro-safety.”
His assertion was met with outbursts by two demonstrators in the gallery, one of which shouted, “He lies!”
Capitol police escorted the woman, who was dressed in blue scrubs, out of the Capitol building.
Police removed another demonstrator, who also wore blue scrubs and a surgical mask, after she interrupted Kennedy and Senator Wyden’s heated debate.
The woman was holding a sign that read, “Vaccines save lives. No RFK Jr.”
A protester interrupts the Senate Finance Committee confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Reuters A second demonstrator holding up a ‘Vaccines save lives no RFK Jr’ sign was removed from the confirmation hearingGetty Images - Getty‘YOU FRIGHTEN PEOPLE’
Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse, a senator of Rhode Island and Kennedy’s former law school roommate, pressed his friend to promise to “never say vaccines aren’t medically safe.”
“Americans are going to need to hear a clear and trustworthy recantation of what you have said on vaccinations – including a promise from you never to say vaccines aren’t medically safe when they in fact, are,” Whitehouse said.
“Frankly, you frighten people,” the senator said of Kennedy.‘s repeated statements opposing vaccine mandates.
A day before he was scheduled to meet with the Senate’s Finance Committee, Kennedy’s cousin, Caroline Kennedy, sent a critical letter to lawmakers warning them of her relative’s “dangerous and misinformed” views.
Caroline, who was the ambassador to Australia under former President Joe Biden, told senators Kennedy was “unqualified” to oversee the health agencies in charge of the wellbeing of vulnerable Americans.
“He lacks any relevant government, financial, management, or medical experience,” Caroline said in a recorded video shared by her son, Jack Kennedy Schlossberg, on X.
“His views on vaccines are dangerous and willfully misinformed. These facts alone should be disqualifying.”
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