Like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Leading to HHS, is a fear topping the list

On By Littum

With less than two weeks left before the Senate voted for its cabinet -nomination, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confronted the latest in a number of problems. New York Times reported That the conspiracy theorist, in response to written questions from senators, “revealed that he had reached at least one conciliation agreement with a company or person who had accused him of ‘mismatch or inappropriate behavior.’

According to Mother Jones’ reportingAsked Senators two specific questions: “Yes or no, have you ever reached a conciliation agreement with a person or organization that accused you of mismatch or inappropriate behavior?” And “Yes or no, have you ever accepted or been subject to a non-disclosure agreement with any person or organization?”

Kennedy answered yes to both questions. However, he did not elaborate, and no one on the Capitol Hill – or the public as a whole – knows what the mismatch is.

In a normal political environment, this would be the kind of development that would have put his nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services at risk. In a normal political environment, Kennedy wouldn’t even have been nominated. But in our current political environment, RFK Jr. Yet confirmed to the powerful position. My MSNBC colleague Clarissa-Jan Lim explained:

The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy as health secretary on Thursday and set one of the most prominent anti-vaccine activists in charge of operating the country’s public health policy. Kennedy was confirmed with a 52-48 vote. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was the only Republican who voted against Kennedy’s confirmation with the Democrats.

At this point it is tempting to go into detail and make it clear how complete bonkers this is. I could write thousands of words about Kennedy’s discredited ideas, Bisarre conspiracy theories, resistance to vaccines, personal scandals, lack of experience and well -documented record as an international threat of science issues and public health. I would add some related thoughts and note that it was not for his famous name and family that Kennedy would be considered a fringe figure with a handful of sub -determination subscribers, not a cabinet secretary.

But I will assume that readers already know this. Instead, I will shine a light on what I consider as the biggest concern about Kennedy and our near future: Americans may confront serious public health challenges during his tenure and we cannot trust the man who leads HHS.

New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof recently wrote A good column Along these lines:

One of the biggest potential threats to this country – albeit a difficult to measure – is an avian flu pandemic, for bird flu mutates and spreads to cows and other mammals. If there is a pandemic, vaccines will be important. … What would happen if another operation was needed, but this time Point Man on Health was suspicious of vaccines – including those who arrested the last pandemic?

The budding H5N1 threat is serious, but it is not the only public health challenge facing the nation. We are also in the middle of a deadly flu season. Kansas deals with a tuberculosis outbreak. Texas has to do with an outbreak of measles. In the coming months, Americans may face any number of related threats that remain unpredictable.

And it’s just in this country. There are countless areas around the world – with populations traveling – with their own health emergencies.

It is on the basis that the Department of Health and Human Services will be led by a conspiracy theorist who has shown a long hostility to science and evidence.

Remember the names of The 52 Republican Senators It decided to put everything they learned about Kennedy and voted to confirm him anyway. They may soon be asked a deeply difficult question: “Why didn’t you protect us from RFK Jr. when you had the chance?”