Senators Yelled at RFK Jr. They’re Not Trying to Stop Him

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In practice, it is not normal for senators to fight with the highest head of health in the country. But in the midst of a three -hour spiral hearing Thursday, the senators of the two parties could not hide their aggravation from the Secretary of Health and Social Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose tumultuous defense of his own job continued was both a low point for public health and an instruction which has however that the legislators are responsible for his health and the premium The legislators are accompanied by its side of the health and preservation which are displayed on means of preserving its means of sleeping which have the installation and which, according to the legislators, are accompanied by its means which have the installation and the prescribes its concert.

RFK Jr. has found its place in the office of President Donald Trump largely thanks to his reputation as skeptical of vaccines. The Republicans of the Chamber – with regard to the Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, himself a survivor of Polioconfirmed it to his powerful perch anyway. During the disputed hearing on Thursday, the secretary raised his voice in clear frustration and indignation when the legislators pressed to him why he withdrew the centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and said he was concerned that access to COVVI-19 vaccines was limited. And a crowd of democrats called him to resign.

But here is the friction: despite bipartite frustration with Kennedy’s mandate, nothing will dislodge him. The government is facing an end -of -month financing deadline, but Democrats or Republicans in Congress have no serious plans to link RFK Jr. or the country’s vaccine policies to maintain the flowing dollars. Dozens of CDC experts have been excluded, but they remained rejected. And the Americans who want a cocvid booster are left in a shadow because Kennedy’s antipathy now limits what is covered by insurance regimes.

However, despite a salty hearing and their obvious frustration with regard to many decisions by RFK Jr., the republican legislators who know better will continue to defend it because Trump has the race from Washington. Contrading Trump is a recipe for political disappearance and no GOP legislator – even the doctor who directs the health committee – will risk exile.

“I would say, in fact, we refuse to people from the vaccines,” said senator Bill Cassidy, a republican of Louisiana who is also a doctor. However, in the hours that followed the animated audience, Cassidy doubled on his campaign to give the president a Nobel Prize for his work on vaccines.

Another Senate doc, John Barrasso, underlined the substance of the government’s risk of the government. “I am a doctor. Vaccines work. Secretary Kennedy, in your confirmation hearings, you have promised to comply with the highest standards for vaccines. Since then, I have been deeply worried,” said the Republican of Wyoming.

But when he asked him later about the future of RFK Jr., Barrasso happened to the White House. “I trust what the President of the United States does, and I will not guess,” said Barrasso.

And Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who was originally at the end of the confirmation vote earlier this year, seemed uncomfortable with the situation.

“I fear that we decrease the credibility of the CDC,” said Tillis, who does not present himself to re -election. “We could reduce the credibility of the American government in terms of maintaining children.”

However, nothing moves, at least for the moment. The head of the majority of the Senate, John Thune, bypassed questions about confidence in RFK Jr. on Thursday, Senator Susan Collins of Maine; It is considered one of the most dangerous republicans of the ballot next year.

Kennedy provided a series of thoughts scattered Thursday on everything, vaccines, antidepressants and hepatitis B. of COVID-19, while the senators were trying to keep the discussion focused on accepted science, Kennedy refused to be confined. Retired studies were in the foreground and autism seemed everywhere. The stormy, noisy and absurd spectacle offered little information – and a good part of disinformation. The circular logic was as abundant as it was problematic coming from the person leading the largest health operation in the world. At one point, RFK Jr. has simultaneously criticized mRNA technology – the cornerstone of coasty vaccines – like the “most deadly” vehicle of all time, while insisting that its deployment deserves a Nobel.

Senator Tina Smith, a Minnesota democrat, underlined the contradictions. “When were you lining, sir?” She asked. “When you told this committee that you were not anti-vacuum, or when you told Americans that there was no safe and efficient vaccine?”

Kennedy seemed not attacked. “The two things are true,” he said.

Pressed by Senator Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat in New Mexico, Kennedy has shown open contempt: “You talk about Charabia.”

Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, made the fury: “You are seated as a secretary of health and social services. How can you be so ignorant? “

Senator Maggie Hassan, a Democrat in New Hampshire, was also indignant: “Sometimes, when you make an accusation, it is a kind of confession, Mr. Kennedy.”

Despite all this, however, the show was just that: a show. Kennedy rejected criticism that he dismissed thousands of career employees at the CDC. He rejected questions about the reasons why he dismissed all members of a panel of vaccines, repeating the refuted line according to which they had conflicts of financial interests. Kennedy seemed completely comfortable in an optional environment. The boastful and bravado seemed completely out of step with the way in which the legislators of the red state go towards a flu season when the risk of Covid rises.

The meaning among the Republicans on the hill was that the audience went as badly as possible. But, as evidenced by the grunts that the senators took place in the room, the immutable fact is that Kennedy always has the confidence of Trump. This is the kind of performance that Trump loves. Their disbelief shared in science and lack of respect for expertise unites them. It is only an additional bonus that Kennedy showed contempt for legislators.

As if a perfect coda with a day of acrimony, Kennedy released his phone and scrolled while the senators ended the day. When asked if he would like to make a closing declaration, Kennedy ridiculed. “I think I’m going to have mercy of everyone,” said Kennedy, “and let us adjourn.”

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