Robert Kennedy Junior’s listening to the Senate Committee today, which met to examine his candidacy for the position of Minister of Health in President Donald Trump’s new government, was full of tensions.
The controversial positions of the candidate Ministry of Health – who does not have a health training – such as his stance against vaccines, were a precursor to a full -time meeting of the Senate Economic Affairs Committee.
Robert Kennedy Junior, however, attempted today to convince members of the committee that they are not against vaccines. The Commission is responsible for examining and promoting – if it judges – its ratification of the Senate plenary.
“I believe that vaccines play a critical role in health care. All of my children are vaccinated, “said 70 -year -old Kennedy, who appeared in the Senate with his wife, C -Hines and some of his children.
A lawyer in the profession, specializing in environmental issues, his candidacy for this post is considered controversial both in the Republican and the Democratic Camp, with MPs and Senators maintaining strong reservations about the dissemination of misinformation with the safety of vaccines.
“The evidence shows that Mr Kennedy has embraced conspiracy theories by Kompogiannites and charlatans, especially when it comes to the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. He has made his life intended to sow doubts and discourage parents to vaccinate their children with living vaccines, “Democratic Senator Ron Widen said in his opening statement at the start of the listening process.
In the rain of questions from members of the committee, the 70 -year -old lawyer was asked about his position on the US thorny issue. In the past he himself has been in favor of the position that women should be able to abortion throughout their pregnancy.
However, today, he argued the measures against the abortions that President Trump wishes to impose. “I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy. I agree with him that we cannot be a moral nation if we do 1.2 million abortions per year. “
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren has accused Kennedy of seeking if he is appointed to dismiss 2,200 employees of the Ministry of Health.
The Senate controlled by Republicans, who have 53 of the 100 seats, has so far not rejected any of Trump’s prospective ministers.
Another controversial selection of the president’s candidate, that of Pitt Hegschez for the post of Defense Minister, was marginally approved by 51-50 votes and needed Vice President Jay Di Vance, which is rare, to go on the spot and vote to break and to break the approved his appointment.
Following Hegschez’s nomination, Kennedy seems to be testing this respect for the Republican party line, as former Democratic Robert Kennedy Junior has formulated and embraced a multitude in favor of his appointment.
The organization to defend Protect Our Care healthcare has organized a rally against Kennedy before listening to his appointment. At the gathering, protesters placed tombstones for deaths in 2019 in Samoa after a measles outburst there. Protect Our Care says that Kennedy visited Samoa and crossed false information about vaccines, lies that fueled the outbreak of the virus.
In two different cases, protesters interrupted Kennedy’s hearing. One of them shouted “lies” before being removed from the room, while another shouted “the vaccines save lives”. Some of Kennedy’s supporters wore hats that had a paraphrase of Trump’s central slogan “Make America healthy again”.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidi, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, where Kennedy is expected to appear tomorrow Thursday and is also a member of the Finance Committee, has previously stated that the candidate is “doing” in terms of vaccines. However, Cassie said he had with Kennedy a “honest debate” during a series of visits by Kennedy to the Capitol with the aim of gaining support for his candidacy.
Cassidi is one of the few Republicans who are considered undecided to approve the appointment of Kennedy.
While most of the opposition to Kennedy is guided by his vaccines, some Republicans are also opposed to his statements in favor of abortion, as well as his positions against the pharmaceutical industry.
In a written statement to the Committee on Economic Affairs, Kennedy said he was not opposed to vaccines or against the pharmaceutical industry. However, he has helped to establish the organization against Children’s Health Defense vaccines.
He has also criticized the US Food Industry for adding ingredients that he says they have made Americans less healthy.
If his appointment to the Ministry of Health is confirmed, 70 -year -old Kennedy Junior will head a federal service with more than 80,000 workers responsible for the health of more than 340 million Americans.
