Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was voted in by 52 Senate members, against — 48. He was confirmed by the Republican Senate without a single Democratic vote in the chamber where his father, Robert F. Kennedy, and uncles, John F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy, held their posts as Democrats.
Republican Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, who survived polio, also voted against the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “People, parents, and families have the right to advocate for a healthier nation and demand the best scientific recommendations for disease prevention and treatment,” his statement was quoted by The New York Times. — “But a history of peddling dangerous conspiracy theories and undermining trust in health institutions does not give Mr. Kennedy the right to lead these important efforts.”
Kennedy will head the federal Department of Health and Human Services — a sprawling agency with 13 operating divisions. Some of these — the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — he has called corrupt.
Kennedy stated that he wants to tackle the epidemic of chronic diseases, rid grocery stores of ultra-processed foods, and eradicate conflicts of interest in federal agencies and expert groups that advise them. He also vowed to “follow the science” in conducting vaccine safety research.
Mr. Kennedy's views on vaccination were at the center of the Democrats' fight against him. He stated that he supports vaccines for measles and polio and will not do anything to prevent or discourage people from using them. However, he opposes mandatory vaccination, even for schoolchildren, while advocating the theory that vaccines cause autism.
Photo: The New York Times