# Could RFK Jr. Really Become HHS Secretary? {Yes, he did} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 30, 2024, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451 "2024-10-30T16:19:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/1 "2024-10-30T16:19:12Z")
Don’t you have to be qualified for a position like this ? I turn the channel on my television in Olympic time at the sign of him being interviewed! Disturbing is not an adequate word for this being considered. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/2 "2024-10-30T16:20:46Z")
You have a secretary for Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/3 "2024-10-30T16:22:12Z")
> [@JoePockets](#): > > Don’t you have to be qualified for a position like this ? I’m pretty sure you and I define ‘qualified’ very differently from how Donald Trump does. ---
**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/4 "2024-10-30T16:24:38Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > how Donald Trump does. A single criterion for Trump: Will it burn the libs? RFK Jr. qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/5 "2024-10-30T16:24:42Z")
I’m pretty sure that the POTUS can nominate anyone they wish, although the nominee will need Senate confirmation. ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/6 "2024-10-30T16:25:05Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > secretary for Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state I’d feel better if that was the job he was applying for! At least it would take him years to find his office! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/7 "2024-10-30T16:25:12Z")
> **[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_Health_and_Human_Services)** > > The United States secretary of health and human services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all health matters. The secretary is a member of the United States Cabinet. The office was formerly Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1980, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was renamed the Department of Health and Human Services, and its education functions an... The US SHH still has to be confirmed by the Senate. It is not only up to Trump at least. ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/8 "2024-10-30T16:28:07Z")
At this point I’d have more confidence in Dr Qz……Where ever he is hiding! ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/9 "2024-10-30T16:35:43Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > The US SHH still has to be confirmed by the Senate. It is not only up to Trump at least. Except last go-round, Trump sidestepped this by using Acting positions. No reason he won’t do that even more. No one else would have the power to stop him, and he has no interest in stopping himself. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/10 "2024-10-30T16:39:54Z")
> [@JoePockets](#): > > Don’t you have to be qualified for a position like this ? You’re kidding, right? In his previous administration, Trump appointed people with no experience to senior cabinet and administrative positions such as Alex Azar, a lobbyist and pharma executive to Secretary of Health and Human Services, Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator, Rick Perry to Secretary of Energy, Jim Bridenstein as NASA Administrator, and Ben Carson as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development despite the fact that he [couldn’t keep track of his luggage](https://youtu.be/3-vXattvIa4?si=QAFUwAiFQ4Hngkl9). In addition, he appointed OneWest Bank CEO Steve Mnuchin to Secretary of the Treasury, WL Ross & Co. ECO Wilber Ross as Secretary of Commerce, and Eliane Chao as Secretary of Transportation despite their obvious conflicts of interest in those specific departments. Aside from Attorney General, who by nature of the job has to be a lawyer who has passed the bar somewhere, there are literally no prerequisites for any of these jobs and a president can nominate anyone he likes, even people who are totally unqualified or who are avowed opponents of the mission of the departments and agencies that they oversee in that role. The unspoken assumption is that a president would want to appoint competent people in these and other roles, but I don’t think anybody anticipated that an inept, venal, failed casino magnate and game show host would be elected to the Presidency multiple times because why would anyone want that? I guess this represents a failure of imagination. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/11 "2024-10-30T16:52:40Z")
Postmaster General used to be a cabinet position and filled by the President until the US Postal Service was formed in 1971. By tradition, the President’s campaign manager was appointed to the spot. They didn’t do anything, it was an out-and-out reward for loyal service. Qualifications? They made the guy President didn’t they? What more qualifications does anyone need? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/12 "2024-10-30T16:58:29Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > In addition, he appointed OneWest Bank CEO Steve Mnuchin to Secretary of the Treasury, WL Ross & Co. ECO Wilber Ross as Secretary of Commerce, and Eliane Chao as Secretary of Transportation despite their obvious conflicts of interest in those specific departments. Don’t many Secretaries of the Treasury come from commercial banks like Goldman Sachs? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/13 "2024-10-30T16:58:29Z")
> [@JoePockets](#): > > Don’t you have to be qualified for a position like this ? What qualifications are you looking for? I don’t think the Secretary needs to be an expert in their department, there are plenty of lifetime bureaucratic drones for that. I would think the Secretary needs to be a good administrator and be able to communicate the President’s vision to the Department and return the favor by communicating the Department’s needs back to the President. Added bonus if they know when to run interference as necessary. > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > In his previous administration, Trump appointed people with no experience to senior cabinet and administrative positions such as How did you leave out Betsy DeVos as Sec’y of Education? > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Aside from Attorney General, who by nature of the job has to be a lawyer who has passed the bar somewhere, Why? Isn’t that more of the Solicitor General’s qualification? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/14 "2024-10-30T17:21:55Z")
> [@JoePockets](#): > > Don’t you have to be qualified for a position like this ? Bobby Jr.'s resume qualifies him for the job as much as most cabinet appointees. The question you should be asking is “Don’t you have to be sound of mind for a position like this?” Well, if that isn’t a qualification for President, why would it be one for a lesser position? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/15 "2024-10-30T17:39:12Z")
He had a brain worm. Surely not. He couldn’t qualify. Could he? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/16 "2024-10-30T17:47:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Don’t many Secretaries of the Treasury come from commercial banks like Goldman Sachs? Sure but Trump campaigned on “draining the swamp” by bringing people outside of lobbyists and industry into his administration, and instead ended up with one of the most conflicted presidential cabinets in modern history. Mnuchin has a long history of legally and ethically dubious practices, and in particular his post-2007/8 crisis of IndyMac Bank, which he rebranded as OneWest and proceeded into a mass of questionable foreclosures and property acquisition. He also failed to completely divest himself of conflicting interests but that was not unique in the prior Trump administration. Ross was basically a corporate raider colloquially known as “The King of Bankruptcy”, and also seemed to be fundamentally clueless about the actual business impact of tariffs and global commerce in general. Elaine Chao was intrinsically conflicted by her family’s involvement in global shipping, notwithstanding be married to Mitch McConnell. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > How did you leave out Betsy DeVos as Sec’y of Education? I’ve tried to block her out of my consciousness but she is [possibly the most clueless Cabinet member](https://youtu.be/zhghvAxc5kY?si=EQVom1-Nsy7kDOya) in a wide selection of nitwits. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Why? Isn’t that more of the Solicitor General’s qualification? Both the Attorney General and Solicitor General need to have extensive legal experience. The Attorney General, in addition to running the Justice Department is the President’s main legal counsel for government affairs, and while they don’t generally appear in court they are giving direction to lawyers on legal strategy. The Solicitor General does represent the Justice Department to the Supreme Court (and sometimes with lower courts), and while their is no explicit requirement that you have to be barred to appear before the federal courts as a representative of the Justice Department, if you don’t have a good grasp of Constitutional law you’re probably not going to be able to defend a position or answer questions to the satisfaction of the justices on the bench. > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Bobby Jr.'s resume qualifies him for the job as much as most cabinet appointees. The question you should be asking is “Don’t you have to be sound of mind for a position like this?” Well, if that isn’t a qualification for President, why would it be one for a lesser position? This is sadly a valid, if spurious, argument. In theory, everybody in positions of executive authority should be of sound mind and good judgement, which is in part what Senate hearings are supposed to establish, but that expectation has long flown the coop along with any sense of civil responsibility and accountability. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/17 "2024-10-30T17:52:49Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > He had a brain worm. > > Surely not. He couldn’t qualify. The brain worm is more qualified than its host. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/18 "2024-10-30T17:59:13Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > The brain worm is more qualified than its host. That was true even before it ate part of his brain. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/19 "2024-10-30T18:06:14Z")
Trump’s main consideration is loyalty. So what if you carry worms in your brain or carry bear carcasses around and/or a total idiot. You’re qualified. Just like in the Nazi/Fascist days. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/20 "2024-10-30T18:11:17Z")
That’s the _only_ time it was true 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451.md?page=2)