# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/82 "2024-11-14T20:32:38Z")
I thought “Birds of a feather” would suffice, but OK. The headline for the article linked above is, “RFK Jr. has big asks of Washington. Republican lawmakers say they’re open.” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/83 "2024-11-14T20:48:18Z")
Well, according to the OP’s cite, Sen Tuberville from Alabama, easily one of the 3 stupidest people in Alabama, thinks this is a great idea. So it has that going for it. This is another one of those “every accusation is an admission” events. It was the trump I administration that ushered in FDA approval for drugs based on how badly the pharma company wanted to make money off it, not whether or not it worked even a smidgen. And now they’re supposedly going to “reduce the influence of pharma management on the approval of drugs.” Yeah, suuuure they are. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/84 "2024-11-14T20:59:34Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I thought “Birds of a feather” would suffice, but OK. > > The headline for the article linked above is, “RFK Jr. has big asks of Washington. Republican lawmakers say they’re open.” I don’t think that’s a useful summary of the article or why you think it’s worth noting. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/85 "2024-11-14T21:16:20Z")
What I find noteworthy is that the Republicans seem serious about putting RFK Jr in charge of the country’s health policies; it wasn’t just a campaign promise from Trump that would be discarded as soon as the election was over. ---
**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:** [November 14, 2024, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/86 "2024-11-14T21:17:36Z")
It’s funny that you mention it … > [@Could RFK Jr. Really Become HHS Secretary?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary/1009451/73): > > The likelihood of an RFK, Jr. Secy-HHS thing seems to be increasing … rather precipitously: ETA: Annnnnnd, it’s official (Trump \> Truth Social) ETA: Annnnnnd, it’s official (Trump \> Truth Social) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/87 "2024-11-14T21:19:04Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > It’s funny that you mention it … I already flagged this thread requesting it be merged, since it’s redundant. 🙂 ---
**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:** [November 14, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/88 "2024-11-14T21:19:44Z")
Nicely done. It’s likely that Musk and Ramaswamy will have interest in speaking with you. You’re a natural 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/89 "2024-11-16T20:50:01Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > ETA: Annnnnnd, it’s official (Trump \> Truth Social) The last time the guy was President, this happened: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52060629140_4aeb4b5967_b.jpg "20220508\_183117") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/68782016@N08/52060629140/) And this is when he had officials who were trying to _save_ lives. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2024, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/90 "2024-11-16T21:10:34Z")
You must be a liberal. Who else could look at the elegant simplicity of Trump’s solution to the Social Security funding crisis with such naked contempt and derision? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2024, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/91 "2024-11-17T03:57:23Z")
Uh… any patriotic American with a brain? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/92 "2024-11-18T14:26:23Z")
Fer chrissake ABC News, RFK Jr. is not a [vaccine “skeptic”](https://abcnews.go.com/Health/doctors-worried-rfk-jr-tout-vaccine-skeptic-views/story?id=115892634). He’s a virulent, longtime antivaxer, or if you prefer, antivaccine. He refuses to name a single vaccine he thinks has been worthwhile and has founded a lucrative career spreading disinformation about vaccines, making a half-million dollars a year in salary from his “Children’s Health Defense”. Being a “skeptic” implies having doubts, generally with at least some factual basis. Junior doesn’t qualify. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/93 "2024-11-18T14:49:01Z")
The MSM is going to have a hell of a time trying to thread the needle of calling the idiots and fascists and racists and who-knows-whatalls whatever they really are in plain language, while simultaneously not wanting to enrage about half the populace that love that stuff. I suppose MSM thinks they’ll lose customers by calling an anti-vax grifter an “anti-vax grifter”. I think they’re wrong. Those customers are already gone and have been for a few years. If those folks were still paying attention to MSM we would not now be facing the regime we are. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/94 "2024-11-18T16:32:27Z")
And to that, I say - Tough shit. You are not FOX. Report the facts MSM. Surely they can find direct quotes from him, and all the others. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/95 "2024-11-18T16:44:30Z")
I think they are afraid of retribution from Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/96 "2024-11-21T19:07:34Z")
_The Washington Post_ and _The Los Angeles Times_ sure seemed to be, a few week back. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/97 "2025-01-08T23:34:37Z")
[Bit of a roadblock?](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/08/robert-f-kennedy-accused-voter-fraud) It has been brought to the attention of the New York Board of Elections that the anti-vax grifter in question registered and voted (by mail) in New York, despite not being a New York resident, and thus committed a felony. This will be hard to handwave away, given that shortly before the election, in a case related to his attempt to get ballot access in New York, a New York court found as a matter of fact that Kennedy lives in California. ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/98 "2025-01-08T23:56:59Z")
Let me just predict right now that this will amount to absolutely nothing. I don’t know how anyone could think otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/99 "2025-01-09T01:44:49Z")
Why would you say that? You think the New York courts are going to face political pressure to let him off easy? Besides his personal legal liability, this could also serve as a useful fig leaf for GOP Senators looking for a politically palatable reason not to vote for him. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/100 "2025-01-09T01:48:23Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Besides his personal legal liability, this could also serve as a useful fig leaf for GOP Senators looking for a politically palatable reason not to vote for him. This. This will give them an excuse. ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/101 "2025-01-09T01:58:56Z")
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