# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/102 "2025-01-09T02:35:22Z")
New York felon hires another New York felon. Yeah, that’ll get the law and order Republicans all steamed up. ---
**Author:** ![Ash\_trav511](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@Ash\_trav511](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ash_trav511)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2025, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/103 "2025-01-09T08:29:19Z")
Forget, for the time being, peeling off republican votes. I hope fervently democrats are united on this. As per The Hill newsreport, Senators Sanders and Fetterman are open to consider voting for RFK Jr. [https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/senate/5066601-senate-democrats-consider-rfk-jr/amp/](https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/senate/5066601-senate-democrats-consider-rfk-jr/amp/) Quote “As preparations for confirmation hearings begin to take shape, multiple sources say Sens. [Bernie Sanders](https://thehill.com/people/bernie-sanders/)(I-Vt.) and [John Fetterman](https://thehill.com/people/john-fetterman/)(D-Pa.), in particular, are at least considering voting for Kennedy, noting shared critiques on heavy corporate influence over food and a desire to promote a less chemical-laden country.” ---
**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:** [January 10, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/104 "2025-01-10T18:31:00Z")
Nooooooooooooooo! Don’t do it, guys! ---
**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:** [January 10, 2025, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/105 "2025-01-10T18:55:34Z")
> [@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. Please. These are the same people who played the Trump Two-step in the second impeachment, “It’s a crime, let the courts charge him! It was a political question, the Senate should have convicted him!” RFK Jr, he hasn’t even been formally accused of a crime, so there’s no legal impediment to his confirmation. Oh, he’s finally been charged? Well, it’s too disruptive to government function to impeach a cabinet secretary! ---
**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:** [January 28, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/106 "2025-01-28T20:01:08Z")
Guess you could say she’s not a fan. > **[Caroline Kennedy calls cousin, RFK Jr., a 'predator' before HHS hearing](https://www.aol.com/caroline-kennedy-calls-cousin-rfk-175934893.html)** > > Caroline Kennedy called her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy, a 'predator' ahead of his confirmation hearing for Health and Human Services secretary. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/107 "2025-01-29T15:44:43Z")
Appreciate the effort, but a letter from a prominent Democrat condemning RFK Jr. is probably not going to convince Republicans to not vote for him. FYI, the committee hearings are taking place now. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/108 "2025-01-29T18:03:44Z")
I came to ask if any brave, self-sacrificing soul was taking one for the team and watching RFKJr’s confirmation hearing? ---
**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 29, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/109 "2025-01-29T18:28:02Z")
No, but I’m following the Guardian’s live blog. The Dems (Wyden, Bennett, Warren, Sanders, Hassan) are raking him over the coals and bringing up his past anti-vax statements and his abrupt change of opinion WRT abortion rights. He’s just blowing them off and flat out denying he said things that he said. He said he “doesn’t know” if women who need abortions to save their lives should be able to get them. Bernie asked him if health care is a human right and he said it wasn’t a yes-or-no question. So far only one Republican has asked a question (“You’re not gonna take away our hamberders, are you?”). It will be interesting to see if he gets any tough questions from that side of the table. He’s clearly not making any effort to earn any Democratic votes. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/110 "2025-01-29T18:30:20Z")
I contacted a petition drive, & tossed my name in. I got a form email 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 29, 2025, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/111 "2025-01-29T18:41:04Z")
Hearing’s over, no Republicans asked questions AFAICT. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/112 "2025-01-29T19:23:15Z")
Well, _this_ should help: 🙄 > **[RFK Jr.'s Billionaire Ex-Running Mate Threatens Senators Who Vote Against His...](https://www.aol.com/rfk-jr-billionaire-ex-running-153943530.html)** > > Billionaire Nicole Shanahan is sending a stunning message to senators who feel skeptical about Robert F. Kennedy's nomination as health secretary, promising to help oust them from Congress if they vote against his confirmation ---
**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:** [January 29, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/113 "2025-01-29T20:07:23Z")
I’m grateful every single day for [**Citizens United**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._FEC), just as I’m grateful for cholera, Fentanyl, every single kind of cancer, and violent crime. :rolleyes: I’m not constitutionally an “eat the rich” kind of guy, but it’s not like those types don’t have a point. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/114 "2025-01-29T20:09:26Z")
I’d really thought that his Democratic origins and health-Nazi ideas would sour him with Republicans enough for him to get denied. I would think that they would want a true believer who would be more in line with 2025. But based on this it sounds like he’ll be confirmed along party lines. 🤮 I guess the question now is how many Scaramuccis before he tries to enact enough crazy ideas to get himself replaced. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/115 "2025-01-29T20:23:57Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > I guess the question now is how many Scaramuccis before he tries to enact enough crazy ideas to get himself replaced. Considering that crazy seems to be a key qualification for this cabinet, I predict there is not enough ink on Earth to print the number of crazy ideas required to force his replacement. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/116 "2025-01-29T20:48:00Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > No, but I’m following the Guardian’s live blog. > > {…snip…} > > So far only one Republican has asked a question Thanks for that. 🙄 > [**The Hearing Confirmed That Kennedy Is Trump’s Kind of Guy**](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/27/opinion/thepoint?unlocked_article_code=1.s04.U3_I.1PMNpm0eG9kj&smid=url-share) > > … > > As for the weirder elements of Kennedy’s record, it’s hard to see Republican senators getting all that worked up about the things like the [bear carcass](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/04/us/politics/robert-f-kennedy-jr-bear-central-park.html) or the conspiracy theories involving [the C.I.A](https://www.axios.com/2024/12/11/rfk-jr-cia-jfk-kennedy-assassination-amaryllis-fox). or his disrespectful treatment of women or his youthful delight ([per his cousin](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/us/politics/caroline-robert-kennedy-trump.html)) in puréeing small creatures to feed his pet falcon. If anything, those tendencies just make him seem more on brand for Trump world. And, as Pete Hegseth’s confirmation showed, Trump world is eager to steamroller over the concerns and objections of even Republican senators. > > Kennedy is a first-class disrupter — and one willing to change his shape as Trump sees fit. He could have 30 bear heads in his freezer and a dozen manifestoes denouncing modern medicine, and my money would still be on his getting confirmed. Kristi Noem will probably like him. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/117 "2025-01-29T20:49:40Z")
There is MAGA crazy and then there is just plain crazy. The problem with RFK is that most of his crazy ideas aren’t rooted in conservative ideology. If he starts trying to mandate what we can eat, or tries to replace big pharma with herbs and enemas that don’t make nearly as much profit, he could be in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/118 "2025-01-29T20:57:50Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > I’m grateful every single day for [**Citizens United**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._FEC), just as I’m grateful for cholera, Fentanyl, every single kind of cancer, and violent crime. Corporations. Corporations who love corporations. Are the luckiest corporations, in the world. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/119 "2025-01-29T23:16:40Z")
Somewhat objectively? He did poorly: > **[Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggles to answer questions on Medicare and Medicaid...](https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-nomination-when-where-to-watch-dacfabb9a43efac93bab058ad6a327d9)** > > If approved, Kennedy will control a $1.7 trillion agency that oversees food and hospital inspections, hundreds of health clinics, vaccine recommendations and health insurance for roughly half the country. The Republicans? There’s already a movement afoot to both sanctify _and_ canonize the man. I couldn’t help but wonder if he uses the _exact same_ bronzer as DJT or just one that’s eerily similar. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/120 "2025-01-30T00:56:56Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Kristi Noem will probably like him. They’re a team. She shoots the dogs; he puts them on display in Central Park. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451/121 "2025-02-01T15:28:11Z")
> **[Pro-RFK Jr. letter to the Senate includes names of doctors whose licenses...](https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-kennedy-health-secretary-doctors-vaccines-a3dc5bdb0be5da29dccaef91c19c9ce4)** > > A letter submitted to the U.S. Senate that states it was sent by physicians in support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services includes the names of doctors who have had their licenses revoked, suspended or... > … > > The letter was meant to lend credibility to Kennedy’s nomination, which has faced strenuous opposition from medical experts due to his [two decades of anti-vaccine activism](https://apnews.com/article/rfk-kennedy-election-vaccines-2ccde2df146f57b5e8c26e8494f0a16a). Republican Sen. [Bill Cassidy of Louisiana](https://apnews.com/article/cassidy-kennedy-trump-health-secretary-e826bc40fddf90829f6438681c5d9275), a medical doctor who boasts on his official website of an effort he created to vaccinate 36,000 children against hepatitis B, **expressed hesitancy** about Kennedy’s nomination and is seen as a key vote. > … My bold. **“Expressed hesitancy”**??? That’s the best ya got, Cassidy? 🤦‍♀️ * * * * * * Continuing from the article. > … > > The AP found that in addition to the physicians who had faced disciplinary action, many of the nearly 800 signers are not doctors. The letter with the names of those who signed was provided to the AP by Sen. Ron Johnson’s office after he entered it into the Congressional Record on Wednesday during the first of Kennedy’s two confirmation hearings. > > … > > The AP’s review found that at least 10 doctors who signed the letter had run into trouble with state medical boards or their board certification body for a variety of alleged misconduct. Sanctions they faced included having their license revoked or suspended, being put on probation, receiving a reprimand or other action. One received a [warning letter from the Federal Trade Commission](https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/warning-letters/covid-19-letter_to_dr._brownsteins_holistic_medicine.pdf), which said he was unlawfully advertising products as treatments or prevention for COVID-19, including intravenous nutrient therapy and vitamins. > … Birds of a feather. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-rfk-jr-really-become-hhs-secretary-yes-he-did/1009451.md?page=7)