Democratic senator blasts RFK Jr’s vaccine theories forward of affirmation hearings: ‘Kids will get killed’ | EUROtoday

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Robert F Kennedy Jr is dealing with a predictably skeptical reception from senators on Capitol Hill as he pursues a bid to turn out to be the following Health secretary for incoming president Donald Trump.

His lengthy historical past of feedback and activism towards vaccines — which he falsely blames for inflicting autism in youngsters — has earned him ideological foes amongst Democrats and Republicans alike. Now, Kennedy must persuade a few of these average Republican senators to vote for his affirmation, at the same time as he faces a barrage of assaults from Democrats. Most of these Republicans are being quiet about their place on his affirmation to this point.

On Sunday, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy attacked a conservative activist for calling him “deranged” in response to among the criticism RFK jr has confronted.

“We don’t have to treat conspiracy theorists like RFK Jr. with kid gloves. It’s simple. He’s spent his career fighting school vaccine programs. If they atrophy, kids will get killed,” tweeted the senator.

He added: “[E]ven if RFK Jr. doesn’t legally weaken school vaccine requirements (and he might!), his elevation to HHS Secretary will amplify his conspiracy views. When vaccine rates drop because of RFK Jr.’s conspiracy spreading – kids get killed.”

As proof, Murphy pointed to a measles outbreak in Samoa and pinned the blame for the disastrous penalties on Kennedy’s activism towards the measles jab within the island nation in 2018.

“In 2018 RFK Jr. travelled all the way to Samoa to help local efforts to undermine confidence in children’s vaccines. It worked. Measles vaccinations plummeted and a year later 83 were dead and 1800 were hospitalized. Mostly little kids,” wrote Murphy.

The senator concluded: “MAGA wants to shut down dissent by claiming that we are “inciting violence” when we tell the truth about the stakes of Trump’s nominees and policies. But the truth is RFK wants to impose policies that will kill our kids. Don’t be scared to say what’s true.”

Kennedy has beforehand denied any duty for the results of the measles outbreak in Samoa, saying: “I had nothing to do with people not vaccinating in Samoa. I never told anybody not to vaccinate. I didn’t, you know, go there for any reason to do with that.”

It stays unclear if Kennedy will make it previous the Senate; his focus stays on convincing Republicans to help his affirmation. But a report in The Hill signifies that sources near the places of work of two Democratic senators, Bernie Sanders and John Fetterman, consider that the 2 and presumably others could also be open to giving the controversial Trump nominee a listening to. Sanders is a vocal opponent of “over-processing” practices within the US meals business, which he and lots of others (together with Kennedy) argue is answerable for persistent well being points in America.

That view was echoed by a Republican senator, Bill Cassidy, on Sunday. The Louisiana senator, a doctor, informed Fox News that he was attributable to meet with Kennedy within the subsequent few days, whereas stating that he agreed with the Cabinet nominee on processed meals — and disagreed with him on vaccinations.

“I agree with him on some things, and disagree on others,” stated Cassidy. “Food safety – I think ultra-processed food is a problem. Vaccinations; he’s wrong on.”