Sen. Tillis should heed the call of NC physicians to reject RFK, Jr. as HHS secretary

The Bottom Line from NC Newsline

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Photo: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images)

President-elect Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – is an interesting fellow who’s sometimes espoused good ideas. Though he often contradicts himself, Kennedy has generally defended reproductive freedom and has long blasted giant food and chemical corporations for endangering public health.

But as thousands of physicians across the country — including more than 400 here in North Carolina – pointed out in an open letter to senators this week, Kennedy is also a delusional conspiracy theorist. Not only does he spread dangerous misinformation on many topics – most notably on the value of vaccinations against disease – he’s also bizarrely pledged to dismantle much of the nation’s vitally important public health infrastructure.

The bottom line: As the letter notes: quote “This appointment is a slap in the face to every health care professional who has spent their lives working to protect patients from preventable illness and death.” Senator Thom Tillis, who sits on a committee charged with reviewing Kennedy’s nomination, should heed the physicians’ plea and vote to oppose it.

For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.