The political fallout from the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as U.S. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reached a fever pitch. At the center of the storm is Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) a physician and the chair of the Senate’s health committee who provided crucial vote to confirm the known anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist after receiving a public pledge Kennedy would not alter the CDC’s long-standing guidance that vaccines do not cause autism.
Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Senator Cassidy found himself repeatedly pressed by host Jake Tapper to address the fact that Kennedy immediately betrayed that promise. On November 19 the CDC’s “vaccine safety” page was updated to question the scientific consensus claiming the statement “vaccines do not cause autism” is not evidence-based.Tapper’s blunt accusation to Cassidy, Kennedy flat-out “lied” to him.
The Undermining of Scientific Consensus
The changes directed by RFK Jr. on the CDC website have been roundly condemned by medical experts for injecting unscientific public health advice into the nation’s premier health agency.
Despite Tapper’s insistence Senator Cassidy consistently skirted placing direct blame on the HHS Secretary, instead choosing to focus on the key universally accepted medical truth.
“Well, first let me say, what is most important to the American people — speaking as a physician vaccines are safe,” Cassidy told Tapper. “As it’s been pointed out, it’s actually not disputed it’s actually quite well proven that vaccines are not associated with autism.”
Cassidy noted that while “fringe out there.thinks so” the message must remain clear. Then he provided sobering real-world examples of the danger of vaccine hesitancy two children dead in West Texas from not receiving the Measles vaccine and a pregnant woman who lost her child after exposure.
Conflict Points
| RFK Jr.’s Action (Post-Confirmation) | Scientific Consensus | Cassidy’s Stance |
| Directed CDC to change language on autism and vaccines. | Decades of studies prove no causal link. | Reaffirms: “Vaccines are safe” but avoids direct criticism of RFK Jr. |
| Defied a core pledge made during his confirmation process. | Undermines public trust in federal health agencies. | Stresses the need to “make America healthy,” downplays the website’s impact. |
The Personal Toll: RFK Jr.’s Family Speaks Out
The political and public health storm surrounding RFK Jr. was made deeply personal by his cousin, Tatiana Schlossberg. In heartbreaking essay published over the weekend, Schlossberg the granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy revealed her terminal cancer diagnosis and sharply criticized her cousin’s controversial agenda.
Schlossberg’s essay torched RFK Jr. for negative impact his policies have had on the health system she relies on for her life saving treatments. She noted that his antivaccine stances and cuts to medical research funding directly threaten immunocompromised people like herself raising fears that essential vaccines might become unavailable.
Tapper used this powerful family led criticism to press Senator Cassidy further, asking why the senator wouldn’t condemn the appointee by name. Cassidy deflected accusing the journalist of pursuing political conflict “Of course it makes news if Republicans fight each other.”
This refusal to hold RFK Jr. accountable despite the evidence that he lied to secure his position leaves the Senate’s health committee chair open to strong criticism that he prioritized a political appointee over the established integrity of U.S. public health institutions.
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FAQs
What was RFK Jr.’s specific promise to Senator Cassidy?
During his confirmation process RFK Jr. oath Senator Cassidy that he would not remove or alter the statement on the CDC website confirming that vaccines do not cause autism.
What is the Scientific Consensus on Autism and Vaccines?
The huge scientific consensus supported by decades of large scale peer reviewed research is that there is no link between vaccines (including the MMR vaccine and the preservative thimerosal) and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Why did Senator Cassidy cast the Crucial Vote for RFK Jr.?
Cassidy a Republican and physician stated that he cast his vote based on the assurance from Kennedy that he would respect the scientific findings on vaccines by keeping the existing language on the CDC website.
Call to Action (CTA):
The integrity of our public health institutions matters. What action should Senator Cassidy take now to restore trust in the CDC’s guidance?
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Disclaimer:
This article is an analysis of a political and public health controversy and is based on statements made by Senator Bill Cassidy, comments from CNN’s Jake Tapper reporting on changes to the CDC website and an essay by Tatiana Schlossberg. The content discusses the debate surrounding vaccine safety, the scientific consensus on autism and vaccines and political accountability.