Was it because Democrats consider Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. a turncoat? Were they just trying to sabotage him because he’s an appointee of Donald Trump? Or are they horrified at the idea of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) being run by someone who trusts the science only when it isn’t politically tainted or profit-driven? For one or all of those reasons, several Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee launched angry – and, in one or two cases, unhinged – barrages against RFK Jr. during round one of their former party colleague's confirmation hearing on Jan. 29.
One Democrat accused him of selling out his beliefs just to get a Cabinet post in the Trump administration. Others claimed he had pushed “conspiracy theories.” In response, RFK Jr. cited relatively recent examples of being labeled a conspiracy theorist for making claims that turned out to be accurate. Remember his assertions during the pandemic that COVID vaccines neither protected people from the virus nor prevented transmission? Those were soon proven correct.
Convicting RFK Jr. Even Before He’s Confirmed
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) may have been the worst offender. She reeled off all kinds of ways in which Kennedy, should he be confirmed to run HHS, could abuse his authority to make it easier and more profitable to sue pharmaceutical companies – something RFK Jr. has allegedly made more than $2 million doing. It is not unreasonable to suspect that, rather than merely giving voice to genuine concerns, Warren was attempting to plant the seed in people’s heads that these were things Kennedy would do if confirmed.
It was a weak effort to discredit a nominee for things he had not actually done – especially considering the many ways in which members of Congress can leverage their own offices to set themselves up with lucrative private-sector gigs. Many from both parties have done just that.
Round two for RFK Jr. comes on Thursday, Jan. 30. He is likely to have an easier time. Notably, Kennedy had some vocal supporters on hand. He was greeted with applause and whoops when he entered the chamber and again when he exited for a short break during the proceedings.
The Disruptors: Patel and Gabbard Up Next
Also on Jan. 30 are hearings for Tulsi Gabbard, whom Trump nominated for director of national intelligence, and Kash Patel, tapped to lead the FBI. Both are likely to rival RFK Jr.’s for theatrics and fiery exchanges
Gabbard is no hawk when it comes to government secrecy and surveillance powers, so her confirmation is far from in the bag. Heaven forbid that a national intelligence director believes that government snooping should be held in check or that citizens have the right to know what the authorities are doing, supposedly in the name of protecting them. Gabbard advocated for the pardoning of National Security Administration (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden.
The Democrat-turned-Republican also has faced criticism for daring to suggest that Russia was provoked into its invasion of Ukraine. Having poured billions of dollars into Ukraine’s defense – with practically nothing to show for it – most lawmakers blanch at even the faintest whispers of uncertainty about the wisdom of supporting Ukraine. One thing most Republicans and Democrats appear to agree on is that defending Ukraine is worth an infinite amount of money. They can’t rationally explain why.
Gabbard’s answers to some really tough questions should make for fascinating TV – assuming her inquisitors permit her to give some answers, which is not always the case at congressional hearings.
Patel is no doubt in for a hard slog at his hearing. Democrats have become extremely protective of the FBI ever since Crossfire Hurricane, the ultimately futile counterintelligence operation launched to uncover “collusion” between Russia and the 2016 Trump presidential campaign. Patel makes no secret of the fact that he plans to cleanse the Bureau of suspected anti-Trump (and anti-conservative) ideological bias.
Patel does have the backing of more than 50 former FBI agents, who sent a letter to top senators – both Democrats and Republicans – urging them to confirm Trump’s nominee. Among other things, the letter says the FBI is “broken” and that the Bureau “has been used as a tool in the weaponization of the Department of Justice to go after its political enemies.”
The letter went on to catalogue many of the FBI’s recent and current challenges, asserting that “Mr. Patel has proven he possesses the breadth of experience required to address these challenges. His leadership, expertise, and vision make him uniquely qualified to guide the FBI through this pivotal moment.”
Kennedy, Gabbard, and Patel - the nomination of these three disruptors is especially egregious to the left. Democrats showed it during the first RFK Jr. hearing, and it's likely they'll do the same with the others. But to what end? With the filibuster for presidential nominees "nuked," it comes down to the 53 Republican senators to decide.
