Bernie Sanders Hints at Openness to Confirming RFK Jr.

Senator expresses reservations but remains open to confirming Kennedy as Health Secretary.

Author

Greg Barnes
February 3rd, 2025 • Reading Time: 2 minutes

In a recent interview on CBS News' "Face The Nation," Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) indicated that he has not ruled out supporting the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services. While expressing significant concerns about Kennedy's views, Sanders emphasized the importance of addressing the nation's pressing health issues.

Key Points:

  • Health Disparities Highlighted: Sanders underscored the alarming disparities in U.S. life expectancy, noting that Americans live, on average, five years less than citizens of other wealthy nations. He also pointed out that working-class individuals in the U.S. have a life expectancy six to seven years shorter than their affluent counterparts. These statistics highlight systemic issues within the American healthcare system.

  • Concerns Over Vaccine Stance: Kennedy's controversial views on vaccines have been a focal point during his confirmation hearings. Despite numerous studies debunking the link between vaccines and autism, Kennedy has previously suggested a connection. Sanders expressed unease over Kennedy's reluctance to fully endorse vaccine safety, stating, "When you have Kennedy come forward in saying he cannot he believes, continues to believe that autism is caused by vaccines despite the fact that there have been a dozen studies over the years which disprove that... I was not particularly happy with his presentation."

  • Awaiting Final Decision: When pressed about his voting intentions, Sanders refrained from making a definitive statement, emphasizing that he will make his decision in due course. He acknowledged his past votes for some of President Trump's nominees and reiterated his concerns about Kennedy's positions.

The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on Kennedy's nomination on Tuesday. Given the committee's narrow Republican majority, the outcome remains uncertain, especially with bipartisan apprehensions regarding Kennedy's views on vaccines and his financial ties to vaccine-related litigation.

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