Sins of the brother
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* You probably saw something about this yesterday…
Donald Trump asked Robert Kennedy Jr., a proponent of a widely discredited theory that vaccines cause autism, to chair a new commission on vaccine safety and scientific integrity, according to Kennedy.
The stunning move would contradict established science, medicine and the government’s position on the issue. It comes after Trump - who has long been critical of vaccines - met at Trump Tower with Kennedy, who has spearheaded efforts to roll back child vaccination laws.
Trump transition officials did not respond to requests for comment on the commission.
Speaking to reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, on Tuesday, Kennedy said that Trump called him to request the meeting, and he accepted the position on the new commission. It is unclear exactly what role the commission would play.
Team Trump later put out a release calling it an “autism commission,” not a vaccine commission, and claiming that no final decisions have been made at this time.
* Anyway, I told you this story because Robert Kennedy Jr.’s brother Chris is talking about running for governor. So, I wondered whether the two shared Robert’s view on vaccines and autism.
Chris comes from a big family, I was told, and members of that family hold different views on various issues. And on this issue, I was informed, Chris Kennedy does not agree with his brother.
- Sick & Tired - Wednesday, Jan 11, 17 @ 9:37 am:
Glad to know Chris isn’t an idiot on that subject.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Jan 11, 17 @ 9:39 am:
No reason to doubt that Chris isn’t nuts on vaccines.
But if his brother has some high profile job from Trump, especially on this issue, that’s gonna hurt him in the primary.
Plus, yes, Chris comes from a big family. What ELSE are they up to?
- MSIX - Wednesday, Jan 11, 17 @ 9:43 am:
=Chris comes from a big family, I was told, and members of that family hold different views on various issues.=
The LL Bean family made that exact same point yesterday in response to boycott calls because one of the Bean family had supported a Trump PAC.
Even in my family there are stark differences of opinion when it comes to politics. You can’t pick your family.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 11, 17 @ 9:57 am:
Meh, the Illinois GOP is a big fan of the Kennedy family and legacy.
They have already produced a video attesting to the greatness of JFK, RFK and Ted Kennedy.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jan 11, 17 @ 9:59 am:
The Ricketts
The Pritzkers
The Kennedys
The DeWitts
All are prominent families who have large variances in politics and/or viewpoints. My brother and I are markedly different in how we view the world. It happens.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 11, 17 @ 10:19 am:
You can’t run on your family name, then expect you’ll be able to run from it at your convenience. Well, you can try, but…
- A Jack - Wednesday, Jan 11, 17 @ 10:38 am:
Donald Trump, the champion of fake news, except when it applies to him.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 11, 17 @ 11:19 am:
Robert Jr. who jets to many and varied locales to denounce the evil of fossil fuels. Hypocrite, and now, leading the charge against sound, proven benefits of vaccinations. Go away Kennedy’s.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jan 11, 17 @ 12:32 pm:
It figures. Junior is against marijuana legalization efforts. My support for legalization has grown since observing legalization in my travels, and reading about the economic and fiscal benefits.
- striketoo - Wednesday, Jan 11, 17 @ 10:20 pm:
How low this family has sunk. Not the vaccination bunkum, the relationship with Trump.