Bloomberg Says Kennedy Would Be ‘Beyond Dangerous’ as Health Secretary

On Tuesday, Michael R. Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, launched a fierce attack on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., using his opening address at a public health conference to assert that appointing Kennedy as health secretary would be “extremely dangerous” and could lead to “massive medical malpractice.”

Speaking at the Bloomberg American Health Summit in Washington, a two-day event, Bloomberg urged Senate Republicans to convince President-elect Donald Trump to reconsider his nomination of Kennedy for health secretary. If the president cannot be persuaded, Bloomberg argued, it is the Senate’s “responsibility to our nation, and especially to our children,” to vote against confirming Kennedy.https://wordpress.com/

Bloomberg also criticized Kennedy for his role in discouraging measles vaccinations during an outbreak in Samoa, which resulted in 83 deaths. “Parents who are influenced by vaccine skepticism care deeply for their children and want to protect them,” Bloomberg said. “We need leaders who will support them in that goal, not conspiracy theorists who frighten them into making choices that put their children at risk of disease.”

A major philanthropist, Bloomberg has invested billions in public health initiatives through his charitable organization, Bloomberg Philanthropies, as well as through contributions to Johns Hopkins University’s School of Public Health, which now bears his name. The school and the charity co-hosted the summit, which focused on “advancing public health in uncertain political times.”

Mr. Bloomberg has spent billions of dollars promoting public health, both through his charity, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and through donations to the School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, which now bears his name. The school and the charity hosted the health summit, with the theme of “advancing public health in uncertain political times.”

“Parents who have been swayed by vaccine skepticism love their children and want to protect them, and we need leaders who will help them do that,” he said, “not conspiracy theorists who will scare them into decisions that will put their children at risk of disease.”

Like Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Bloomberg has fought battles against processed foods and has tried to promote healthy eating. But that, it appears, is where their like-mindedness ends.

Among other things, Mr. Bloomberg chided Mr. Kennedy for “nutty conspiracy theories,” including making the “outrageous false claim” that the Covid-19 shot was the “deadliest vaccine ever made.” He said Mr. Trump deserved credit for Operation Warp Speed, the fast-track initiative that produced coronavirus vaccines in record time, noting that studies have shown that the vaccines have saved an estimated 20 million lives around the world.

With experts warning of a possible bird flu outbreak in humans, Mr. Bloomberg said senators would face some hard questions: “With the nation facing a possible bird flu outbreak, are they really prepared to roll the dice on the lives of their constituents, by placing someone in charge of public health who has made it clear that he will prevent the approval of lifesaving vaccines?”

Although both Bloomberg and Kennedy have fought against the harmful effects of processed foods and advocated for healthier eating, their common ground appears to end there.

Bloomberg took aim at Kennedy for promoting “wild conspiracy theories,” including the “outrageous false claim” that the COVID-19 vaccine was “the deadliest vaccine ever made.” He also commended Trump for his role in Operation Warp Speed, the initiative that fast-tracked the development of COVID-19 vaccines, noting that studies have shown the vaccines have saved an estimated 20 million lives worldwide.

With experts warning of a potential avian flu outbreak, Bloomberg added that senators would face critical questions: “Given the threat of a bird flu pandemic, are they really willing to gamble with the lives of their constituents by appointing someone to lead public health who has clearly stated his intention to block the approval of life-saving vaccines?”