RFK and Congressman Wrangle Over Vaccines [semi-satire]

Semi-News/Semi-Satire ^ | 29 June 2025 | John Semmens

[John Semmens]

At a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing Secretary of Health & Human Services Robert F Kennedy jr and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) locked horns over the issue of vaccine safety. It started with Pallone impugning Kennedy's approach to vaccines, saying "you've fired the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) without input from the dedicated medical experts who support the work that this committee has done to try to keep Americans healthy. You yourself have consistently sided with the conspiracy nuts who oppose the vaccines this committee has mandated every child be given before being allowed to attend public schools. You even opposed the COVID vaccine mandated by President Biden despite the fact that it saved millions of lives. How do you explain your actions?"

Kennedy replied "Congressman Pallone, 15 years ago, you were a champion of people who had suffered injuries from vaccines. Since then, you've accepted $2 million from pharmaceutical companies in contributions, more than any other member of this committee. You became a champion of the ACIP despite the fact that its recommendations were tainted by conflicts of interests."

At this point Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo), raised a point order, saying "Mr. Kennedy is impugning Mr. Pallone." Subcommittee Chair Buddy Carter (R-Ga) briefly conferred with with committee members and staffers, after which he said "impugning a member of Congress while testifying is improper. Mr. Kennedy, will you retract your remarks?"

Kennedy agreed to retract his remarks and added "my words on the matter weren't intended to impugn. They were intended to inform. Anyone can look up the campaign contributions Congressman Pallone has received and the votes he has taken on pharmaceutical legislation for themselves and draw their own conclusions."

Pallone objected to Kennedy's characterization of his stance on vaccines insisting that "I never was a champion of people who allegedly were harmed by vaccines. I have always stood behind the experts in the pharmaceutical industry and they have always stood behind me since I first entered Congress in 1988. We were united behind the idea that patented medicines are the best way to protect human health. I took their contributions so I could continue to promote this approach through necessary legislation."

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TOPICS: Government; Health/Medicine; Humor; Politics
KEYWORDS: corruption; experts; pallone; satire

[Clutch Martin]

They need to argue about why epipens have not come down in cost as promised by the last two presidents.