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Caroline Kennedy Urges Senators to Reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Nomination

Caroline Kennedy Urges Senators to Reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Nomination

In a dramatic escalation of an ongoing family feud, Caroline Kennedy has publicly denounced her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling him “unfit” for the role of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. In a sharply worded letter addressed to key senators ahead of his confirmation hearings, Ms. Kennedy urged lawmakers to reject his nomination, citing his controversial stance on vaccines, personal misconduct, and a troubling family history of addiction.

A Family Divide Laid Bare

The family has long been a symbol of American political royalty, often presenting a united front in times of political and personal hardship. However, Caroline’s letter—first reported by The Washington Post—has shattered any illusion of unity, exposing deep-seated concerns over Robert F. Jr.’s past actions and political ambitions.

Ms. Kennedy, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Australia under President Biden, did not mince words. She accused her cousin of exploiting his family name to further an agenda that has endangered public health, particularly through his relentless opposition to vaccinations. She cited his history of spreading vaccine misinformation, as well as his financial stake in lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies producing lifesaving vaccines, including Merck’s HPV vaccine, which helps prevent cervical cancer.

“A Predator and a Charlatan”

One of the most shocking elements of Ms. Kennedy’s letter was her characterization of her cousin as a “predator” who played a destructive role in the lives of family members. She recounted how, in their youth, Mr. caroline led several of his siblings and cousins down a path of substance abuse.

“His basement, his garage, and his dorm room were the centers of the action where drugs were available,” she wrote. “It was often a perverse scene of despair and violence.”

The letter highlighted the tragic consequences of this behavior, recalling the premature death of Mr. Kennedy’s younger brother, David, who succumbed to a drug overdose in 1984. “Siblings and cousins who Bobby encouraged down the path of substance abuse suffered addiction, illness, and death, while Bobby has gone on to misrepresent, lie, and cheat his way through life,” she wrote.

A Dangerous Choice for Health Secretary

The controversy surrounding Robert F. Kennedy Jr. extends far beyond his personal history. Ms. Kennedy’s letter underscored the dangers of placing him at the helm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, particularly given his well-documented skepticism of vaccines.

“Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children—vaccinating his own children while hypocritically discouraging others from doing the same,” she asserted.

Her concerns were not unfounded. Mr. has been a vocal opponent of vaccine mandates and has been linked to the spread of misinformation regarding childhood immunizations. His advocacy against vaccines has been tied to preventable disease outbreaks, including the deadly measles outbreak in Samoa in 2019, which claimed dozens of lives.

A Political Gamble by Trump

Mr. Kennedy’s nomination is widely seen as a political calculation by former President Donald Trump, who selected him in a bid to solidify his appeal among anti-establishment and vaccine-skeptic voters. However, the move has alienated mainstream Republicans and sparked backlash from the medical and scientific communities.

Ms. Kennedy, who has been a staunch supporter of evidence-based public health initiatives, played a crucial role in promoting the HPV vaccine in Australia, where the country is now on track to eliminate cervical cancer. Her advocacy directly contrasts with Mr. Kennedy’s actions, which she believes undermine decades of progress in medical science.

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Kennedy Family Members Speak Out

Caroline is not alone in her opposition. Several other members of the family, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s siblings, have also spoken out against his nomination. His brother, Joseph Kennedy II, and his sister, Kerry, have publicly condemned his views on vaccines, calling them “deplorable and untruthful.”

Additionally, Ms. Kennedy’s son, Jack Schlossberg, took to social media to share a video of his mother reading the letter, praising her courage. “I’m so proud of my mother, who has lived a life of dignity, integrity, and service,” he wrote.

A Legacy at Stake

The name carries a weight of history, shaped by both triumphs and tragedies. Ms. Kennedy’s letter suggested that her cousin’s actions distort the family’s legacy, using the tragedies of their shared past for political gain. She pointed out how he frequently references the assassinations of their fathers—Robert F. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy—to further his own political ambitions.

“Bobby continues to grandstand off my father’s assassination, and that of his own father,” she wrote. “He has distorted President Kennedy’s legacy to advance his own failed presidential campaign—then groveled to Donald Trump for a job.”

A Call for Integrity

As Mr. Kennedy prepares for his confirmation hearings, the letter adds significant pressure on the Senate to scrutinize his qualifications. Ms. Kennedy’s final plea to lawmakers was clear: “Doctors, nurses, scientists, and caregivers deserve a secretary committed to advancing cutting-edge medicine to save lives, not rejecting the advances we have already made. They deserve a stable, moral, and ethical person at the helm of this crucial agency. They deserve better than Bobby —and so do the rest of us.”

With the hearings set to begin, the political fallout from this family rift is just beginning. Whether senators heed Caroline warning will be a defining moment in both the Kennedy family’s storied history and the future of American public health policy.

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