There seem to be some Democrats who are waffling about whether or not to support Kennedy for HHS secretary. Not only is he responsible for extending the Samoan measles epidemic, he is a long-term vaccine opponent whose closest advisor Aaron Siri is attempting to revoke approval of the polio vaccine.

Kennedy has been an antivaxxer for twenty plus years. He’s not going to approve any vaccines if he can help it. And you’re not going to get good food policy from him either–the rest of the administration won’t allow it. That’s just silly. No Very Serious Discussion of other policies would tolerate this level of hopeful ignorance.

What’s really frustrating is that the politics strongly favor the pro-vaccine position. If professional Democrats can’t fight here, then there really aren’t any red lines whatsoever. And this isn’t some abstract, distant policy: it will harm and kill people right here in the Ol’ U.S. of A.

It’s going to be a long four years….