Maddow Blog | In the case of confirmation hearing, RFK Jr. over his ignorance
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Maddow Blog | In the case of confirmation hearing, RFK Jr. over his ignorance

On the way into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first Senate Confirmation, many observers expected the long -term conspiracy theorist to meet tough questions about his many Outland ideasAnd he did that. It was also assumed that Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services would try to distance themselves from its long record of anti-vaccine activism- And he did that too.

It was also a reason for Kennedy to pretend he never said many of the ridiculous things he definitely said – And he did that too.

However, what was not entirely expected was to see HH’s nominated struggle poorly with the basics of the American healthcare system, which Kennedy could monitor. NBC News reported:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominees to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, stumbled several times during his first Senate Confirmation Wednesday when legislators pushed him about potential changes in Medicaid. … At the end of the hearing, Senator Ron Wyden, D-Reach.,

The Oregon Democrat’s assessment was more than fair given that Kennedy seemed to be outside his depth in response to questions that really should not have been particularly challenging.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, for example, asked the nominees about possible Medicaid reform plans, at what time Kennedy replied: “Most people on Medicaid are not satisfied. The premiums are too high, deductible is too high, the networks are narrow. “

In reality, there is plenty of public-opinion research that shows broad support for Medicaid, and the vast majority of its beneficiaries pay no premiums or deductible.

Shortly after, Kennedy also testified that he believes that Medicaid is “fully paid for” by “the federal government.” It was also wrong: State governments finance almost a third of the program.

You do not have to be a healthcare policy, intimately acquainted with granular and unclear details, to be aware of these facts. It is actually the kind of basic information one would assume that an HHS nominated would already know.

However, Kennedy stumbled upon his ignorance.

At the same hearing, the nominees seemed to fight how the federal emergency medical treatment and the work team are conducted at local hospitals. It led physician for America former President Meghana Rao to Tell the Washington PostWith reference to Kennedy, “I am completely terrified that he does not understand how Noma works.”

Under normal circumstances, Kennedy would not even be considered for such a position. After all, he is a conspiracy theorist with Frans faith and no relevant professional experience. In a healthy political environment, his nomination would be considered a sad joke.

In our political environment, however, Republicans are in the Senate Finance Committee seemed inclined to support Kennedy anyway. The nominees are now ready to meet a second hearing, this time with the Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Look at this space.

This article was originally published on Msnbc.com