Kennedy, then a prominent anti-vaccine activist, preceded the visit with a letter to the Samoan prime minister requesting to study the Pacific island nation’s measles, mumps and rubella vaccines after the deaths of two children who had received them. In the letter, he used the words vaccine or vaccination eight times.

Kennedy’s Samoa visit has become one of the most contentious events in his career. At the time, he was leading a nonprofit known for its anti-vaccine activism. Critics said the visit fueled anti-vaccine sentiment in Samoa, which later experienced the measles outbreak that killed 83 people, mostly children under 5.

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[–] 22 points 2 months ago (1 child)
  • [–] 7 points 2 months ago

    All the old documents refute that, as well. It was no secret at the time, and nothing new has come to light that offers any other explanation...you know, aside from him saying it had nothing to do with that.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago*

    Every headline about RFK jr, should read something like "RFK Jr, child killer, .... "

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  • 21 comments in c/politics@lemmy.world view that post
    [–] 31 points 2 months ago

    Huh. Too bad perjury isn't a crime anymore if you work for the oompa loompa.

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  • [–] 21 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    So perjury? Anything going to be done about it?

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  • [–] 10 points 2 months ago

    Attorneys said lawmakers could use Kennedy’s statements as grounds for hearings, an impeachment inquiry or creating other obstacles for him. But such action is unlikely under the current Republican-led Congress

    HHS did not make Kennedy available for an interview. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The Samoan prime minister’s office and the former prime minister who corresponded with Kennedy did not respond to requests for comment.

    If they just ignore it and ignore you than they can get away with breaking the law.

    It's almost like they're above the law?

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  • [–] 5 points 2 months ago

    No, and that's not even new. Perjury is almost never charged.

    In large part because it's nearly impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury, that the person actively knew they were lying about a response, instead of something like misremembering.

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  • [–] 14 points 2 months ago* (1 child)

    Cassidy said he voted to confirm Kennedy because he received commitments that Kennedy would not change certain vaccine policies and guidance. For example, Cassidy said when announcing his vote, Kennedy pledged to maintain a federal vaccine advisory committee “without changes.” Once in office, Kennedy ousted all 17 members of the committee and named his own advisers.

    Real Leopards Ate My Face material right there

    Kennedy’s Samoa visit has become one of the most contentious events in his career. At the time, he was leading a nonprofit known for its anti-vaccine activism. Critics said the visit fueled anti-vaccine sentiment in Samoa, which later experienced the measles outbreak that killed 83 people, mostly children under 5.

    And his drug-induced paranoia lead to a growing climate of anti-vax sentiment which resulted in the death of 83 people.

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  • [–] 14 points 2 months ago (6 children)

    Why isn't media asking who funds the Children's Health Defense Fund, which paid RFK $500k/yr.

    Primarily Vanguard and Fidelity. CHDF takes in $15M a year now to fund anti vaccine efforts.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago (5 children)

    It's probably donor advised funds that vanguard and fidelity are directing towards that org, not of their own volition, just a clarification. Those 2 don't really spend any major amounts of money on discretionary causes, compared to the literal hundreds of billions they use on behalf of their clients.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

    donor advised funds that vanguard and fidelity are directing towards that org

    Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund $1.1M

    Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program $2.2M

    Selz Foundation $500K

    So...antivax is funded partially by taxpayers as these donations are a tax write off.

    Donations went up 500% since Trump took power, so we can assume these donations are at the request of Trump.

    Fucking media needs to follow the money. Antivax is only about money.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (3 children)

    When I worked at Fidelity it was 3.9 Trillion dollars in assets under management. It has risen since then by a couple trillion

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    Sure, but that's what they are managing. If you order a burger for delivery, it's not like Uber/doordash are purchasing a burger, they're just managing your order.

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  • [–] 8 points 2 months ago

    Changing the word "said" to "testified" would improve the headline

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  • [–] 7 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    Is Rfk Jr just a straight up eugenicist trying to kill "weak" children?

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  • [–] 5 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    Yes. That is why demonizing autistic folks is important to him. Remember all of the teary eyed "they will never hold a job or buy a house..."

    Which is a much better description of the people who die from lack of vaccine availability or his most recent measles outbreak.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago*

    That is why demonizing autistic folks is important to him.

    They don't focus so much on the neurodivergent because of the extreme cases such as complete non-verbal ASD presentation or ADHD so severe the patient needs to be a ward of the state.

    Those cases are about as numerous as there are trans people in our society; single digit percentages.

    They focus so much on the demonization of the neurodivergent because the grand majority are entirely functional (at the cost of much chafing) within the bullshit societal paradigms as they currently stand...

    But wouldn't be, under the societal paradigms they want, and the functionally neurodivergent are, by definition, somewhat harder to model than a statistically average neurotypical presentation.

    They fear the ungovernable.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    I want this asshole to get bit by a rabid bat and refuse a vaccine.

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  • 1 comment in c/usa@midwest.social view that post
    [–] 1 point 2 months ago

    You can’t make this shit up

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