Dr. Deborah Birx says she is "excited" for data-driven discussions in RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearings

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

November 17, 2024 / 3:27 PM EST


Dr. Deborah Birx, former White House Coronavirus response coordinator, said Sunday she is "excited" for the data on key health issues that will surface in Senate confirmation hearings for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's controversial pick for Health and Human secretary who has spread false information on vaccines and autism.

"I'm actually excited that in a Senate hearing he would bring forward his data and the questions that come from the senators would bring forth their data," Birx said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." "What I know for sure is he's a very smart man who can bring his data and his evidence base forward, and we can have a discussion that many Americans believe already is a problem."

President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday in a social media post that he'll nominate Kennedy to oversee the Health and Human Services Department, which encompasses multiple agencies and has a $1 trillion budget. The position has to be approved by the Senate, which, come January, will be controlled by Republicans, which could make the nomination process easier but is not a guarantee.

"I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)," Trump wrote in a social media post last week. He said Americans have been "crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation" about public health, and Kennedy would "Make America Great and Healthy Again!" At an October rally, Trump promised to let Kennedy "go wild" on health issues.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deborah-birx-rfk-jr-confirmation-hearings-face-the-nation/

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(I suppose she angling for a job in there again... the laugh for the night)

[BOSSHOG]

1. I'm having a hard time

Figuring out her position based on that interview. Trump made her miserable with his nonsense. She almost sounds mocking of Kennedy. Bring your stuff and we can have a discussion? Many Americans already believe is a problem?

[AloeVera]

3. She proved herself to be a Trump sycophant during COVID.

She went along with him far too much.

I don't think it's mocking she's doing here. She is already kow-towing to Kennedy. Or at least going-along-to-get-along. No surprise.

[yardwork]

32. That's how I read it, too.

[Traildogbob]

2. Is she

Skarfy McSkarfison?

[CurtEastPoint]

8. Indeed she is....

[Traildogbob]

9. Well damn

That’s not so reassuring. We have seen how she will speak up while shit is being spewed. Who can forget that look when her boss was talking bleach and light insertion!

[Klarkashton]

4. He always says he has been shown the data. He has no data.

He is a mentally ill piece of shit.

[TexasBushwhacker]

28. He's not a physician. He's not a scientist. He's not a nutritionist.

He's an attorney and a member of a legendary family. He has a right to his opinion, as we all do, but he is just as UNQUALIFIED as Trump's other picks.

[rsdsharp]

5. Maybe she can lend him a scarf for the hearing (if there is one).

And she can give him advice on how to look like you want to disappear when the orange asshole starts talking about inoculations using bleach.

[JohnSJ]

6. How does she know "he is a very smart man" and bring necessary data to

substantiate his claims?

His autism link with vaccines was widely discredited, and his inane remarks about fluoride has been also.

He isn’t a scientist, he is a conspiracy crack pop who wrote a hate filled book about Dr. Fauci that prompted death threats against Dr. Fauci and his family.

He is a low life scum, but there is no doubt the worthless excuse we call the media will give legitimacy to this kook.

Fortunately I don’t participate as a spectator in the media circus.

[reACTIONary]

20. She doesn't think he is smart, nor does she think....

.... he can substantiate his claims. She knows that if she just calls him an idiot, she will shut down those who might otherwise listen.

She is showing confidence in a fair fight, which is the right approach.

[JohnSJ]

21. If you are saying she was being sarcastic I have no idea because I didn't see the interview.

Showing confidence in a "fair fight", won't cut it.

What it will end up doing is give legitimacy to anti-vaccine, conspiracy nuts, and anti-science purveyors.

They will gish gallop with uncredible data and sources, and I sure wouldn't count on much push back if there are congressional hearings, though the sociopath may try to get his appointments when Congress is on recess.

[reACTIONary]

25. No, I do not think she was being sarcastic, she was being ....

.... strategic. She was setting the expectation that there would, or should be, a hearing based on scientific facts. At this point, that is the best way forward. Maybe we can keep K from being confirmed, and maybe not. But denunciations and out-of-hand dismissals will not.

If we can't stop his appointment, at least we can set the stage for a good, solid "We told you so".

[JohnSJ]

26. Ok, but that strategy sure didn't work for the sociopath, and I

don’t think it will work in the republican controlled house, but we will see.

[reACTIONary]

27. The confirmation hearings take place in the senate, not the house...

.... The repubs have a majority, but not a decisive majority. The senate is not as bat shit crazy as is the house. We would have to get something like five repubs to turn traitor.

No reason to be optimistic, but maybe reason enough to be hopeful.

[JohnSJ]

29. Thank-you. They may not be as batshit crazy but with the likes of graham, cruz hawley, turberville, etc. While I think

there are 5 Senate republicans who won't drink the kool aide, I am not so sure. Thune is more a "traditional" republican as opposed to MAGAs, but that was also how lindsey graham was viewed by some, before he became full MAGA.

That being said, I would like to think there is a chance that completely unhinged nominees would be rejected, but I also think there is a real chance the sociopath may try a backdoor recess appointments.

[3catwoman3]

7. Is her scarf too tight and cutting off the oxygen supply...

...to her brain?

[PortTack]

10. This kind of shit is so offensive!

[Solly Mack]

11. Light up the ass, beaming out of her head, calling her people to come bring her home.

[moniss]

12. Dear Dr. Birx, You were standing

right there and allowed a madman to knowingly disseminate false information that endangered, caused illness and took the lives of people in the many thousands. A person of integrity would have spoken up, spoken out and as a last resort resigned rather than to stand there silently, as you did, which allowed people to use your silence as indication of endorsement of that false information. Dr. Birx I don't give a f**k what you look forward to, your opinion on anything or whether you think the American people should care about you or what you have to say in any way shape or form. Dear Dr. Birx at long last it would be the best thing you could do to just STFU and go away somewhere and try to live with the fact that when it came time that you were called upon to "do no harm" you were a complete and utter failure.

[FarPoint]

13. No surprise with this one....

How does she retain an active medical license?

[littlemissmartypants]

14. Clearly she's just another unindicted co-conspirator at this point.

Dr. Lights on, nobody's home.

[Pototan]

15. Normalizing crazy

I cannot recommend this OP because it gives visibility to dangerous misinformation. I know this is an article from a reputable news agency. However, that's my point.

[Grins]

16. She thinks the hearing is going to be about the effing DATA???

What the….?????

[travelingthrulife]

17. So this woman is STILL stuck on stupid??

[Vinca]

18. Another one trying to stay out of the gulag???

[reACTIONary]

19. I think she is being smart and very strategic....

.... She is presenting herself as being open minded and willing to listen - with the proviso that the discussion is based on facts, both what he presents, and what he is confronted with during questioning.

She KNOWS he won't win that discussion!

If she just called him a know-nothing idiot, she would have immediately cast her (and our) opposition as knee-jerk obstructionism. It would have turned off those who might be persuaded and predisposed them against listening at all.

She made a smart move.

[PortTack]

22. Where were all those smart moves when she stood along side tsf and did speak up? She can just FRO

[reACTIONary]

24. I don't know, what I do know is...

... that in the current context, the approach that she has taken is the right approach to obtain the best possible outcomes. Denunciations and out-of-hand dismissals would be ineffective.

Telling people "fuck off" may be personally satisfying, but it won't move us in the right direction.

[PortTack]

31. would agree most of the time..but she was particularly neglectful of her position in his first term. I do not trust her!

So ya she can just go away..or FO!

[hamsterjill]

23. Is it really all that difficult to figure out?

She’s a spineless submissive who went along with Trump before and will do so again if needed.

Let’s not muddy the waters here. Keep your eye on the ball and let’s keep it straight who the “good guys” are and who the “bad guys” are.

She’s not one of the good ones.

[tableturner]

30. She's setting him up w/expectation that facts, data, and tough questions expose him.