Bernie Sanders Grills RFK Jr. Over Alleged Support For … Infant Clothing

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) grilled Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his alleged support for baby onesies that touted the wearer’s unvaccinated status.

Sanders, officially an independent, joined with Democrats in the Senate Finance Committee as they used Wednesday’s hearing to highlight and attack some of Kennedy’s more controversial past statements — particularly regarding vaccines — while disregarding his more recent positions on the issues.

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Sanders began his line of inquiry with an observation, saying to Kennedy, “I think the gist of what you are trying to say today is you’re really pro-vaccine, you want to ask questions.”

Kennedy has said on numerous occasions that he does not oppose vaccines per se, but he does not support vaccines being recommended or mandated without first being studied for both safety and efficacy.

“You have started a group called the Children’s Health Defense. You’re the originator,” Sanders said then, pivoting to his first query. “Right now, as I understand it, on their website they are selling what’s called onesies. These are little things, clothing for babies. One of them is styled, ‘UNVAXXED, UNAFRAID.’ Next one — and they’re sold for 26 bucks apiece, by the way — next one is ‘NO VAX, NO PROBLEM.'”

“Now you’re coming before this committee and you say you are pro-vaccine, just want to ask some questions. And yet your organization is making money selling a child’s product to parents for 26 bucks, which casts fundamental doubt on you on the usefulness of vaccines,” Sanders said. “Can you tell us now that you will, now that you are pro-vaccine, that you’re going to have your organization take these products off the market?”

“Senator, I have no power over that organization. I’m not a part of it,” Kennedy said, pointing out the fact that he’d already resigned from the board at said organization.

“That was just a few months ago!” Sanders interrupted, insisting that Kennedy must still have some influence over what the organization sold or did not sell. “You founded that, you certainly have power. … Are you supportive of this?”

“I’ve had nothing to do with —” Kennedy objected again.

“Are you supportive of these onesies!?” Sanders demanded to know.

Kennedy did not budge, repeating, “I’m supportive of vaccines.”

“Are you supportive of these — this clothing, which is militantly anti-vaccine?” Sanders demanded again.

“I am supportive of vaccines. I want good science and I want to protect —” Kennedy tried again, but Sanders interrupted once more, substituting his own assertion.

“But you will not tell the organization you founded not to continue selling that product,” Sanders said.