As the calendar turns to the New Year, Nebraska’s U.S. Senators, Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, step into their roles in guiding the presidential transition. They are part of the consultative and approval process as the president-elect assembles his team for the upcoming term. Their stance as members of what is often deemed ‘the greatest deliberative body on earth’ positions them to have a significant influence on who will make up the new cabinet, a prominence often traced back to President James Buchanan’s era. The aspiration is for this description to remain meaningful as we navigate these uncertain times.
Some of the president-elect’s cabinet selections have stirred up intrigue amongst governmental circles. His first nominee for Attorney General faced allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor and drug misconduct in his office, according to a report from the House Ethics Committee. Despite his steadfast denials, the former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz prudently withdrew from consideration before the confirmation process could morph into a spectacle.
The focus of the Senate will undoubtedly center on the selection of candidates for other high-ranking cabinet positions, such as the Defense Secretary, the FBI Director, and the National Intelligence Chief. Yet, no nominee will attract as much attention as the one set to assume the role of Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
The Department of Health and Human Services seeks to enhance the health, welfare, and longevity of every American by providing effective healthcare services, and through robust advancements in fields like medicine, public health, and social services. Its mission is crucial to society, aiming to not only sustain life but improve its quality.
However, there’s a unique contradiction with RFK Jr’s appointed role as he has been a prominent figure in movements opposing vaccinations, which have been rooted in disproven scientific theories. He often frames his positions under the guise of improving others’ health, a noble mission that could potentially mask perceived threats.
RFK Jr.’s legal team has raised red flags by filing a petition a few years back to stop the FDA from approving the polio vaccine. Yet it’s not just about the vaccinations; there’s a wider concern. The anti-vaccine sentiment is a smaller piece of a growing anti-science wave in the U.S., a popularity that took center stage during the pandemic.
There’s a curious occurrence: A large number of Americans began following medical advice from radio talk show hosts and bloggers, rather than trained health professionals and epidemiologists. Separating RFK’s support from the critique of widely accepted scientific principles entails some complicated logic. Casting a vote for RFK, therefore, presents a challenging choice for Nebraskans like Fischer and Ricketts.
Nebraska heavily relies on science, not only for the maintenance of its citizens’ health in clinics and hospitals but also for its substantial contribution to global food production. Massive machinery, designed with precision science and technology, plants an abundance of crops across the state, from Falls City to Fort Robinson, helping feed the world.
Vaccines also foster a spirit of social responsibility. Although they are administered individually, the concept behind vaccinations is to prevent the spread of major communicable diseases like polio and measles on a wide scale. They are indeed the safest route to achieving herd immunity-
– protection against a specific disease across a significant population. It may seem apparent, but surviving the disease is another method to attain herd immunity. However, survival is the essential factor.
There’s also need to reconsider the discourse revolving around ‘mandates.’ Senator Fischer expressed on iHeart Radio last December 12th that ‘President Trump had a strong mandate…’ If assuming this indicates an automatic approval for all his cabinet nominations, then we might need to reevaluate the merit of such argument.
The triumphant team of Fischer and Ricketts not only bagged the presidential election but also the Senate and the House of Representatives. However, the election wasn’t as one-sided as it may seem. The president-elect received only slightly more than half of the nearly 155 million votes cast.
History was made, as the president-elect became the first GOP candidate to win the popular vote in nearly two decades. However, if we consider the eligible voters who didn’t vote and the ones who were too young to vote, out of the total 336 million Americans, only 76,735,585 chose the president.
Contrarily, Nebraska had an overwhelming majority of nearly 60% favoring the president-elect. With such a significant majority, it could be tempting for Fischer and Ricketts to easily approve the cabinet selections.
However, while these Senators are primarily elected to represent Nebraskans, their decisions extend beyond the state’s borders and have nationwide impacts. They must remember that their advice and consent generated broader consequences.
The president’s advisors, comprising his cabinet, hold considerable sway over their respective departments and the nation. They are appointed per Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, an authority that demands thorough and thoughtful deliberation. With their power, the need for serious contemplation cannot be overstated.