'Didn't see that coming!' Republicans shock with attacks on RFK Jr. in key hearing

Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) appeared apoplectic during the hearing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Thursday, startling those who frequently see the two men carrying the water of President Donald Trump and his administration.

Cassidy and Barrasso both voted to confirm Kennedy to the post, buying into his promises that vaccines would always be available to any and all who wanted them. In fact, there is now a fear that after mass firings at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and on the vaccine advisory board, there will be recommendations that HHS suddenly cannot authorize the vaccines as "safe" until "further study."

Such a move triggers problems for some states that mandate following CDC guidelines and insurance companies that classify vaccines as free under their plans. There are already problems for those seeking the COVID-19 booster that becomes available this month. Some states will no longer have the vaccine easily available at places like CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and other grocery pharmacies unless people jump through the added hoop of getting a doctor's recommendation, The Guardian described.

Huffington Post senior politics reporter Igor Bobic exclaimed upon seeing Barrasso discuss his "concerns" about Kennedy's short tenure at HHS.

"I support vaccines. Vaccines save lives. If we're going to make America healthy again, we can't allow public health to be undermined," he quoted Barrasso saying. "There are real concerns that safe, proven vaccines like measles, like Hepatitis B, could be in jeopardy. That could put Americans at risk and reverse decades of progress."

States Newsroom Washington senior reporter Jennifer Shutt similarly pointed to Barrasso, quoting the senator saying, "In your confirmation hearings, you promised to uphold the highest standards for vaccines. Since then I've grown deeply concerned."

"Barrasso, in Republican Senate leadership, and himself a physician, challenging RFK on vaccine policy. I haven't been following his comments closely, but I didn't see that coming. He's typically in line with the administration," remarked News Hour correspondent Ali Rogin.

Commentator Peter Twinklage pointed to a key exchange in which Cassidy called out Kennedy for the exchange he had previously with Sen. Michael Bennett (D-CO).

"Do you agree with me that President Trump deserves a Nobel Prize for Operation Warp Speed?" Cassidy asked.

Kennedy replied, "Absolutely."

"But you just told Sen. Bennet that the Covid vaccine killed more people than Covid?" Cassidy replied.

Democratic Wins Media remarked on the exchange, "BREAKING: In a stunning moment, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy just landed the best attack against RFK Jr. we’ve seen yet. This is shocking."

Cassidy added, "You also told Sen. [Ron] Wyden (D-OR) that you didn't want to take vaccines away from people...I would say effectively we're denying people vaccines."

He went on to read letters he's seeing from people who are now being denied vaccines as a result of Kennedy's moves.

Kennedy claimed, "You're wrong."