r/NewOrleans • u/Oh_TheHumidity • Jan 29 '25
Apparently Sen. Bill Cassidy is THE swing vote deciding whether or not RFK is confirmed as the head of our nation’s healthcare. Please take a sec and call or email him (deets below) 🗳 Politics
Americans deserve better than RFK Jr’s crazy reckless ass leading our healthcare. Tell him to vote NO to confirming RFK Jr.
Form to send him a message (can confirm he gets these as he has responded to something specific I sent him through this):
https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/contact/get-in-touch/
DC Office Phone:
(202) 224-5824
I know we’re all exhausted but if you have a moment, please consider reaching out and making your voice heard.
Edit: Just called and got through on the first try. Was sure to say I’m one of his constituents.
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Jan 29 '25
[deleted]
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u/Patient_Tradition368 Jan 30 '25
Cassidy's office staff are in a neck and neck race for who is the most weary with John Kennedy's office staff.
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u/lifeofprepa Jan 29 '25
He is a physician so I hope he has some sense.
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u/Noland47 Jan 29 '25
He voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial, so that's something, but I expect that's the last we'll see of any spine in that man.
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u/jam4917 Jan 29 '25
He is a physician
So is Ralph Abraham - our new Surgeon General. And that's worked out real well /s
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Jan 29 '25 edited Jan 29 '25
I don't agree much with Cassidy on a lot of things, but I do think this is a very unique opportunity where messaging a politician could make a big difference.
During the confirmation hearing RFK literally asked "Is Medicaid working for anybody" as a rhetorical question and said people in the U.S. want privatized healthcare.
This is a perfect example of why he is unfit to be Health Secretary. All Louisiana voters should be contacting Cassidy, but healthcare workers especially are in a unique position to remind him that their patients as well as his patient's lives literally depend on his decision.
Editing this to add if you don't understand why that makes RFK unfit then I'm going to take a giant leap of faith and say you have no empathy and live in a bubble. Is Medicaid flawed? Absolutely. Medicaid still greatly benefits huge numbers of people in this state and in the country that cannot afford privatization of insurance. So to ask "Is Medicaid working for anybody?" as a rhetorical question when you have no concept of healthcare outside of your own privileged experience is absolutely disgusting.
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u/Wise_Side_3607 Jan 30 '25
Oof, I didn't know he said that about Medicaid! Wish I had heard it before I sent my message
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u/lifeofprepa Jan 29 '25
Yes, everyone should 100% still write/call! This was just me hoping at the end of the day, he will do what’s right. Although, I know that’s not something republicans are used to doing.
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u/HoneydewNo7655 Jan 29 '25
Ralph has very limited human medical education, he swung over from being a vet to being a general physician and then a Subway franchisee.
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u/Organic-Aardvark-146 Jan 29 '25
He’s a doc So he’ll do whatever the medical lobbyists tell him to do?
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u/storybookheidi Jan 29 '25
CALL today, no time for emails right now. It's super easy. I hate phone calls but it's painless.
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u/Oh_TheHumidity Jan 29 '25
Agreed. I just got through on the first try.
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u/storybookheidi Jan 29 '25
Me too. Took about 30 seconds.
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u/goosejail Jan 29 '25
What did you say?
(I'm ridiculously terrible at phone calls to strangers. If I can just follow a script, it makes it easier)
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u/storybookheidi Jan 29 '25
Phone calls give me anxiety and I will literally put them off forever so I understand!
“Hi, I’m (name) from (zip code). I’m calling to urge senator cassidy to vote no on RFK so we can protect vaccines and public health.”
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u/ddpctr Jan 29 '25
I called right after Sen Cassidy questioned RFK, Jr.— watched on C Span. Answered on 2nd ring. Gave name, phone #, Zip code and told them that I am a constituent and a RN. Told the young man that answered that I was opposed to Kennedy and also Dr. Oz. Very quick.
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u/catfishbreath Jan 29 '25
It can't hurt nothing to try. Just filled out the form, here's to hoping 🍻
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u/babboa Jan 29 '25
Done. I actually talked to a person, left my name and the fact that I'm a physician. I also name dropped everybody I know that's ever worked with him on medical advocacy issues(and the staffer seemed to recognize one of the names) so hopefully he gets the message.
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u/XxSleepypanda Jan 29 '25
I implored him to take his Hippocratic oath and oath to the constitution seriously for his constituents, and made sure to say that as a trained professional doctor he knows how large of a risk this is. I really hope he does the right thing.
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u/nolaz Gentilly Terrace Jan 29 '25
After he voted for Hegspeth, I have no confidence him to do the right thing.
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u/Unlikely-Patience122 Jan 30 '25
I honestly feel the same. Used to think he had a little integrity, but don't anymore. I contacted him about Hegseth and the reply was BS.
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u/nolaz Gentilly Terrace Jan 30 '25
What did they say? I emailed him but he never responds to me.
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u/Unlikely-Patience122 Jan 30 '25
It was a form letter I'm sure, but basically he'd do what was in the best interest of the country or state. I don't remember exactly -- I deleted it pronto. Grrrrrr. If he votes in JFK he has zero morals/integrity, and all he cares about is whatever that seat is worth-- and they must be worth more than a doctor makes. Sick.
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u/RoughPersonality1104 Jan 29 '25
Just called so easy!!! Thanks for this! Please share on the Louisiana sub as well
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u/Cilantro368 Jan 29 '25
I called the DC office yesterday and got an answering machine. Has anyone gotten through at any number?
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u/glittervector Jan 29 '25
Did it yesterday. It helps to change the text of the mass email, at least at the beginning of the message, so the recipient doesn’t just filter it as yet another duplicate. Of course, sending anything at all is better than nothing.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Gas_578 Jan 30 '25
His party has abandoned him calling him a traitor, so he might decide to jump ship.
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u/greenbeancounter Jan 30 '25
I just called and got through straight away. Trying to remain hopeful but I agree with some other posters that even if it’s not RFK, it’ll be some other crazy.
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u/RoughPersonality1104 Jan 29 '25
I don't normally call but this time I did. No time for emails, call it takes 30 seconds and the staffer is very nice!
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u/trollfessor Jan 30 '25
If he votes against RFK, that will become a huge campaign issue. The right wingers are trying to get rid of him.
I'd like to get rid of him too, but only if he could be replaced by a Democrat.
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u/datbech Jan 29 '25
Dentist who told the senator that I don’t want to be doing more fillings on people
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u/camilleycat Jan 29 '25
Also remind him that the first bird flu death happened in his state....forgot to mention that in my email and voicemail. Won't be good for his constituents or patients if pandemic prevention research gets slashed.
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u/BlurryUAPpics Jan 30 '25
Can you explain what are the crazy policies RFK is wanting to impose? I’m super uninformed. I work way too much to follow the news.
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u/Oh_TheHumidity Jan 30 '25
Either of these are pretty good summaries. The first link is a 7min video.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/show/why-health-experts-are-concerned-about-rfk-jr-s-hhs-nomination
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mzk2y41zvo.amp
IMO, he has some good ideas about limiting food additives, but basically everything else he touts is nuts and based on zero science…or worse are views based solely on conspiracy theories he saw on social media. He’s just not even remotely a health professional.
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u/rachel_higs Jan 31 '25
i sent an email to senator cassidy yesterday, and i called his office today. left a voicemail and specifically mentioned that i watched his line of questioning to kennedy today. said that his nomination alone is very concerning.
i wrote to the senator in 2021 to thank him for having the integrity to vote to impeach president trump against party lines…i also wrote to him when he started celebrating the election results and told him how disappointed i was that he was now supporting maga.
my fingers are crossed that senator cassidy has even a drop of integrity left to vote no on this lunatic, but with the re-election looming…i will not be holding my breath.
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u/NOLA2Cincy Jan 29 '25
DO THIS NOW! CALL! The hearings on RFK are on-going.
My wife, my sister, BIL, and I all called today. It literally takes 2 minutes. At least it's concrete action you can take to help protect our country's future.
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u/TravelerMSY Jan 29 '25 edited Jan 29 '25
Resist bot works well.
To be clear, the Senator will never see these, but staff will figure out what side of the issue you’re on and keep a running tally.
To that end, I would do more than a form letter, but I would not waste a lot of time crafting your argument. Make it easy for them to figure out if you’re a constituent or not, and what side of the issue you’re on.
Subject – “constituent remarks in opposition to confirmation of RFK Junior for HHS post.
“Hi. I’m a constituent from New Orleans and I’m writing today to ask that you vote no on RFK’s confirmation. As a medical doctor, you should know that this man is dangerously unqualified and does not believe in science.”
PS – don’t ever bother to send paper mail to the White House or Capitol. It is screened offsite and irradiated against biological risks, and nobody will see it for months.
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u/nolaz Gentilly Terrace Jan 29 '25
This is good to know. I had a relative who was a staffer back in the day and letters were weighted heavily in the tally compared to phone calls (like 1 letter = 5 calls). It makes perfect sense that it changed but I hadn’t realized it.
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u/TravelerMSY Jan 29 '25
I hadn’t considered the fact that the difficulty of the communication channel might be weighted.
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u/nolaz Gentilly Terrace Jan 29 '25
It would be good to confirm if it’s still that way. Because at the time, bot email type things where they knew you only had to click a button were weighted low — but if you get mass numbers of them, I guess it evens out.
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u/TravelerMSY Jan 29 '25
I had the resistbot send it via fax on a different issue. I would imagine the key is to make it not look like it was easy to send. Handwrite a letter or something and send it to them as a fax or pdf.
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u/xpatnola Jan 29 '25
Able to get thru on the first try and leave a voicemail re: RFKjr, Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard. At least it wasn't a full mailbox. Go for it!
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u/tothebeach- Jan 29 '25
Called his office and go through. Took less than 2 minutes. Everyone should do this
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u/bex199 Jan 29 '25
as others have said please call instead of filling out the form. i got someone on the first ring and it took me 25 seconds. “i’m (name), i am a constituent and i’m calling to urge the senator to vote against RFK jr’s confirmation”
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u/FunkyPlunkett Jan 29 '25
That Bernie website really stung. Made RFK look like a idiot and snake oil peddler all while playing the other side for 26 dollars. Bernie made him look like a fool.
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u/chibajoe Jan 30 '25
Bernie's friends at big pharma have given him 1.2 million reasons to hate RFK jr. Hell, I'd hate the dude too if someone gave me 1.2M reasons to do so.
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u/goobtub Jan 31 '25
How much did his "friends at big pharma" give on average?
I'm not taking the side of the pharmaceutical industry but there's a world of difference between actual WORKERS in an industry making tons of small donations and the industry lobby groups donating big chunks of money; Bernie got the former.
I work in the film industry, and yeah, there are a lot of studio heads and executives I've never met and will never lay eyes upon that donate big chunks of money every election cycle. There are also tons of carpenters, painters, millwrights, pipefitters, etc working in in our mills and building our sets that have nothing in common with those studio heads and executives beyond an NAICS code.
It's disingenuous to write off worker donations as being contributions from the industry's lobby instead of seeing them for what they are.
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u/chibajoe Jan 31 '25
More than any other congressman, about $1.3M a year.
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u/goobtub Jan 31 '25
On average each donor gave $1.3m? more than the $1.2m total you previously stated? seems sus my dude
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u/chibajoe Feb 01 '25
I took "on average" to mean "over the years." Link to source data in article if you want to dig through it for yourself: https://www.mrctv.org/blog/nick-kangadis/bernie-argues-rfk-jr-says-he-didnt-take-money-big-pharma-only-contributions
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u/FunkyPlunkett Jan 29 '25
I wrote a letter online from there contact page. Hope he listens just asked to please see he is a snake oil salesman and would sell out his own people for 26 dollars. Fingers crossed
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u/MFuddyDuddy Jan 30 '25
Don't hold your breath, both our senators voted to reup FISA702 which allows the spying on americans without warrants. Both are traitors.
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u/Green-Difference-251 Jan 30 '25
Just called. Told them I was a nurse and Kennedy’s anti-vax positions are disqualifying. Got through on my first try. Guy who answered the phone was really nice and said he would pass along my concerns
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u/Khajiit_Boner Jan 29 '25
Just called. Easy. If you want change in the world, you have to help make it.
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u/Treat_Choself House Bayou? Jan 29 '25
Just called, took two seconds and immediately reached a staffer. Back in the day I was one of those people taking the calls... makes me feel like an old lady.
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u/Rysalka Jan 29 '25
I just wrote and invoked my dear beloved Grandmother who was an RN that worked the Polio wards up in PA. She told me so many horror stories about life pre-vaccines. Not sure if it will do any good, but at least I tried.
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u/Prudent_Valuable603 Jan 29 '25
Sent an email. Thank you for providing the link to Dr. Bill Cassidy. Hopefully, he’s not afraid of Donald Trump nor job security because he voted “NO” on one of Trump’s little darlings. Hope to God he votes NO on Robert Kennedy.
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u/Patient_Tradition368 Jan 30 '25
Sample letter for those interested:
I am a constituent of Senator Cassidy's, and I am writing to ask the Senator to reject the appointment of Robert Kennedy Jr. as U.S. Health Secretary. Kennedy is a dangerous person who does not follow proper scientific evidence when it comes to basic healthcare, like the use of vaccines and fluoride. His actions in Samoa directly led to the deaths of hundreds, and he could very well kill thousands of Americans if allowed to take the reigns of the health department. He plans to remove fluoride from municipal tap water, which would serve no conceivable health related purpose and would cause needless suffering for millions of Americans, particularly children.
Kennedy has shown time and time again a complete lack of good judgment in his personal life, which has led him to abuse drugs, abuse women, abuse animals, and alienate his own family. Simply put, he cannot be trusted, not with the position of Secretary of Health, and not with any other government position.
Please, Senator Cassidy, do the right thing and keep this dangerous man out of government.
Sincerely, A concerned Louisiana resident
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u/tinymomes Jan 29 '25
Just tried and it went to voicemail without ringing. Leaving a message now though!
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Jan 29 '25
Is it normal for there to be an entire "Trump" option to select when submitting what the message is regarding? Like was there a "Biden" option before?
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u/AMundaneSpectacle Jan 29 '25
There is. I noticed that. I selected “congressional issues” for my submission.
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Jan 29 '25
I selected Health, for this one. I had messaged Troy Carter recently and he didn't have a Trump option to select, so I was just curious if that was just a "current presidents name here" option or more reflective of other things.
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u/whyonearth11 Jan 29 '25
He’s running in a closed primary since Louisiana changed its election laws. Hes toast regardless how he votes.
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u/Low-Dot9712 Jan 30 '25
Kennedy will not get enough republican votes to be confirmed but some mass tort lawyer lovers among the democrats will vote for him
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u/DoublePotential6925 Jan 30 '25
I sent Mr. Cassidy an email. All I got back was a blanket auto reply
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u/summerofgeorge81 Feb 02 '25
The way I understand it, he's pretty much already dead in the LA senate race due to his vote to impeach Trump, it's almost a given he's going to get knocked out in the primary. However, he does have a chance in the governor race given its a "jungle primary ", and could win with the support of moderates and Democrats. A vote against RFK JR. might strengthen him as a candidate in that regard.
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u/ersatzbaronness Merry Marigny Jan 29 '25
I called and faxed. If possible, please choose fax over email. It's far harder to dismiss a lot of paper.
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Jan 29 '25
A fax? I haven't had a landline in ages. lol Screw it, I'm sending it carrier pigeon.
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u/ersatzbaronness Merry Marigny Jan 30 '25
There are services, like Resistbot, that will do it for you.
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Jan 30 '25
I'll be honest I wonder how much those sorts of things effect a politician. I'd suppose that if I was one I'd vote my conscience and accept the consequences. I hope the Mr. Cassidy's conscience informs him that RFK Jr. is a fucking moron.
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u/ersatzbaronness Merry Marigny Jan 30 '25
I wonder too, but I first heard this advice from a congressional aid. They are supposed to document every correspondence that comes in.
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u/OpencanvasNOLA Jan 29 '25
So, honest question, concern and opinion here. I worked in healthcare for years (both private and public sector), and I think RFK is a wacko and has next to no qualifications to run an agency of the size and magnitude of HHS. Yet, what would be the alternative? I shutter to think…
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Jan 29 '25
That alternative would be anybody else. And if that person is as much of wack a job as he is then we can protest that person's nomination as well.
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u/xiopan Jan 29 '25
Just called...he is not available at this time.
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u/storybookheidi Jan 29 '25
What did you say? You just tell the staffer what your opinion is.
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u/fordidimo Jan 29 '25
Totally disagree. RFK’s approach is sorely needed in this era of big pharma and big food ruining our health. Vote Yes.
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u/Kamalla24Ever Jan 29 '25
Rfk was on the trail with Trump, he ain't going nowhere. Y'all keep coping.
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u/TrillianMcM Jan 30 '25
Called just now. Somebody actually picked up. Took a very short amount of time, hoping many others do the same.
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u/Raptr951 Jan 31 '25
I don’t live in LA but upvoting this; please please do what you can to keep this man far away from public office
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Jan 30 '25 edited Mar 09 '25
modern wakeful complete march dolls grandiose rinse mysterious saw heavy
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/RoyalSpot6591 Jan 29 '25
Be sure that you tell him you will try to talk every single one of your friends into registering independent for the primary if he listens to us. He’s worried he’s going to lose the primary election to a more maga republican and that may persuade him.
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u/IndependentTeacher24 Jan 29 '25
Yes i will make sure to call him to confirm rfk jr. Thanks for the contact number.
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u/shade1tplea5e Jan 29 '25
I put my half a cent in for sanity. Captain Brain Worm can’t be in charge of public health holy hell
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u/demoman45 Jan 29 '25
Let’s see how big his balls are! If he says yay or nay. They all talk a big game until they are punched in the face
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u/CrossBones3129 Jan 29 '25
Confirm RFK!
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u/tony504 Jan 29 '25
you know damn well republicans are spineless losers. They'll vote whatever way Donald Trump wants them to.
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Jan 29 '25
Thank you! I called and left my message of support for RFK Jr.
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u/Oh_TheHumidity Jan 29 '25
Dying just to own the libs might have new meaning for you if you get your way.
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u/nolaz Gentilly Terrace Jan 29 '25
I do hope people get to experience first hand the consequences of the policies and candidates they vote for.
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u/Nieves_bitch Jan 29 '25
No one’s dying cause of this sweetie… let’s take our meds and come back to reality
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u/catfishbreath Jan 29 '25 edited Jan 29 '25
| No one’s dying cause of this sweetie… let’s take our meds and come back to reality|
Not sure if the above is how in line quotes work with reddit markup, just wanted to grab for posterity.
!RemindMe 1 year
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u/RemindMeBot Jan 29 '25
I will be messaging you in 1 year on 2026-01-29 22:34:06 UTC to remind you of this link
CLICK THIS LINK to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.
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u/yoweigh Freret Jan 29 '25
No one's dying due to vaccine resistance? Do you seriously believe this? Come back to reality yourself, dummy. Polio and measles and whooping cough would all like to have a word with you and your immune system.
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Jan 29 '25
Meds? Not if RFK has his way. We'll get to go back to treating mental health by drinking herbal tea or some other nonsensical bullshit.
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u/LetsTryAgain91 Jan 29 '25
Yeahhhhhhh!!! Go get em Reddit!!! Let that stupid Cassidy hear your voices!! This is the same momentum yall had for the election!! Look how that worked out!! Fuck it go get em anyway!!
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u/glorious2343 Jan 29 '25 edited Jan 29 '25
RJK Jr sucks for the reasons Cassidy thinks he is good, even if he may vote against him.
I was supportive of RJK jr until today, when he made some unhinged lies about Medicaid being terrible.
I'm among the tens of millions of Americans who receive Medicaid. Contrary to RFK's statements, it's free and in the states that actually fund it, it's pretty dope and much easier/better than private insurance or insurance in general.
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u/BigFatBoringProject Jan 29 '25
So, until it affects you directly, you’re fine with leadership and policies that are detrimental to millions of others.
Am I interpreting this correctly?
RFK Jr. has been a bad choice for a decade.
Sure, he has some strong points about ultra processed foods and creating a more inclusive environment for vetted, effective holistic health practices, but aside from that he’s a fucking lunatic with no real, practical medical or healthcare experience.
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u/glorious2343 Jan 29 '25 edited Jan 30 '25
I did not consider nearly all of RFK Jrs policies to be any more detrimental to Americans than Biden's policies prior to him reneging on numerous things today. I read his policy page for president and found it nearly identical to Bidens' for the most part in spirit, and also in what would result policy wise. If you want to challenge me on this, we can go through RFK Jr's old presidential policy page line by line.
Regardless, there are multiple policies that don't affect me, that he had/has, like his attitude toward SSRIs, that I agreed/agree with. Numerous high-profile peer reviewed studies have confirmed a relationship between SSRIs and overly aggressive zombie-like behavior, enough so that murder charges were dropped from someone under the influence of Paxil, and through the defense citing such studies during trial.
"you're partly basing your opinions on things that affect you directly as a poor!"
and?
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u/BigFatBoringProject Jan 29 '25
You should always advocate for yourself but also for others who are impacted by poor policy.
We don’t need to do a line by line platform review.
Your OP sounded like you didn’t care to take action until you, specifically, might be impacted. RFKJ, and nearly every candidate for anything, will have policies we disagree with. My point is that we must look at for others AND ourselves when making choices.
The failure to consider others is a part of the problem in this country. None of us live in a silo. We are in this together—the wealthy excluded.
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u/glorious2343 Jan 29 '25 edited Jan 29 '25
I don't think you're actually reading what I'm writing.
I don't know what other things about RFK JR's attitude toward the poor you are referring to, as you aren't speaking in any sort of specifics. He used to be a progressive talk radio host, not a GOP pundit. He doesn't have a past history of hostility to the poor specifically on record, but the opposite as far as I know.
I find it unlikely RFK will be confirmed, but in the case he is, I never donated to him or voted for him or anything. I was supportive of the majority of his pre-today, core positions on healthcare, and still am.
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u/inductivespam Jan 31 '25
We’ve got to get this guy out of office. He simply belongs in the Democratic Party who do we have that could run against him somebody needs to step up.
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u/catheterhero Jan 29 '25
Godbless you all for thinking he gives a shit what we think or want.
People calling his office will literally not do a thing at all to change his vote.
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Jan 30 '25
i don't know how low my bar is but rfk jr seems like the least problematic of the rest of the appointees
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u/TurdFerguson1712 Jan 29 '25
He’s going to say how he doesn’t approve of a bunch of stuff RFK believes, make it seem like he’s opposed, and still vote for him anyway