Bill Cassidy rebukes Katie Couric for ‘demeaning’ – Business News
Sen. Bill Cassidy rebuked Katie Couric for “demeaning” President Trump’s decide to steer the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during a fiery interview wherein the Louisiana Republican was repeatedly pressed over his assist for the administration’s controversial health officers.
Cassidy, a doctor who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, bristled after Couric prompt he was keen to settle for an “adequate” CDC nominee in Dr. Erica G. Schwartz, whom Cassidy has backed regardless of issues about whether or not she would stand up to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“You’re implying that there could be a better nominee. I’m not sure there can be,” Cassidy shot back.
Sen. Bill Cassidy rebukes Katie Couric for “demeaning” a Trump health nominee during an exchange. YouTube / Katie Couric
“When I look at her record, and spoke to her privately, and speak to those who know her well, I think she’ll be a good nominee, and maybe a great one,” he added.
Then Cassidy turned on Couric.
“I’m not going to lie, you’re demeaning — you’re demeaning her,” he stated.
“I’m not saying that you’re doing it in a way that attempts to demean, but you are demeaning the quality of who she could be, and I will not accept that.”
Couric responded: “Okay, well then I stand corrected,” earlier than asking Cassidy to elucidate his assertion that Schwartz could be working beneath “difficult circumstances” on the CDC.
Cassidy acknowledged there might be friction between Schwartz and Kennedy if the CDC director follows the science whereas her boss takes a completely different place.
Cassidy, a doctor and chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, defended his assist for Schwartz whereas acknowledging she might face “a certain tension” with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. YouTube / Katie Couric
“If your secretary doesn’t believe in one thing, and you’re having to adopt something which is more science-based, there’s going to be a certain tension there,” Cassidy stated.
Couric grilled Cassidy during a contentious interview over the senator’s function in confirming Trump’s health nominees.
Cassidy solid the essential vote within the Senate Finance Committee that superior Kennedy’s nomination in February of final yr after publicly expressing deep reservations about his report on vaccines.
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He subsequently voted to verify Kennedy as HHS secretary.
Couric reminded Cassidy that he acquired non-public assurances from Kennedy earlier than supporting him — together with commitments involving vaccine entry and the present vaccine approval course of — solely to conclude later that Kennedy had not honored them.
“With all due respect, Senator, we have seen this movie before,” Couric informed him.
Dr. Erica G. Schwartz gained Cassidy’s assist after privately reassuring the Louisiana senator that she would stand by scientific proof whereas main the CDC. AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib
Cassidy acknowledged the risk of relying again on non-public assurances however argued that leaving the CDC with out everlasting management additionally carried penalties amid a number of public-health threats.
“If you wait for the person for whom you have no doubt whatsoever, you may never get that person,” he stated.
Schwartz, a doctor, lawyer and preventive-medicine specialist, beforehand held senior positions within the Coast Guard and US Public Health Service, together with serving as deputy surgeon basic.
Her choice has nonetheless raised questions over whether or not she would train unbiased scientific judgment beneath Kennedy.
Earlier within the interview, Couric additionally repeatedly pushed Cassidy to say whether or not Kennedy remained certified to run HHS after the senator criticized what he known as false details about vaccines coming from the division.
“He serves at the pleasure of the president,” Cassidy initially replied.
“That’s not the question I asked, Senator,” Couric interrupted. “I said, ‘Is he qualified to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services given the misinformation he has perpetrated in this country?’”
Cassidy ultimately gave his clearest reply: “If I was the president of the United States, he would not be my secretary of HHS.”
Cassidy stated that if he had been president, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “would not be my secretary of HHS,” whereas criticizing false details about vaccines coming from the division. Getty Images
But he accused Couric of making an attempt to show their disagreements into a personal confrontation.
“I really think your line of questioning is trying to … develop a Bill versus Bobby sort of scenario,” Cassidy stated, including that “much of that which has been coming out regarding vaccines is false.”
Couric then requested whether or not, understanding what he is aware of now, Cassidy would nonetheless solid his vote to verify Kennedy.
The senator declined to offer a yes-or-no reply.
After Cassidy left to solid a Senate vote, Couric informed listeners the encounter had left her exasperated.
“This was one of the most frustrating interviews I’ve done in a very long time,” Couric stated.
“The fact that he is not up for reelection, apparently, didn’t seem to make him any more willing to speak truth to power.”
