GOP senators leave the door open for Cabinet picks like RFK Jr., Musk

The Senate is expected to vote on President Biden’s Cabinet nominees this week. But some GOP senators are signaling they may not support all of Biden’s picks.

Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) have both said they are open to supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of the Interior...

GOP senators are leaving the door open for President Biden’s Cabinet picks like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Elon Musk, even though both men have made controversial statements in the past.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said he is open to supporting Kennedy for Secretary of the Interior, despite Kennedy’s previous statements about vaccines and climate change.

“I’m going to give him a fair hearing,” Kennedy said. “I’m not going to prejudge him based on what he said in the past.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) also said he is open to supporting Kennedy, but he has some concerns about his views on climate change.

“I think he needs to be more specific about what he believes about climate change,” Cassidy said. “But I’m willing to give him a chance to explain his views.”

Kennedy has been a vocal critic of vaccines and climate change. He has also made statements that have been interpreted as racist and anti-Semitic.

Musk has also made controversial statements in the past. He has been criticized for his comments about women and transgender people.

Despite these concerns, some GOP senators are willing to give Kennedy and Musk a chance. They say they are willing to look at their qualifications and experience, rather than just their past statements.

“I’m not going to hold someone’s past statements against them,” Kennedy said. “I’m going to judge them based on their qualifications and their experience.”

It is unclear whether Kennedy or Musk will be confirmed by the Senate. But the fact that some GOP senators are willing to support them shows that they are willing to give them a chance.