POLIO? MAYBE IT'S OKAY FOR DEMOCRATS TO SAY POLIO IS BAD?

A story in The New York Times yesterday has the potential to do some damage to Robert Kennedy Jr.'s chances of becoming health and human services secretary:

The lawyer helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pick federal health officials for the incoming Trump administration has petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine, which for decades has protected millions of people from a virus that can cause paralysis or death.

That campaign is just one front in the war that the lawyer, Aaron Siri, is waging against vaccines of all kinds.

Mr. Siri has also filed a petition seeking to pause the distribution of 13 other vaccines; challenged, and in some cases quashed, Covid vaccine mandates around the country; sued federal agencies for the disclosure of records related to vaccine approvals; and subjected prominent vaccine scientists to grueling videotaped depositions.

Mitch McConnell, a survivor of childhood polio, responded:

Without naming Mr. Kennedy, Mr. McConnell suggested that the petition could jeopardize his confirmation to be health secretary in the incoming Trump administration.

“Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed — they’re dangerous,” said Mr. McConnell, who is stepping down as his party’s Senate leader next month but could remain a pivotal vote in Mr. Kennedy’s confirmation. “Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts.”

This doesn't mean McConnell will be a no vote. We know that McConnell denounced the January 6 insurrection both privately and publicly, but he voted to acquit Donald Trump in the Senate trial following Trump's impeachment on January 6 charges. It's possible that McConnell hopes other Republicans will turn against Kennedy so he'll withdraw. McConnell doesn't have the spine to oppose Kennedy now, and he won't have the spine to vote no if his no vote could be decisive.

But at least he said something. Where are the Democrats?

I had a conversation with friends last night who are worried about the second Trump presidency but don't believe it makes sense for Democrats to publicly oppose Trump's nominees now. Echoing a widespread belief among Democrats, they think the party should "keep its powder dry" and not get worked up about "everything." (That reference to "everything" might sound familiar. You may recall Democratic senator Brian Schatz telling CNN a week or so ago that “there is a sense that if you are freaking out about everything, it becomes really hard for people to sort out what is worth worrying about.")

But this isn't "everything." We're talking about a preventable disease that can lead to death or devastating physical impairments. Is it controversial to support an extraordinarily successful vaccine that has proven its effectiveness and safety for more than half a century?

Democrats have internalized a massive amount of self-hate if they think ordinary Americans will suddenly become pro-Kennedy and pro-polio if Democrats say they're anti-polio. Sure, Republicans might. But Donald Trump didn't win this election because his base voted for him. He won this election because his base was joined by people who aren't hardcore supporters but swung over to him because they thought he might lower prices or end wars. These people are persuadable, and Democrats aren't even trying to persuade them. On polio!

And maybe one reason voters think Democrats only talk about pronouns and words like "Latinx" is that they don't send strong, common-sense messages about GOP extremism at moments like this. They don't speak up even when they'd probably have the support of the vast majority of Americans.

I know, I know: Democrats don't have their own partisan media. Their messages have a hard time being heard. But this is now an excuse for not even trying. Some Democrats are on TV. Some Democrats are interviewed by newspapers and magazines. Some appear on podcasts. If you're a Democrat and there's a microphone in front of you, say polio is bad and polio vaccines are amazing! Who knows? Someone might hear you!

Meanwhile, Republicans do attack Democrats on "everything." Have you seen this innocuous Christmas video posted by Tim Walz?

Remember to share holiday traditions like decorating the tree with your kids even if they’re out of town. pic.twitter.com/SXn9Wh4b8l

— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) December 12, 2024

Pretty harmless, right? But on Fox, it's evil and the work of "communists," according to Sean Hannity and his two guests, one of whom is the wife of Trump's choice to head the Department of Transportation:

... Hannity saw it as an opportunity to recycle the GOP’s overblown response to Tim Walz’s support of a bill mandating that Minnesota schools provide free menstrual products to students in grades four through 12.

“I wonder if they put any feminine hygiene products on the tree?” Hannity asked. Moments later he was back at it again. “But I do wonder, I mean, what did they decorate that tree with? I mean, if they believe so much in feminine hygiene products in boys bathrooms in school, why wouldn’t they put it on their Christmas tree?”

There's no mention of tampons in the video, and in any case, Walz is no longer a national political figure. Yet no one on the right worries that attacks like this might seem alienating and mean-spirited. Attacks like this do alienate Democrats, but Republicans don't care. They get their message out, they attack Democrats on "everything," and there doesn't seem to be any downside for them.