Based on funding sources alone, it’s clear RFKjr is a cutout puppet for MAGA interests to split the Dem vote.
Regardless, his anti-vaxx and pro-virus message is irrational, illogical, and downright dangerous. Rolling Stone has a disturbing feature on RFKjr and his many anti-science views.
Didn’t know he mentioned smallpox; that’s much worse considering how extremely well-documented it has been over the past few centuries. There was already a vaccine for it in the 18th century!
The HIV claim is pretty nuts considering that it was already widespread when it was discovered in 1981, and there were no known human retroviruses until 1980. There was no reason for vaccine researchers to touch retroviruses in the 70s.
Doubly nuts that RFK Jr. has previously denied that AIDS is caused by HIV.
I don’t know if he mentions small pox. That was just an example of a really old disease. Not to mention it being the most successful vaccine campaign literally ever, since it actually led to the eradication of the disease.
IIRC, the current hypothesis was that modern HIV originated in Central Africa, where bush meat was commonly consumed. A version of a simian immunodeficiency virus managed to infect a human, probably through blood contact through wounds or… other means. This new HIV began to spread in Africa, where missionaries eventually picked up the disease. These missionaries then spread it all over the world. It was estimated that HIV first got to the US in the 1910s or 20s. It wasn’t until the 70s that the gov gave any shits, because it was considered the “gay disease” and the such. When a bunch of straight white people started getting it, then they cared a bit.
The reason HIV is such an issue to this day, and why its so stigmatized, can be traced to the likes of Regan and his contemporaries who went out of their way to make it even worse of a situation than it already was. They purposely avoided doing anything about it until it was too late.