Bevin Admits He Sent All 9 Of His Kids To Chickenpox Party Instead Of Vaccinating

on May 20, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky.
LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 20: Gov. Matt Bevin (R-Ky.) speaks at the National Rifle Association's NRA-ILA Leadership Forum during the NRA Convention at the Kentucky Exposition Center on May 20, 2016 in Louisville, Kentuck... LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 20: Gov. Matt Bevin (R-Ky.) speaks at the National Rifle Association's NRA-ILA Leadership Forum during the NRA Convention at the Kentucky Exposition Center on May 20, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky. The convention, which opened today, runs until May 22. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) admitted during an interview with a local radio show that instead of getting his kids vaccinated for the chickenpox virus, he sent all nine of them to the home of a neighbor, whose kids already had the virus.

“Every single one of my kids had the chickenpox,” Bevin said in an interview with Kentucky’s WKCT, according to the local Courier Journal. “They got the chickenpox on purpose because we found a neighbor that had it and I went and made sure every one of my kids was exposed to it, and they got it. They had it as children. They were miserable for a few days, and they all turned out fine.”

The method of exposing children to the virus instead of vaccinating them is a staple of the anti-vaxxer movement. Experts warn the method is unsafe and say that the vaccine makes individuals less likely to get shingles later in life.

“And I think, why are we forcing kids to get it?” Bevin said. “If you are worried about your child getting chickenpox or whatever else, vaccinate your child … But for some people, and for some parents, for some reason they choose otherwise. This is America. The federal government should not be forcing this upon people. They just shouldn’t.”

Latest News
220
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. I hope someone has reported him to the relevant agency for child abuse.

  2. So, will he be sending his kids to a small pox party and a Rubella party and . . .

    What an idiot. “Daddy, why do I have pits all over my forehead?”

  3. Let’s take this real slooooooowww Guv. It isn’t JUST the chickenpox vaccine we’re talking about here. There are MANY vaccines that the kids take before going to school so we can eradicate the disease. SOME of these diseases can KILL you…not just your kids at a ‘party’ but ADULTS. Stop being a dangerous, ignorant, simplistic moron.

  4. What a nutjob! For some kids it causes serious illness and injury, even death. This is child abuse.

  5. So it’s safe to say that Republican’s also send their children to stupid parties?

    Inoculate the stupidity at an early age, so it has time to fester.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

214 more replies

Participants

Avatar for valgalky23 Avatar for josephebacon Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for navamske Avatar for trnc Avatar for zoester Avatar for sniffit Avatar for tacoma Avatar for borisjimbo Avatar for quin Avatar for left_in_washington_state Avatar for jeffrey Avatar for grandpajoe Avatar for bboerner Avatar for moreyampersand Avatar for mrf Avatar for katwillow Avatar for darrtown Avatar for spencersmom Avatar for jtx Avatar for qwerty23 Avatar for rascal_crone Avatar for hardyweinberg

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: