sanjay gupta as surgeon general

[saz]

with the appointment of this smug douche, americans can kiss the hope of single-payer healthcare goodbye.


Sanjay Gupta Problem: Paul Krugman

January 7, 2009 09:55 AM l Jason Linkens l Huffington Post


Lest you think the appointment of dreamboat doctor Sanjay Gupta as Surgeon General was going to be all peaches and cream, direct your attention today to the New York Times Paul Krugman (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/the-trouble-with-sanjay-gupta/), who reminds his readers of the famous beef that Gupta got into with documentary filmmaker Michael Moore over his movie, Sicko:


You don't have to like Moore or his film; but Gupta specifically claimed that Moore "fudged his facts", when the truth was that on every one of the allegedly fudged facts, Moore was actually right and CNN was wrong.

What bothered me about the incident was that it was what Digby would call Village behavior: Moore is an outsider, he's uncouth, so he gets smeared as unreliable even though he actually got it right. It's sort of a minor-league version of the way people who pointed out in real time that Bush was misleading us into war are to this day considered less "serious" than people who waited until it was fashionable to reach that conclusion. And appointing Gupta now, although it's a small thing, is just another example of the lack of accountability that always seems to be the rule when you get things wrong in a socially acceptable way.


In reviving the Gupta/Moore tiff, Krugman's point might have been better served if he had delved into the facts of the dispute, which was resolved when CNN issued various retractions and Moore called a truce (http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-07-16-sicko-CNN_N.htm). For the thorough exegesis of the spat, I direct your attention to our own Rachel Sklar, who gave a detailed accounting of the matter back in July of 2007 (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/07/11/live-chatting-with-michae_n_55705.html) -- which I assure you, I could not improve upon, beginning with the first line: "Does it compromise my journalistic objectivity to say that Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a dick?"


link (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/07/sanjay-gupta-problem-paul_n_155888.html)

[QueenAdrock]

Is Sanjay REALLY going to be the surgeon general? Ugh, that's almost as laughable as Joe the Douchebag going to the Middle East to be a war correspondent. (n)

[saz]

Conyers: Obama Should Not Nominate Sanjay Gupta

January 8, 2009 12:49 PM l Sam Stein l Huffington Post


Rep. John Conyers has written a letter to Democratic colleagues urging them to join him in publicly opposing the nomination of Dr. Sanjay Gupta for Surgeon General.

Conyers, the veteran Judiciary Committee chairman, writes that Gupta "lacks the requisite experience needed to oversee the federal agency that provides crucial health care assistance," and requests that fellow Democrats join him "in signing a letter to President-Elect Barack Obama that Dr. Sunjay Gupta not be nominated for the post."

Here's the bulk of the Dear Colleague letter:


I join in opposition with respected Noble Peace Prize award wining economist Paul Krugman, who has very serious concerns (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/the-trouble-with-sanjay-gupta) with having Dr. Gupta be the nation's Surgeon General. [...]

Also, there are highly experienced medical professionals who question whether Dr. Gupta has the necessary experience or even the medical background to be in charge of some 6,000 physicians or more who work in the United States Public Health Service. Gerard M. Farrel, Executive Director of the Commissioned Officers Association, stated in the January 7, 2008 Washington Post that Dr. Gupta will certainly face a "credibility gap" because he never served in the National Health Service Corp, and furthermore, does not have the "experience or qualifications to be the leader of the nation's public health service." Clearly, it is not in the best interests of the nation to have someone like this who lacks the requisite experience needed to oversee the federal agency that provides crucial health care assistance to some of the poorest and most underserved communities in America.


Conyers' letter represents one of the first critical takes on the potential Gupta nomination to come from the Hill. In most quarters, reports about the CNN medical correspondent have been greeted as a smart, if not provocative, pick. Howard Dean, a doctor himself, noted that Gupta's responsibilities would be much the same as those in his current job: explaining medical issues of public concern in a manner that the public could understand.

Outside of government, however, some have begun questioning whether the CNN correspondent has the proper qualifications to be Surgeon General. Krugman, in his post (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/the-trouble-with-sanjay-gupta/) noted that Gupta accused filmmaker Michael Moore of inaccuracies, "when the truth was that on every one of the allegedly fudged facts, Moore was actually right and CNN was wrong." Gupta and CNN would later acknowledge (http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/15/moore.gupta/index.html?iref=newssearch) making a mistake and apologize on air. Others have questioned whether he is the right conduit for Obama's health care agenda, and whether or not he has ethical conflicts of interest stemming from the corporate sponsors of his show.

But while Conyers and these individuals have doubts, it's unclear whether the post of Surgeon General will elicit much of a fight, since no Senators (who must confirm the nomination) have spoken critically of Gupta.


link (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/08/conyers-to-obama-do-not-n_n_156298.html)

[Burnout18]

with the appointment of this smug douche, americans can kiss the hope of single-payer healthcare goodbye.



I'm sorry but wasn't a vote for obama kissing single payer healthcare goodbye?

[saz]

pretty much, yeah. but, there always remained the hope that the growing congressional support for hr 676 (http://www.hr676.org/) would culminate in enough votes to get it seriously considered and one day perhaps passed, therefore placing obama in the position to ultimately sign it. the nomination of gupta though is a slap in the face of this effort.

ultimately, and realistically, i really think the only way for this to become a reality is for the american people to demand it, and if enough pressure is placed upon the government, the congress, senate and president will have to act.

[DroppinScience]

Hold up, back up the train here... Gupta hasn't been nominated yet, right? At this point, it's a "he's seriously being considered" stage.

Next off, I know he was on the (ultimately losing side) of the arguments with Michael Moore over "Sicko," but I missed where Gupta was against universal health care per se. Has he said that? My impression at the time was that he was in complete agreement with Moore that health care in the U.S. needs to be re-hauled, but the arguments were more nit-picky "fine print" stuff regarding the particulars with the U.S. and rest of the Western world health care systems.

[saz]

no he's not been nominated yet, but considering he's on tv (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/obamas-team-of-celebritie_b_156005.html) i regret to think that it's more than likely a lock. that and because obama and him are ideologically in lock step regarding healthcare.

gupta agreed with moore that healthcare needs reform but he is opposed to the single-payer system. he's a tool for hmos and big pharma, and just look at the advertising during his cnn program. he opposes medical marijuana, and also accepts paid speaking engagements, which is banned by most media outlets. but i suppose with cnn it's another story, ie corporate whores, and it speaks volumes about gupta's ethics and where his interests are.

[ms.peachy]

Is Sanjay REALLY going to be the surgeon general? Ugh, that's almost as laughable as Joe the Douchebag going to the Middle East to be a war correspondent. (n)

I don't think that's really a fair comparison. You might disagree with his positions and for that reason not support him being placed in this role, but the guy is actually a neurosurgeon and very familiar with public health policy. That's nothing near the same as some schmuck who's on the tail end of his 15 minutes mouthing off a bunch of half-witted prognostications.

[Documad]

I don't think we're going to do anything about health care until the economy improves. Something has to give. In fact a lot of things have to give. It will be easier to set aside future projects than to cut off things that people already count on.

[saz]

i don't think that the average american counts on a lot of pork and waste in the beyond bloated defence budget. regardless, approximately 18,000 americans will continue to die on an annual basis without the humanity of a truly national, universal healthcare program.

[DroppinScience]

I don't think we're going to do anything about health care until the economy improves. Something has to give. In fact a lot of things have to give. It will be easier to set aside future projects than to cut off things that people already count on.

Interesting article here... apparently you can have universal health care AND revive the economy! Everyone wins!

Check the facts and figures:

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/396919?rel=hp_picks

[saz]

Obama Will Have Single-Payer Advocates At Health Care Summit

Sam Stein l Huffington Post
March 4, 2009 7:53 PM


There has been a lot of speculation over which sides of the health care debate will be present when the Obama White House hosts a summit on the topic this Thursday. Included in that has been concern among advocates of a single-payer system that their voices would not be included at the table.

An administration official put that unease to rest on Wednesday night, telling the Huffington Post that, "single payer advocates will be represented at the forum tomorrow."

Another source with knowledge of the event says: "Rep. John Conyers, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and a known single payer advocate, and at least one group advocating single payer, will be there as well."

The inclusion of Conyers and at least one other group or individual should quiet, for the moment, the growing chorus of voices who have been openly pressing the White House to be more open-minded to a single-payer system. The group Physicians For A National Health Program put out a press release last week hitting the president on this very topic.

"Groups representing physicians, nurses, and consumers who advocate for a single-payer system of national health insurance have thus far been excluded from the summit," says the release (http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/february/president_obama_must.php). "The Clinton task force on health reform made a similar mistake of excluding the voices of those who support a single-payer system... At a time when public support for single-payer is greater than ever - more than 60 percent in recent polls - we urge President Obama not to make the same mistake."

To be certain, Obama has generally shied away from (http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/08/19/obama-touts-single-payer-system/) publicly backing a single-payer system, saying only that he would prefer such a health care structure - which would eliminate private insurance companies in favor of a government-run approach - if he could start health care reform from scratch.

Thursday's summit will include a wide-variety of elected and non-elected officials (approximately 150 total) participating in group sessions on how to best go about reforming the health care system.

"It's an opportunity to bring divergent views and divergent viewpoints in terms of constituencies that are represented, all of whom have a stake in health care reform - bringing that group together to discuss how to move forward," said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Wednesday. "As I said again yesterday, the President doesn't go in with anything more than the notion that he hopes people will bring their ideas, whatever those ideas may be, and that they be put on the table and discussed, and that this process begin."

link (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/04/obama-will-have-single-pa_n_171994.html)

[saz]

Sanjay Gupta Out Of Running For Surgeon General

The Huffington Post
Rachel Weiner l March 6 2009 4:46 PM


UPDATE: Sanjay Gupta has removed himself from the running for Surgeon General (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/05/breaking-gupta-withdraws-from-consideration-for-cabinet-post/). CNN reports:

CNN correspondent Sanjay Gupta has withdrawn his name from consideration as the nation's next surgeon general, opting to continue to devote time to his reporting and his medical career.

Gupta will discuss his decision, and the president's health care agenda, tonight on CNN's Larry King Live.

Fox News reported earlier (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/05/gupta-running-surgeon-general/) Thursday that Gupta might be out.

Jerry Farrell, who heads the Commissioned Officers Association, told FOXNews.com Thursday that CNN's chief medical correspondent is known to have taken himself out of consideration.

"The general consensus from everybody is Gupta is no longer in contention ... it's more he's withdrawing himself," Farrell said, citing conversations he's had with "well-placed" individuals.

According to Farrell, Gupta had misgivings about both the pay cut he would have to take and the fact that he could be reporting to two high-level bosses: both the health secretary and health reform office director. When Gupta's name surfaced, President Obama had planned to have former Sen. Tom Daschle fill both of those roles. After Daschle withdrew from consideration, the president named two separate nominees for the posts.


link (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/05/sanjay-gupta-may-be-out-o_n_172311.html)