Obama Wants Journalist Gupta for Surgeon General

[onehandle]

Source: Washington Post

President-elect Barack Obama has offered the job of surgeon general to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the neurosurgeon and correspondent for CNN and CBS, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

Gupta has told administration officials that he wants the job, and the final vetting process is under way. He has asked for a few days to figure out the financial and logistical details of moving his family from Atlanta to Washington but is expected to accept the offer.

When reached for comment today, Gupta did not deny the account but declined to comment.

The offer followed a two-hour Chicago meeting in November with Obama, who said that Gupta could be the highest-profile surgeon general in history and would have an expanded role in providing health policy advice, the sources said. Gupta later spoke with Tom Daschle, Obama's White House health czar and nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, and other advisers to the president-elect.

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2009/01/06/obama_wants_journalist_for_sur.html

[MineralMan]

1. Whoa! I never saw that one coming!

How strange.

[quidam56]

42. Obama has really impressed me with his advisers

Affordable health care won't do much good in America until you have a higher standard of health care than what America has now, or at least in comparison to what's on the record in East Tennessee as "Their acceptable standards of health care" http://www.wisecountyissues.com Profit care comes ahead of patient care.

[Dr.Phool]

45. Easily impressed, huh?

I was soooo hoping for Jack Kevorkian.

[goforit]

85. Geeee...another gullable thinker.

Do your homework.

[sorval]

179. withdrawn

embarrassingly, had him confused with deepak chopra, who is the quack I had in mind.

[kenfrequed]

106. what???

Affordable healthcare won't do much good... until you ahve a higher standard of healthcare...?????


That doesnt make any damned sense. Sanjay was against Moore's demand for single payer universal not-for-profit healthcare. Sanjay seems to be for the 'for profit' system.

Please explain this position of yours because I don't understand what the hell you are talking about.

[jobycom]

2. Wait... Wh... Are you sure that's not from The Onion?

[rurallib]

44. And you thought telling reality from the Onion would end with Bushco

[brentspeak]

3. Dr. Big Medicine Shill himself

:thumbsdown:

[onehandle]

4. Withdrawn.

(I thought) I heard him live say that he wanted to put Cholesterol lowering drugs in our water. (I may be wrong)

His CNN sponsor: Lipitor

[shireen]

25. weird thing for a medical journalist to say

are you sure you heard correctly? I did a search on it, and found two references to it, but they were not statements advocated by Gupta.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0311/15/smn.32.html
Interview with Mehmet Oz:

....
GUPTA: That's good advice. Let me just ask you one thing, sort of bouncing off that, as well, Dr. Oz. Who shouldn't take these statin drugs now? I mean obviously maybe there's an age where you're too young to take them. But it seems like they're so good, relatively few side effects. They may make you live longer, cut down on your cholesterol as well as these plaques. Why shouldn't everyone be taking these drugs?

OZ: Well, there are many scientists who argue that Lipitor should be in our water and that we should take cholesterol lowering drugs in all of our foods as a supplement. But I think it's a little bit of a cop out. The reality is our bodies are designed to function by eating healthy foods and processing them in a natural way. By relying on drugs to deal with your dietary indiscretion, I think you're actually going to fool yourself. You can't have a hot dog and sprinkle Lipitor on it or Pravachol or any other great drug and expect to come out with the same result as another individual who pay attention to what they're eating and becomes aware of the most precious thing they've ever inherited, their body.

....
http://www.khaasbaat.com/dec2008/health.htm
Gupta interviewed by Dr. M. P. Ravindra Nathan, director of Hernando Heart Clinic in Brooksville, lives in Brooksville, FL.

"What do you think of the wonder drugs 'statins'? It has been shown to prevent heart disease and also arrest its progression?" I asked. Most of you know by their brand names such as Lipitor, Crestor, etc.

"Statin is a great drug and Steve (Steven Nissen, M.D., past president of American College of Cardiology) thinks it should be in our drinking water. I myself don't take any statin, though my LDL is just a little high, but my HDL is 80 now with daily exercise."

In answer to "Should statins become over the counter to prevent heart disease, as in U.K.?" he answered: "My concern is they would use this as a ruse for not seeing a doctor being lulled into thinking that the statins alone will protect the heart. All patients want to know 'Am I going to live longer?' "

....


Based on those two samples, I don't think he is an advocate for lipitor in drinking water. If he were, it would be pretty irresponsible and i certainly would not support his nomination for SG. If you find anything that shows he advocates it, please post because we should send in our protests to change.gov.

[onehandle]

36. Hmm. I may be wrong on this.

I do know that the sponsor was Lipitor.

I'll look around.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Sanjay Gupta is a know-nothing asshole

[goforit]

53. Agreed!!! WTF is Obama doing??? Nothing but a royal carpet to pharmaceuticals!

Yep even Obama can be in the dark....that is Bush darkness!!!

Well folks......so much for any changes!!! Status quo as usual!!!
I do believe the New World Order is on track folks!!!
Step right up and get your mandatory genetically altered flu vaccine!!
Keep eating all the aspertain/ melamine/ mad cow/e-coli/samonella/pestiside/mosanto-fied/fructose altered food products you can get!!!

Let us all increase the # of diabetics to support the sugar/fructose/aspertine/insulin pharmaceutical and insurance industries.

Let us all increase the variety and increase the # of cancer cases nation wide to support the ACS/AMA/Insurance co/ health industries/pharmaceuticals/religious organizations.

Let us continue to depopulate society through all the toxins via all industries and sterilize all male species human or animal.

Folks this all will make $$$$$$$$$$ for the chosen!!! Step right up and pick your number!!!

And yes, Obama, continue the war machine so the drug trade can blossom 100 fold and all those pharmaceuticals can have a free testing ground- the war field.

Yep,....Bush/neo-cons are picking who is on Obamas team!!!!

:argh:

[diamidue]

199. damn I need a drink

and I don't touch alcohol.

This is frickin' depressing.

[L0oniX]

81. I'm sure Michael Moore would agree with you ...and me.

[Sultana]

6. NO!

:(

[jonnyblitz]

7. he's the one that trashed Michael Moore's "Sicko". nt

[soleft]

8. Ok, I knew there was a reason this didn't make me happy

[NashVegas]

22. Ayep

On the bright side, it's a ceremonial role.

[soleft]

196. As Jocelyn Elders unfortunately found out

She actually tried to do something postive, and look where it got her.

[NashVegas]

210. Ayep

Seen Koop anywhere?

[jonnyblitz]

51. just type in Sanjay Gupta and "Sicko" into google and it's there.

I knew this from off the top of my head because i remember when "Sicko" came out and he was bad mouthing it. I do believe he even was featured with Michael Moore in a debate perhaps on Larry King.

[GodlessBiker]

16. Indeed. Michael Moore would make a better Surgeon General.

[awoke_in_2003]

31. Nah, Larry "Bud" Mehlman...

we know a uniform makes him look good. DAMN good :)

[awoke_in_2003]

169. Shit, I just found out he is dead...

Here is Dave's tribute to him. He didn't include Calvin DeForest (LBM real name) in the admiral's uniform. He would come out and say "No, I am not in the military. I just wear this uniform because it makes me look good, DAMN good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6xytMiiD_A

[Dr.Phool]

47. Jack Kevorkian!

[debbierlus]

26. Fucker. This makes me furious. Obama's health care plan is a joke, and he will have a shill for it

[LisaM]

9. I saw him arguing with Michael Moore on CNN over universal health care

It was ridiculous. Gupta even admitted that we needed more universal health care, but took the time to argue with Michael Moore about minor inaccuracies in his movie anyway (thus doing the best to undermine Michael Moore, if you ask me).

What a really bad choice.

[aquart]

55. "More" universal health care? How about any?

[LisaM]

94. You're right, but I meant "more" as in extending it to the US

not just within the US!

[Pastiche423]

153. WTF?

I just watched all 17 minutes of that interview.

We've been had BIG TIME. That man is a slap in the face to every American struggling to pay for healthcare.

[ixion]

10. huh?

:wtf:

Bad choice, IMO. Gupta is a hack and is in the pocket of Big Pharma.

[Blaze Diem]

11. Who's doing Obama'a homework for him on this selection?

Michael Moore would be a better choice.
How bout Dr. Howard Dean.

[Marblehead]

12. WTF?

I sure hope not!!

[gratuitous]

13. Two words

No fuckin' way.

[progressoid]

72. two?

[gratuitous]

80. I'm a heavy tipper

:hi:

[progressoid]

113. I'll say.

50% ;)

[shireen]

14. "Surgeon General serves as America's chief health educator"

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/about/index.html

If that's the case, maybe Gupta as SG isn't such a bad pick. Whatever we think of his politics (trashing Michael Moore, which was awful), he knows how to communicate medical news.

[Terran]

28. Agreed

The Surgeon-General doesn't make medical policy, and I wouldn't want Gupta to, that's for sure. If the role is only advisory and educational, I think he could be an asset because he's well-known and generally trusted by most people (obviously not most people at DU, however).

[aquart]

50. But he gets to choose what he communicates. Not good.

[shireen]

114. Obama and the HHS Secretary set the agenda, not Gupta. nt

[wolfgangmo]

79. Good at education?

Ok, given that he is a PR shill, then yes, he is good at spinning a story.

But he has no idea about WHAT to educate about. Do you honestly believe that he won't be getting his talking points from big pharma?

This is really bad and clearly signals Obama's desire to derail any attempt at universal care.

[shireen]

112. he is very good at explaining complex medical issues

He is a good communicator, has a good tv presence, most people know who he is, and he is very qualified as an MD.

I'm not a Sanjay Gupta fan, but I understand why Obama would want to appoint him to SG. We have some serious medical problems in this country, like obesity, increasing numbers of people with diabetes, heart disease, and such. Gupta is young, dynamic, a skilled communicator, and has good medical credentials. His appointment will generate publicity, and he will use it to get people interested in their health. If we, as a society, do not start emphasizing preventative health care, our medical system is going to be overwhelmed. Education is a critical component of health care. In that context, Obama's choice of Gupta for SG makes sense.

[jmowreader]

158. In that case, I'll be for Gupta as Surgeon General

Preventive Care is more important than Curative Care--it's cheaper and better to keep a problem from happening than to fix one that already has.

[TechBear_Seattle]

96. He know how to lie for personal profit

Like so many of Obama's other picks, this one is TERRIBLE.

[shireen]

115. why do you say that?

I've heard people in this thread call him a big pharma shill. Can anyone prove this? If there is evidence, then his appointment should be protested. Otherwise, these comments are thoughtless knee-jerk reactions.

[TechBear_Seattle]

123. Look at his "rebuttal" of Michael Moore's movie, Sicko

For that matter, look at most of his other CNN spots. Many of them are along the lines of, "Fen-Phen is a good choice for when other weight loss methods have failed" and "Vioxx has been proven safe and effective." You will see that such spots are invariably sponsored by the makers of Fen-Phen and Vioxx.

If it looks like a Big Pharma shill, and swims like one, and quacks like one....

[shireen]

145. if that's true, i hope he's called out on it during his confirmation hearings.

I wish i had more time to research this allegation. Sometimes, his reports are based on the information at hand at the time, such as clinical trials conducted by the pharmaceutical companies. He could have been reporting what was thought to be correct at the time, and could not have known future findings that indicated otherwise.

Anyhow, I hope his record will be closely scrutinized during Senate confirmation hearings. If these ties to big pharma are real, he should be rejected.

[Zodiak]

157. During his Lipitor interview, he neglected to mention why its not OTC

Because some people suffer from liver or kidney failure soon after taking it, and your muscles can degenerate in short order. New Lipitor patients are kept under close scrutiny to make sure they can handle such a drug.

Speaking about it like everyone should take it is irresponsible...and as a doctor, he should know that these side effects are life-threatening.

He should have also known that during his little segment trashing Moore's movie, he was using a right-wing doctor as an impartial authority and then covered it up.

I do not think him very knowlegable outside of his field, which is neurosurgery. I also think he is a cue-card reader who has demonstrated hostility towards the notion that we need universal healthcare AND that the U.S. system's flaws stem from the fact that it is a for-profit system.

And he is a TV personality, which doesn't give me too much confidence in his ability to transcend the notion that he is all about image.

To me, this is a dumb....an appointment that gives a big nod to the pharmaceutical companies and to our mass-media-driven, dumbed down culture. A little more substance would have been nice.....and a little less demonstration of hostility towards progress.

[lumberjack_jeff]

205. Delivering truth? Not such a big deal. n/t

[Politicalboi]

15. Terrible choice

Hopefully this is not final.

[ThisThreadIsSatire]

17. At least people will know we have

a Surgeon General. Who remembers any of his predecessors besides Dr. Joycelyn Elders and the Robert-Bork-looking guy on the Life Alert commercials?

[awoke_in_2003]

34. "Robert-Bork-looking guy "

Ah yes, C. Everett Koop.

On edit: Changed "Coop" to "Koop"

[nevergiveup]

18. Gupta's bio is quite impressive

and with his highly favorable ratings as a TV medical journalist he would be invaluable as a spokesman for universal health care. Obama and Daschle would obviously not have touched this man if he hadn't agreed to work for Obama's national health care plan. This could result in being one of Obama's most important appointments.

[girl gone mad]

27. If he has to pick a celebrity doctor..

how about one of the ones Oprah features on her show?

Gupta's bedside manner leaves much to be desired.

[awoke_in_2003]

37. We hear enough

of that asshat Dr. Phil. On the other hand, if he was SG he wouldn't appear on TV as much. You may have a good point.

[GinaMaria]

43. Dr. Oz

He's well trusted too and well known. He promotes healthy living and positive choices. Not hard to look at either ;-)

I can see why Oprah hands whole shows over to him.

[shireen]

117. like Mehmet Oz? He's a republican. :(

edited to add proof:

http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Oz&fname=Mehmet
Mehmet Oz
PHYSICIAN COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Updated Q1/2007
John McCain $2,100
<removed his address>

Mehmet Oz
Physician Columbia University
Updated Q1/2008
$1,000 Donation to Lance For Congress (republican)

MEHMET OZ
PHYSICIAN SELF-EMPLOYED
Updated Q1/2004
George W. Bush
$2,000

[girl gone mad]

192. That sucks..

He still seems much less obnoxious to me than Gupta.

[GinaMaria]

206. attractiveness factor just dropped significantly

He's now much harder to look at :-(

[frylock]

19. pure. fucking. genius.

don't ask how. you must have faith in obama. just believe...

[Imalittleteapot]

32. Going to (blindly) believe as you suggest. nt

[lark]

156. Faith

bah humbug. That's how people of good intentions are led astray. Sure, just follow the pied piper.

[Bake]

211. Genuis? My. Ass.

I am sooooo disappointed in this pick, and I have been supportive of Obama's other choices.


More "cult of celebrity" if you ask me. Hell, he could've had DOCTOR Howard Dean!!

Bake

[Chimichurri]

20. Sanjay Gupta as Surgeon General? WTF?

Source: Washintion Post

President-elect Barack Obama has offered the job of surgeon general to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the neurosurgeon and correspondent for CNN and CBS, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2009/01/06/obama_wants_journalist_for_sur.html?hpid=topnews

---

"As Gupta tries to defend his clearly biased report by claiming Moore has "cherry-picked" his numbers (a typical tactic employed by Moore's right-wing detractors), Moore explains that all of his figures are from 2007 and were generated from President Bush's Health and Human Services. Favorite moments: When Larry King called Gupta's report "kinda balanced", and when Moore totally shut Gupta up by pointing out that the CNN logo covered up the Cuba figures Gupta claims Moore was trying to conceal in his film. Later on, (not in the video to your right), Gupta complains that Moore makes it seem like universal health care would cost Americans nothing, even though the film clearly points out that tax money pays for these systems. Gupta apparently can't give movie audiences enough credit to understand such a simple fact. Anyway, check out the video to your right for more."
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/56569/

and
http://crooksandliars.com/2007/07/11/michael-moore-vs-sanja-gupta/

Why that guy? He is such a hack!

I didn't think I'd be disappointed this early in the game.

[daggahead]

21. Wow.

Maybe we can get Captain Crunch to be Defense Secretary while we're at it.

[awoke_in_2003]

38. Don't be silly...

Yosemite Sam is a much better choice.

[customerserviceguy]

142. Yeah, who would want

Cap'n Crunch as Secretary of Defense, anyway? But for Secretary of the Navy, now we're talking...

[awoke_in_2003]

159. Well, he already has a uniform. nt

[Taverner]

23. Fack! Why couldn't he have brought back Dr. Jocelyn Elders

[debbierlus]

24. That idiot? AWFUL choice. Is this a joke? Please tell me it is...

[and-justice-for-all]

29. Hell fucking NO!! nt

[OhioChick]

30. Hell No!

:wtf: is he thinking??

[Myrina]

33. WTF??? Why not John Stossel, for chrissakes ... ??

:shrug: Since PE Obama is going for 'talk show friendly but light on credibility and intellect' ...



:wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

[tom_paine]

35. Yet ANOTHER bad sign. Sanjay Gupta? Oh fuck, I hope this isn't shaping up to be what I think it is.

Sanjay everfucking GUPTA for Surgeon General?!? THAT pathetic celebrity corporate hack? :wtf:

Am I concerned about these signs, almost all of them bad? Yes, very much so.

I am trying not to go off the deep end, here. Obama has yet to govern for one day, and I will certainly withold my final judgements until at least a year has passed.

But this whole pre-inaugural period, almost ALL of it, is looking bad. If these early signs are indicative, there is no way Obama can restore our System of Check and Balances to health and vigor.

I find myself telling myself the same bullshit I did during the "Keep the Powder Dry" years.

It MUST be a double-super-secret plan! It is really brilliant strategy masquerading as nonsensical corporo-celebro BULLSHIT. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.

I am getting a very queasy feeling.

God, let me be wrong!

[glitch]

56. The double-super-secret plan is what I told myself too, for years.

Now when I tell myself that I roll my eyes and pat my head. There, there.

Then again, any secret plan would have to wait until power has been safely transferred before it could be revealed. I guess we'll know in a few weeks, but I am not holding my breath.

[bertman]

68. Tom_Paine, take two Aspirin and this little yellow pill and you'll feel all better.

Signed,

Sanjay Gupta, M.D.

[tom_paine]

86. And who exactly is paying you to push that little yellow pill, Sanjay?

If I paid you more to push the blue pill, you'd push THAT one, wouldn't you?

But only if I packaged the bribe as a Corporate Stipend, so your spotless conscience could remain clean.

[reggie the dog]

101. can someone pay him

to push weed???

[proud2BlibKansan]

144. I hear ya

What a crazy choice, eh? :crazy:

[DebbieCDC]

39. Hell why not Dr. Phil?

Jeebus, this is terrible if true.

[rurallib]

46. Or Dr. Laura?

[OhioChick]

58. Or Dr. House? n/t

[MelissaB]

61. or Dr. Huxtable? n/t

[OhioChick]

66. Or Dr. Doug Ross? (Clooney) n/t

[KamaAina]

74. Or Dr. Dre?

At least he'd legalize "the chronic"! :smoke:

[Number23]

107. I fully support your recommendation of Dr. Dre as the new Surgeon General of the U.S.

I don't see anyone not doing what the good Dr. prescribes....

"Crack cocaine is a public health issue of epic proportions, leading to the decimation of entire communities and affecting the health of millions. If you are a crackhead, I will PERSONALLY come to your house and bust you in the @ss."

[tan guera]

138. Or Dr. Howard Dean!

[awoke_in_2003]

160. Just as long...

as Ice Cube is the Sec. of Agriculture.

[KamaAina]

164. I think he's slated for Ambassador to Iceland

:P

edit: or is that Ice T?

[hisownpetard]

77. Or Dr. Pepper?

[lumberjack_jeff]

202. Is Dr Kevorkian still alive? n/t

[wolfgangmo]

82. Or Dougie Houser, MD

[KamaAina]

119. He'd be the first out gay Cabinet member!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Patrick_Harris

Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated actor. Prominent roles in his career include the title character of Doogie Howser, M.D.,...

In November 2006, after a report about Harris's romantic relationship with actor David Burtka surfaced on www.Canada.com, Harris came out publicly in People.<9><10> He had been openly gay in his personal life and in the theater community,...

[Celeborn Skywalker]

40. I don't undestand why people here hate him so much.

I've seen him on CNN and he doesn't seem that awful. He did argue with Michael Moore about "Sicko" but he, overall, agreed with Moore that the US needs a universal healthcare system.

[yardwork]

69. Gupta didn't "argue" with Moore, he lied about the documentary.

Gupta didn't invite Moore on his show and "argue" about it - Gupta went on his show without Moore and told a bunch of lies about the documentary. When Moore wrote to him detailing the truth, Gupta ignored it and never corrected the record.

Gupta is not in favor of universal health care. Are you kidding? His corporate sponsors would have a cow.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

90. His position doesn't mean anything, anyway.

He'll tell people to eat health, wear condoms, and exercise and that's about it. He won't be setting health policy.

I view Daschle as a much bigger threat to health care than Gupta. Daschle actually has power to help set policy.

[MelissaB]

41. Oh, shit.

[harmonicon]

48. Will Captain Kangaroo be promoted to head of Join Chiefs?

[KamaAina]

71. Nope. Too foreign-sounding.

Inside sources say Capt. Crunch has the inside track. :P

[aquart]

49. It's not April 1, stop playing around.

This IS a joke, right?

[OhioChick]

60. dupe n/t

[OhioChick]

62. Nope....

"Sanjay Gupta (Hindi), born October 23, 1969, is the Surgeon-General-Designate of the United States."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjay_Gupta

[jhain]

52. This *IS from the Onion, right?

I wouldn't let that dweeb cut my toenails.

[knitter4democracy]

54. You're totally kidding, right?

I know so many doctors who would be a million times better than some surgeon-fly-boy-turned-CNN-corporate-shill. Gack!!

[RCinBrooklyn]

57. Damn! I was hoping for Doctor Doolittle. It must've been a close decision.

[Gregorian]

59. My cousin, Dr. Paul Grundy, would be perfect. Come on, Obama!

He was a flight surgeon in the Air Force in Moscow. Now he's running the health services for IBM inc.

He'd be fantastic!

Here's a bit of what he does-

http://www.tedeytan.com/2008/02/17/212

[robinlynne]

63. Could he possibly find anyone worse?

[WriteDown]

67. Given that he....

graduated from one of best schools in the world and is a practicing neurosurgeon, I'd say yes.

[robinlynne]

184. and, in spite of that, has no interest in HEALTH, only in dollars for mega corporations.....

[WriteDown]

208. So he fixes people's brains to help "corporations?"

Link to that info?

[Occulus]

188. Wrong, as usual

His expertise in ANY field of medicine does not have anything to do with his ability to set sound policy. As you very well know.

It's like advocating Bob & Tom as the best choices for GM CEO and CFO just because they're good mechanics. In other words, doubleplusUNsmart.

[WriteDown]

207. The question was could anyone be worse.

I am right as usual.

[robinlynne]

64. Dean. Dr Howard Dean. come rescue us! shit Obama. You are going tooo far!

[goforit]

88. Dr. Dean saw it in the cards when Clinton came on board.

[Cronopio]

100. This shows that the Obama admin is making a point to exclude Dr. Dean.

If I were Dean, at this point I wouldn't want to have anything to do with the Obama admin. Working with So-What-If-I-Was-Wrong-About-NAFTA-And-The-50-State-Strategy Rahm? Forget it - not possible.

[nc4bo]

65. Sweet baby you-know-who. I honestly do not know what to say about this one, at all.

I always watched Gupta for the entertainment factor. I admit I don't know much about him. Sometimes what he says makes good general sense but he really pissed me off (and told on himself) when he refused to go into detail nor call out the lack of full disclosure on Sen. Mccain's health and mental reports.

He was there and obviously saw no problem with clearing a man with huge chunks of missing medical history without ability to consult with any outsiders, with no ability to ask questions, ectera, ectera - all within a very short and chaotic 3 hour (?) period of time. He also saw no reason for anyone to be concerned about the Mccain family's medical history of cardiac (and who knows what else) related problems nor Mccain's problems with skin cancer.

I think in the CNN report he did on Mccain, he was supposed to do a follow up program and never did follow through.

<insert side-eye smilie here>

Just why.

[progressoid]

70. Yeah, I threw up on anther thread about this too

:puke:

[HelenWheels]

73. Another bad Obama choice

I'm really losing any hope for "change."

[Sultana]

84. My hope for change was thrown out a while back

:cry:

[tan guera]

141. mine too

[lark]

161. Best thing about Obama

He's better than the Repug alternative, and he provides a very positive role model for minority children. Other than that, he's more and more seeming to be Repug lite, no major change at all. Sad.

[proud2BlibKansan]

197. My honeymoon is over too

[w4rma]

75. … (nt)

[cosmicone]

76. Thank god Obama doesn't do things the way some in here want them done.

In spewing hate at someone who is otherwise qualified just because he disagreed with Michael Moore is just the way Ann Coulter acts.

Obama, fortunately, has the wisdom to listen to the critics to improve himself and his policies.

We don't know what Sanjay Gupta's politics are and whether he himself was an Obama supporter all along, however, we are all ready to burn him at the stake.

From Obama's perspective, this probably also represents a "thank you" to the Indian-American community and Indian-American doctors in the country - both of whom have overwhelmingly supported the democrats in general and Obama in particular.

What Sanjay Gupta does on CNN is dictated by his producers and directors of the shows he participates in. Those are not necessarily all his personal views.

[RaRa]

91. Thank you for yourvoice of reason

I can't believe the knee jerk reactions on this board. I think it's all what you said, and also not a bad idea to have a high profile person in this position. Like another poster said, who ever listened to the other Surgeon Generals who weren't well known? Can we all please calm down and let Obama BECOME president before we cry outrage at every perceived affront to progressive/liberal views?

[Bette Noir]

116. "...represents a 'thank you' to the Indian-American community..."

So now tokenism is the order of the day?

[OhioChick]

193. Good Point. n/t

[ourbluenation]

162. (((((applause)))) n/t

[Skittles]

194. how is appointing a corporate hack a compliment for Indian folk?

I mean, WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Phred42]

78. Gupta is a Big Pharma Corporate STOOGE.

Obama is well on his way to being a corporate stooge.

Sad.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes for some to realize this.

Wake up children - we've been had.

[L0oniX]

83. I suppose Doctor Phil will get a post too ...pffft ...smell it!

[lovuian]

87. Gupta is a major Pharmaceutical company's parole employee

Obama has chosen idiotically here and if he thinks that business as usual will continue he be wrong

[2Design]

89. this guy is a loser and wrong more than right - what about DEAN n/t

[Hissyspit]

92. Oh Jesus Christ

I'm officially getting pissed.

[TechBear_Seattle]

93. I thought I was going to be rickrolled to an Onion article

Alas, that is not the case. This would be the same Sanjay Gupta who shilled for the insurance industry against Sicko!, right?

[Maine-i-acs]

95. At least he cut his hair since he was on American Idol. (nt)

[goforit]

97. Is he an American Citizen???? I'm sure they'll propuce phoney documents to say so.

[goforit]

98. Hey......Dr. Phil would have been a better choice!!!

[Maestro]

99. Oh man, sometimes I don't even think he tries.

Jeebus! I remember Gupta's "reporting" from Iraq and the video of him performing surgery over there. Anything for the ratings. He may have credentials, but I do not see him as a good SG.

[Skittles]

102. LOL - another suprise from Obama - NOT

Gupta is a fucking HACK

[Politicub]

103. I think I'm going to be sick

and I'll be SOL with big pharma Gupta at the helm. I guess there's a positive aspect to this in regard Gupta's skill at media whoring. That's about the most positive thing I can say at the moment.

[moggie]

104. "highest-profile surgeon general in history"

Is that really what matters: celebrity status?

[marshall]

105. Deepak Chopra wasn't available?

He's a genius, just doesn't have as much face time on television. But we are in the post-media age.

[Odin2005]

125. Chopra is a New Age charlatan. n/t

[marshall]

129. He's also a highly recognizable medical doctor

He is better known for his books, whereas Gupta is better known for television.

[Odin2005]

190. A medical doctor that peddles QUACKERY in his books.

[rtassi]

136. Once again ... the Biology Student from Minn St U shows his ass!

[tan guera]

143. Try practicing what he sugggests

and your life will change! Dramatically.

[Odin2005]

189. That's what all charlatans claim.

He can take his quantum quackery and his hatred of us "scientistic materialists" and shove it up his rear.

[rtassi]

131. My Thoughts Exactly !

[Seedersandleechers]

108. I found this part interesting in the article

The Michigan-born son of Indian and Pakistani parents, Gupta has always been drawn to health policy. He was a White House fellow in the late 1990s, writing speeches and crafting policy for Hillary Clinton.



Hillary was for NHS, and Gupta was writing speeches for her?

[GentryDixon]

109. Excellent choice.

He seems to care greatly about the health of all of us.

[grahamhgreen]

110. Gupta cares and he is not close-minded. Write him, lobby him for single-payer not-for-profit health

care

[pinto]

130. Now, there's an alternative response I'd recommend, fwiw. It's still Congress that

has to take the lead, and a President willing to sign legislation. Both of those are doable, I think.

[pinto]

111. Geez folks. Dr. Gupta is a board certified neurosurgeon, a trauma specialist, as well

as a TV personality. The Surgeon General post is primarily a national advocacy position. Along those lines, here's some of the health care advocacy work he's done (from his official bio via CNN) -

In 2004, Gupta traveled to the international AIDS conference in Bangkok, Thailand, where he reported on the pandemic for CNN. In December 2004, he was sent to Sri Lanka to cover the disaster and aftermath of the tsunami that took more than 155,000 lives in South Asia. That coverage contributed to the awarding of an Alfred I. duPont Award to CNN.

The following year, Gupta contributed to CNN's Peabody Award-winning coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. In addition to his other reporting in New Orleans, Gupta broke the news that official reports that New Orleans' Charity Hospital had been completely evacuated were incorrect, revealing that more than 200 patients remained there for five days after the hurricane made landfall.

Gupta’s passion for inspiring Americans to lead healthier, more active lives also led him to launch "New You Resolution" and later “Fit Nation,” CNN’s multi-platform grassroots initiatives against obesity. Two nationwide “Fit Nation” tours have culminated in special long-form programs that revealed the hazards of obesity in children, “Fat Chance,” and the challenges in eating healthy in a culture and regulatory environment that makes processed food so prevalent in the American diet, “Danger: Poisoned Food.”

Other documentaries have included "Quake Zone," "Killer Flu," "Sleep," “Blood Spilled” and “Rescuing Youssif” which, respectively, addressed concerns about surviving the Pakistani earthquake, avian flu, the dangers of a lack of sleep, the challenges faced by wounded Iraqi veterans and the emotional and physical journey of the recovery of a young Iraqi boy, respectively.

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/gupta.sanjay.html

Yeah, he sparred with, and provided a platform for, Michael Moore on a TV interview about Moore's 'Sicko'. I don't think that makes him a poor choice for SG. Both men's work can stand or fall on their own merits.

Does Dr. Gupta's employment be CNN color his work? That's a fair question. I'm sure it does, as a journalist, to some extent. Would that employment color his role as an independent SG? Another fair question, yet I think his record within that format speaks well for his advocacy role. And as SG, he would not be a CNN employee, he would be an employee of the US Government.

Both men are advocates, within their own formats. Both men know media well.

Gupta seems an odd choice at first take, but I see the value there.

I would be hesitant to judge either's effectiveness on the basis of a TV interview.

[Seedersandleechers]

118. Agreed

:hi:

[pinto]

120. And, who knows, maybe a trauma specialist, with some time in Iraq, will speak up for PTSD treatment

for our vets, as well as more efficient care and treatment of trauma cases, in a battle zone and at home.

[shireen]

128. good post

Gupta is not perfect, but overall, i think he'd make a good SG and he certainly has the gravitas to command attention to health issues. I don't know why people are calling him a shill for big pharma. Can someone prove this? The negative knee-jerk comments in this thread is quite disappointing. I would expect DU'ers to be more thoughtful, and present some evidence to back up their statements.

[AnAnonymousDemocrat]

151. Not a chance

It's the main reason I don't care for DU much. Lots of ad hominem attacks. Most are here to just whine and complain.

[iverglas]

133. "sparred with Michael Moore"?

Really, sir, you are too kind.

Gupta's performance on the program was one giant web of deceit woven for the benefit of the for-profit health insurance / health care system.

Take it from a Canadian who knows the facts about our system.

If Gupta is as ignorant of the Canadian and other publicly funded/administered systems as a charitable interpretation would suggest, he would be a poor choice to oversee a policy sector where expanding access has to be the priority.

If he was intentionally misleading, an interpretation I might find more reasonable, well, say no more.

[pinto]

148. Thanks. I know a lot of your health care system is 'demonized' down here.

I worked on CA's last legislative stab at Universal Health care and there remains a lot of misunderstanding.

As far as the Moore/Gupta interview goes (which seems a flash point in this all) I thought both had an agenda. I won't suppose either one's intent; the facts of the matter were eventually addressed.

I'm looking for less assumptions on all sides and more info.

(aside) What's the history of your system? I'm sure it didn't spring into place overnight. I think we all have had chances to build a larger health care net and have made different choices. The Canadian history may be worth noting.

[iverglas]

152. "I thought both had an agenda"

Uh, yes. Kinda like both McCain and Obama did?

You say that like it's a bad thing. If Moore's agenda was to raise public awareness of the abysmal state of the US healthcare system and generate interest in improving it and action to that end, this would be equivalent to the agenda of preventing the adoption of a universal system by any means necessary?


What's the history of your system? I'm sure it didn't spring into place overnight. I think we all have had chances to build a larger health care net and have made different choices. The Canadian history may be worth noting.

It's actually an excellent question and an issue I have raised myself here a few times.

Here's a recent sample:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=118&topic_id=192625&mesg_id=192710

But heck, I'll just copy it here, because it is important, and I do find it worthwhile to lay out.


iverglas
Wed Dec-03-08 02:40 PM

I think the road from where you are to a universal scheme is going to be a long one. And in fact it was for us. It started in one province (Kiefer Sutherland's grandpa, Tommy Douglas, "father of Canadian medicare", was premier of Saskatchewan and fought the doctors there -- they struck and he brought in British MDs). It started with limited coverage -- hospital only. A couple of decades later a national scheme covering all medical care in all provinces was adopted. It was another couple of decades before "extra billing" (co-pays) was banned. Some 40 years all told. I certainly hope you make it a little quicker than that.

Joe Biden's thoughts (rambling as they are) seem on target to me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OgcKGWwWlE&mode=related&search=

(I've been a huge Biden fan for decades, even though I find some of his positions obnoxious and I wouldn't actually want him for my own head of govt.)

*Regulation* is the first step, as it is with every other aspect of your (and to a lesser extent our) economy. Deregulation is the source of many of your current economic woes. Health insurance has never been regulated to any reasonable degree. Biden's remarks include that -- things like not permitting insurance companies to exclude from coverage and so on.


http://www.tommydouglas.ca/tommy

Tommy Douglas: The Greatest Canadian

As Tommy Douglas said...

"I felt that no boy should have to depend either for his leg or his life upon the ability of his parents to raise enough money to bring a first-class surgeon to his bedside. And I think it was out of this experience, not at the moment consciously, but through the years, I came to believe that health services ought not to have a price tag on them, and that people should be able to get whatever health services they require irrespective of their individual capacity to pay."

Did you know...

...that Tommy's government enacted Canada's first Bill of Rights?

He was also a Baptist clergyman. Gasp. The social gospel is us, up here.


Here's what I've been looking for:

http://scaa.sk.ca/gallery/medicare/en_timeline.php

Medicare timeline - excerpts:

1944 – North America’s first social democratic government.
Act of the legislature proclaimed that residents of the province were eligible for free services relating to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

1945 – First comprehensive health plan for pensioners and widows.
Formation of the Saskatchewan Health Services Planning Commission.

1947 – First universal hospitalisation insurance program in North America.

1948 – National Health Program of Grants initiated by the federal government

1959 – Premier T.C. Douglas announces plan to introduce a prepaid medical–care program.

(This is the point at which I broke my leg and spent three months in hospital -- and my parents were very fortunate that my father had health insurance at work, because we didn't live in Saskatchewan.)

1962 – First universal Medicare in North America.

Drat, that's as far as that one goes ...

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/pubs/system-regime/2005-hcs-sss/time-chron-eng.php

1962
Saskatchewan creates medical insurance plan for physicians' services, July 1; doctors in province strike for 23 days.

... Throughout the 60s and 70s all provinces established plans, with federal cost-sharing.

1984
The Canada Health Act, federal, passes (Royal Assent April 17), combines hospital and medical acts; sets conditions and criteria on portability, accessibility, universality, comprehensiveness, public administration; bans user fees and extra billing.
Provincial/territorial reciprocal billing agreement for out-patient hospital services provided out-of province/ territory.

Throughout the late 80s and 90s the feds cut funding continually, and some provinces (e.g. Ontario under a right-wing govt) made massive cuts, closing hospitals, cutting nursing staff, etc., along with cutting welfare and the like, all in the name of tax cuts. These are the sources of what problems we do have now. It ain't the system, it's who's running it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It ain't gonna be built in a day -- although the UK made a bit faster work of it than we did. But that was back in the days when public goods mattered, and could actually be paid for. As my co-vivant is fond of saying: imagine paying to build the NYC subway system today. (But yes, healthcare is different in that it would be cheaper immediately, not just in the long term like a transit system, to convert to single public payer.)

The best I'd be hoping for, to start with, is some big-time regulation. Just as there should be in all other sectors of the economy.

[knixphan]

121. If he utters one more word against single-payer...

:mad:

[pinto]

124. I'm for Universal Health care, as well. But the SG isn't the mover and shaker in that realm.

It's Congress and the White House.

Opposing this choice on that basis is ineffective, imho. Single payer will come from the legislative branch, signed by a President, and no where else.

I think it's best we pick our battles where they count.

[knixphan]

132. good point.

Could just be my knee-jerk reaction... But I really hope he doesn't use his pulpit to oppose it.

Just wrote to my Rep about HR676, I totally agree about the Legislative pressure needed - we have to concentrate our fire.

[pinto]

137. Yeah, it's the legislative body we need to lobby. (aside) And I doubt

Dr. Gupta would step into that political fray, nor would any SG.

That said, his sideline support would be great.

Yet, I don't make it a condition of his appointment that he be a public spokesman for Universal Health care.

imho, he's got enough bona fides and enough immediate health care issues to address within the purview of that office to justify his time, if appointed and confirmed. (obviously still speculation at the point.)

[knixphan]

139. Agreed, he needn't be the voice of single-payer-

And I imagine Michael Moore would welcome another public rematch if Sanjay tried to bring it up at all...

Aside, It would be nice if the new SG stood up to the corn lobby... (High Fructose and all that)

[iverglas]

135. so what does this say about the President then?

How would appointing someone so ignorant of / dishonest about universal single public payer health insurance as Gupta obviously is (those are the choices, pick your own) demonstrate Obama's own commitment to expanding access?

Kind of like how going on tour with a homophobic bigot and inviting a homophobic bigot to participate in his inauguration demonstrates commitment to equality rights ...

[pinto]

140. You pose kind of a conflated question, so I'll ask you to answer it.

You've got a point to make.

What does it say about the President then?

[iverglas]

154. hmm; see my post 126?

I think it might say something like: nice façade, not much behind it.

That's been my impression from the outset.

Of course, I very much hope I'm wrong.

[lumberjack_jeff]

203. He who? Gupta wouldn't be Obama's choice if they weren't sympatico. n/t

[Political Tiger]

122. "Journalist" for Surgeon General...

Actually Gupta is a doctor, not a jouralist.

[iverglas]

126. I hope y'all had low expectations of your new guy

I know I (on the outside here) did -- but still, Obama is managing to exceed them just about every day in every way.

If this report is true, it's sick-making.

My opinion, were I to be directly affected by this choice, would be that Gupta's statements about the Canadian healthcare system alone were so dishonest as to disqualify him from public office.

Discussion of the Gupta-Moore segment here:

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/blogs/paging.dr.gupta/2007/07/my-conversation-with-michael-moore.html

You get your odd right-wing and uninformed Canadian chiming in (like the one who says that when a resident of one province needs health care in another, s/he has to pay ... when portability is one of the fundamental principles and requirements of the system ...). Generally speaking, Canadians were simply appalled at the deceit (I'm not charitable enough to call it ignorance) he displayed.

Surely expanding access to health care has to be the number one priority in Obama's health policy. Surely it is impossible to reconcile appointing Gupta with that goal.

[acmavm]

127. I think this guy would be great.

[proud2BlibKansan]

134. I think the medical reporter on my local TV station was available

Too bad Obama didn't ask him.

[Kashka-Kat]

146. IS this the same Dr. Gupta with the weightloss clinic in Rockford ILL? Whats next Judge Judy for AG

[Tab]

147. I agree - this seems like a joke.

Let's get somebody real. If you want them of Indian descent, there are plenty of qualified people.

Gupta, though, is like getting Jesse Jackson for.... ah, never mind.

But please, inject some quality into your choices.

[ikojo]

149. There goes any chance for single payer

healthcare. Sanjay Gupta raked Michael Moore over the coals when Sicko came out. Here is the CNN clip

http://crooksandliars.com/2007/07/09/cnn-reality-check-that-got-michael-moore-fired-up/

Here is Michael Moore's response to Dr Gupta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR2U_SAWHdQ

From Michael Moore's website

http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/news/article.php?id=10026

[alarimer]

150. That's like making Greta Van Susteren Attorney General.

I am sure he is somewhat qualified but still.

[Shardik]

155. WTF???????

I don't think I'm in Kansas anymore, Toto.

[Bluebear]

163. Sanjay Gupta will only be SINGING ONE SONG!!!!1

[Chovexani]

171. That never, ever stops being funny.

Rock on with yo bad self, bb. :hug:

[Bluebear]

175. Thank you, sister Chovexani!

:loveya:

[QC]

172. JUST LET HIM SAY HIS MEANINGLESS TWO MINUTE PRAYER1!!1!!!

[scarletwoman]

165. Another visionary choice for change!!!!

:puke:

[Joanne98]

166. Gee. I guess nobody serious was available!

[TwilightGardener]

167. He's got a pretty well-rounded career in medicine, and is comfortable

as a public figure, teaching and explaining health issues. It's a fine choice, IMO.

[emilyg]

168. Is this a joke?

[Chovexani]

170. I guess Dr. Nick was unavailable

[Wetzelbill]

176. "Hi everybody"

:rofl:

[Chovexani]

182. Hi Dr. Nick!

:hi:

[KamaAina]

173. In an unrelated story, Dr. Joycelyn Elders has been named editor of the New York Times.

:sarcasm:

edit: header

[Wetzelbill]

174. as the face of the policy he might be outstanding

I'm not so sure about how much I would agree on his policy ideas or not. He could be a communications pick, the guy is smart and excellent on television, people seem to like him. If he's out advocating the administration's policies, promoting them in a high profile manner, that could be a good thing. From that angle it could be a perfect fit, but again, just not sure if I'd agree with him from a policy standpoint.

[valerief]

177. Yecch! He might as well have picked Dr. Phil. Why couldn't he pick

a real doctor instead of teevee celebrity doctor?

[Wetzelbill]

180. to tell you the truth

The Surgeon General isn't a big policy position or anything. They'll give him a place at the table, but the SG is around mainly as a public advocate and the basic face of a policy. He might be a perfect pitchman to sell O's Universal Healthcare proposal etc.

[valerief]

181. He'll sell Big Pharma and nothing else. nt

[Wetzelbill]

187. He'll sell what the administration wants him to or he won't have a job

The position is a basically a spokesperson role, he'll advocate Obama policies not necessarily his own, or they'll find somebody who will.

[knixphan]

186. good point

Hope that's what O has in mind. It could be a clever play-

[Wetzelbill]

191. the Surgeon General reports to Daschle's (when he's confirmed) assistant secretary

He's basically a spokesperson. As it stands, he'll get his voice heard but he would be nowhere near as influential as Daschle when it comes to health care policy. He's there to educate the public on certain basic issues, lifestyle choices and to help sell the president's policy. He actually should be good at that. He's good on tv and people like him and he's less likely to say something problematic because he's a polished public personality, unlike Koop or Elders had been. I said earlier, I don't know if I'd agree with him on policy, but he's not the big fish there, but he could be an effective spokesman. That's about all he really needs to do.

[proud2BlibKansan]

198. Yes how hard is it to write warnings on cigarette packs?

But Sanjay argued against most of Michael Moore's claims in SICKO. I don't believe he will be an advocate for universal care.

[singletn]

178. Chill - I think it will be ok.

The most important issue with the Surgeon General is that he
will have to help sell universal health care.  I think Gupta
has the 'street cred' to do that better than anyone.  No, I
did not like his hack job on Sicko, but the mistakes were
corrected, and the nitpicking, while nitpicking, gives him a
history that makes it hard for the right-wing wackos to attack
Gupta when he goes out to sell a health care plan.  

I don't know but despite the history, this might be another
choice in the brilliant category.

[Endangered Specie]

183. What was Dr. Kevorkian unavailable?

[MetaTrope]

185. Next up: Ann Coulter as White House press secretary

Lord, I know my suspicions were aroused when the media portrayed Obama as the Second Coming, but his mouth is going down on our corporate overlords much faster than I expected.

[Azlady]

195. I'm shocked that he would select someone whos is so against a national healthcare..n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

201. Hello?? Why?

The collective consciousness about Obama's views in healthcare has been nothing but a bunch of projection.

Obama thinks healthcare should be optional, profit-based and the responsiblity of the individual in question. Listen to what he says and watch what he does and you'll be "shocked" less frequently.

[Azlady]

213. My, my

I am very much aware of Obama's ideas on improving our healthcare, at least for some of us without healthcare MAY have an option in the future.

From Obama's site:

"Under the plan, if you like your current health insurance, nothing changes, except your costs will go down by as much as $2,500 per year. If you don’t have health insurance, you will have a choice of new, affordable health insurance options".

There are many of us in this country, ever so hopeful that we may have an actual healthcare OPTION...

[lumberjack_jeff]

200. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME.

Okay, I'm having a big-time primary flashback.

All you people who were pretty sure during the primary that (campaign promises notwithstanding) deep down inside Obama was in favor of universal health care should do some serious introspection.

Forget about us... our grandkids won't be guaranteed health care. This was the reason I supported Hillary, and now, even before he's inaugurated, we can see that I was right.

[diamidue]

204. Does anyone know his position on CODEX Alimentarius?? n/t

[Ian David]

209. I was kind of hoping he'd pick Dr. Bunsen Honeydew.

[JNelson6563]

212. At least he's not Sec. of Health & Human Services.

While this choice is very disappointing I am glad of it's pretty limited role. Kinda like Gupta's limited ability. haha ;-)

Julie