Conyers tries to keep Gupta from surgeon general post

[democracy1st]

WASHINGTON – House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers is circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter in Congress asking for help to discourage President-elect Barack Obama from nominating Novi native, CNN editor and neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta to be his surgeon general.


Whether it will have much effect remains to be seen, of course. Conyers, a Detroit Democrat, is one of the longest-serving members of the House, but presidential nominations are confirmed (or not) by the Senate. And while there has been much media conjecture, there has been no official word that Gupta, 39, would definitely receive the nomination.

Lately, there have been some rumblings suggesting he might not be the right person. One such critique, from New York Times economic columnist and recent Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman, took Gupta to task for accusing filmmaker (and Flint native) Michael Moore of “fudging his facts” in the movie “Sicko,” about the problems with America’s health care system.

Conyers has been active in pushing his own candidate. Both he and Gov. Jennifer Granholm had suggested that Obama consider Dr. Herb Smitherman Jr., a Detroit public health advocate and assistant dean for community and urban health at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, for the position.


The surgeon general is the top public health spokesman for the nation and oversees the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, which helps deliver health services and responds to public health crises.


Gupta went to college and medical school at the University of Michigan and is a neurosurgeon in Atlanta and on the faculty at Emory University’s medical school as well as being CNN’s medical correspondent.


http://www.freep.com/article/20090108/NEWS15/90108095/1009/NEWS07

[FrenchieCat]

1. If he can get it done, More power to Mr. Conyers!

I'm sure Obama is listening.....as he has not made an official announcement yet.

[napi21]

2. I happen to think Sanjay would do a great job. A lot of this job

is PR. Getting a message to the public and having them believe it. Sanjay is good at that. He also has public recognition and many people believe in what he says. That goes a long way to accomplishing the job of the SG.

I know many people are pissed at him for what he said about Moore's film, but you have to also remember, at that time he was working for CNN. As SH he would be working for Obama!

[tkmorris]

3. Yes, but

He cannot be expected to be effective delivering a message that is directly opposed to what he has said before, so it is reasonable to assume he won't be tasked to do that. He will be asked to distribute a message that is at least within shouting distance of what he has said before, which is the problem.

[irislake]

4. Many people should take

what he says about drugs with a big fat grain of salt. He will be fabulous choice for Big Pharma! I think this is sad choice for America. If this is Obama's choice I doubt he will do much to reform your horrendous health care situation. Sad. And so many people all over the world think things are going to change. I wonder.

[varkam]

5. Agreed. And as screwed up as the Moore situation was, I think it's actually trivial.

Mistakes or not, I likewise think Gupta would be a good pick because of his PR experience, but that's JMO

[JNelson6563]

6. Conyers, let it go.

I realize Conyers has bravely spoken out at times when no one lese would, still he is wrong here. I remember seeeing footage of his wife acting like a lunatic at a Detroit city council meeting and wondering WTF? More and more I see they are well suited.

And Granholm, I am about getting sick of her attempts to manipulate politics in the larger world (anyone recall MI's primary debacle??). Jennifer, could you please stop putting your fingers in those pies and just work on the economy here at home? Our people are hungry, homeless and freezing in increasing numbers. Thanks.

Julie