The Huffington Post has the story. Here’s a snippet:
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.”
You can read the the Conyers letter and more here.
Basically, Conyers questions whether Gupta has the necessary experience and medical background required to be Surgeon General. Conyers explains that Gupta will face a “credibility gap” because he did not serve in the National Health Service Corp.
A couple Baptist bloggers have weighed in on Obama’s selection of Gupta. One described Obama’s pick as “asinine” while another described the selection as “unusual but understandable” The latter called Gupta a “brilliant neurosurgeon.”
I’m with Obama on this pick. Despite the incident with Michael Moore, Gupta seems to know his stuff. He may be one of the few people out there who can make health care policy truly interesting. I’ve spent some time in a small room listening to David Satcher who was Surgeon General during the Clinton Administration. A brilliant man but trust me when I say that I wasn’t the only person struggling to stay awake.
For more, see Gupta not up to Surgeon General Post (Politico.com)
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After reading criticisms by Conyers and by Paul Krugman, I am reconsidering my initial support for Gupta. The Moore flap was part of a pattern where Gupta seems like a sales flack for the corporate sponsors of CNN–which include the pharmaceutical corporations & HMOs. This puts him at odds with any attempt to secure universal, not-for-profit, healthcare for all.
Also, unknown to me when Gupta was announced, he has been involved in promoting some junk science. So, while “asinine” still seems too harsh to me, I am glad that Gupta hasn’t yet been officially announced and am hoping Obama has 2nd thoughts.
Well, you know I disagree. Gupta’s charisma and star power won’t make up for his lack of substantive public policy experience. “Asinine” was probably a bit much, but I hope they’ll find someone who’s a bit more qualified for the job.
In other news, guess who has a job offer at Satcher’s alma mater?
No way.
Moving to da Dirty South to be a Maroon Tiger, huh?
That will be an experience.