Democrat Conyers Opposing Possible Gupta Appointment

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: TV Newser/AP

From an AP News alert...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A key Democratic House member is rallying opposition to Dr. Sanjay Gupta becoming the next surgeon general. House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers contends the 39-year-old CNN chief medical correspondent lacks experience. Conyers is calling on Democrats to sign onto a letter to President-elect Barack Obama urging him not to nominate Gupta.

Read more: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/politics/democrat_opposing_possible_gupta_appointment_105306.asp

[Metta]

1. Here, here. He seems to be against health care for all.

Viz. his mean spirited diatribe against Michael Moore.

[tabatha]

4. Hear. Hear.

[babylonsister]

2. Found this, Mom, about that:

* Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) is picking a fight with Obama over his likely Surgeon General nominee. Since the confirmation is up to the Senate, Conyers may have limited influence on this. (Unfortunately, Conyers' letter to his House colleagues spells Gupta's name wrong, misspelled the "Nobel" prize, gets the address of Conyers' website wrong, and mistakenly claims that Paul Krugman won a Nobel Peace Prize. Oops.)

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[DeepModem Mom]

3. You found quite a gem, there! Thanks for posting!!! nt

[No Elephants]

17. Spelling vs. opposing universal health care? Seriously?

[Pastiche423]

5. I hope something works to keep that ignorant teevee doc out!

[cal04]

6. Conyers: Is Sanjay Gupta The Right Choice For Surgeon General?

http://johnconyers.com/node/289

Is Sanjay Gupta the right choice for Surgeon General? A growing chorus are have questions about his candidacy.

The severity of the current health care crisis in America requires a Surgeon General of serious stature, with deep roots in the public health community and a record of compassion
towards America's 47.5 million uninsured. On the surface, Dr. Gupta seems like a nice enough guy. However, even his supporters note that some of his feature stories have relied upon questionable science. It is also troubling that Dr. Gupta currently accepts fees for speaking engagements - something considered highly unethical in journalistic circles.

In what I have read about Dr. Gupta, he seems to have given little thought to the serious problems facing our health care system. I hope that President-elect Barack Obama will offer us someone who can make us feel he might have the ability to become a champion of health care reform and whose past action reflects more commitment and integrity about the number one issue of our society - a failed health care system. These indicators seem to be lacking in this potential nominee.

I have great optimism that President-elect Obama will ultimately choose someone who shows the ability to become a Surgeon General who will work to create real change.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Thanks, cal04! nt

[depakid]

8. "some of his feature stories have relied upon questionable science."

Bingo.

After the last 8 years, America deserves better than that.

[DCKit]

14. "Questionable Science"? I thought Big Pharma was the arbiter of all health science issues. n/t

[Donnachaidh]

9. so is the Physicians for a National Health Program Group

From an email I just received --

Dear PNHP members and friends,

The report this week that President-elect Obama is considering Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, for the position of U.S. surgeon general is deeply troubling.

Among our concerns are these:

1.

He has very little background in public health, preventive medicine or administration.
2.

He has openly opposed progressive health reform, going so far as to cite false information to denigrate single payer (e.g. in his error-laden attack on Michael Moore's film "Sicko") and parroting the health insurance lobby's distortions of single payer.
3.

As a media figure, he has been disturbingly cozy with Big Pharma. He co-hosts Turner Private Networks' monthly show "Accent Health," which airs in doctors' offices around the country and which serves as a major conduit for targeted ads from the drug companies. Another example: In 2003, despite mounting evidence to the contrary, he publicly downplayed concerns about the dangers of Vioxx. It was removed from the market a year later by its manufacturer, Merck.
4.

In the 2008 election campaign, his reporting on John McCain's health proposals was misleading and implicitly positive, giving undeserved credence to McCain's claims that buying private health insurance on the open market is a financially viable option for most Americans.

We urge you to write to President-elect Obama and express your opposition to Gupta's possible nomination, and to urge Obama to nominate a more acceptable candidate for this critically important post. You can do so by clicking here: http://change.gov/page/s/healthcare.

Sincerely yours,

Quentin Young Signature
Quentin D. Young, M.D.
National Coordinator

Physicians for a National Health Program
29 E Madison Suite 602, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone [phone] | Fax: [phone]
www.pnhp.org | [e-mail]

[No Elephants]

19. Thanks for posting that.

[goforit]

10. You go conyers!!!....Gupta is nuttin but a prettyboy with pay to play morals.

[jgraz]

11. But... but... doesn't he know this is all part of the Grand Galactic Jedi's MASTER PLAN(tm)??

Of course, Obama's so smart that he already factored in Conyers' opposition and will use it to reverse global warming.

[Ian David]

12. I am sure Johnny Letter will give a great speech before nothing happens. n/t

[populistdriven]

13. John Conyers Failed to Prosecute Bush but Didn't Hesitate to Prosecute Teenagers for Music Downloads

http://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?news_year_filter=&resultpage=78&id=C6B53939-B00B-B370-2F9B-D709442CAF87
http://www.politechbot.com/2005/12/24/rep-john-conyers/

[KamaAina]

15. Well, that ought to put a big old roadblock into his House confirmation

What's that? ...he only has to be confirmed by the Senate?... Awww, crap!!! :argh:

[okiru109]

16. isn't he a good pick from a marketing perspective?

since most folks are "low information voters" and he is a well known name... well, as long as he follows orders and having been successful in today's media shows he is a top performer ;)

[No Elephants]

20. Low information voters will think he is an appealing , albeit not very talented, American Idol

contestant. If that's what picks are aimed at, all I can say is,

May God Have Mercy on All Our Souls.

[No Elephants]

18. This, combined with the woman Obama is proposing for FDA chief, make me wonder.