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Ear to the Ground

Gupta Pulls Plug on Surgeon General Post

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Posted on Mar 6, 2009
Gupta
reportercaps.com

Gupta was a controversial choice for Obama’s staff, especially given his less-than-supportive stance on universal health care.

The rocky road to staffing still-vacant government positions suffered a bit of a setback Thursday, as the creamy filling—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, henceforth known as “The Gupta”—of Obama’s team withdrew his name from consideration for the post of surgeon general.

Many feel The Gupta’s listless reporting surrounding the national health care debate may have been a significant factor in the withdrawal.

The L.A. Times:

CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta withdrew Thursday from consideration to be the next surgeon general, with the network and Obama administration officials attributing his decision to professional and family reasons amid a campaign by some liberal interest groups to block his selection.

CNN reported that Gupta, a neurosurgeon, decided to withdraw so that he could continue to practice medicine, work as a journalist and spend more time with his family.

Administration officials cited the same reasons.

“Sanjay Gupta was under serious consideration for the job of surgeon general. He has removed himself from consideration to focus more on his medical career and his family,” said an Obama administration official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

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photoshock's avatar

By photoshock, March 9, 2009 at 3:36 pm Link to this comment

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, what a choice!  He is no more qualified to be the surgeon general than a parrot is to be a receptionist in a company. The parrot would only say things that it was ordered to, The Gupta, in much the same way has taken up the cause of denying the American people the right to health care.
All he does is parrot the position of the Corporate News Network, better known as CNN. We the people, want and need a single payer system, one which works for the people not the corporations; see, Health Insurance companies. We do not need the Mass. model, whereby people are given the money to buy the health insurance they need to cover their expenses for medical care.
What the people want and need is not more of the corporate greedy and avaricious bastards telling us, what we can and cannot have, it is high time that the
people stand up and let themselves be counted for the
good of all concerned. President Obama, must fulfill his campaign promises or the progressive movement will definitely find another candidate to work for the good of the people of the US.
President Obama, here this one voice, we are more than just one, we are many, and we demand that you work for the people not the “Wall Street Thugs,” the insurance companies, the drug companies and all the associated thieves that will try to steal the thunder
that you proposed during your campaign. Do not forget
it was the people who put you in office not the corporate world.

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ApprxAm's avatar

By ApprxAm, March 8, 2009 at 3:23 pm Link to this comment

See this weeks SNL if you like RePugNaCon defenestration like I do:

<object type=“application/x-shockwave-flash” data=“http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/49b4426a98957921/49b3bbc93d09397a/175d5ba8/-cpid/3a88bfdc19dafee” id=“W4727a250e66f972349b4426a98957921” width=“384” height=“283”><param name=“movie” value=“http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/49b4426a98957921/49b3bbc93d09397a/175d5ba8/-cpid/3a88bfdc19dafee” ></object>

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By Kitschymimi, March 7, 2009 at 7:58 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Howard Dean would be an appropriate choice.

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By irikk, March 7, 2009 at 12:13 pm Link to this comment

Although I agree with much of Obama’s agenda and performance so far, there are two things I have had strong objections to:

First was the selection of Gupta for SG. Not only has he been on the wrong side of many issues, he is obviously more interested in personal publicity and fame tan in doing something that benefits the entire country.

Second is the appalling treatment the Obama team has given to Howard Dean. The man who actually wrote the blueprint and set the stage for Obama’s campaign.

Offering the Surgeon General’s post to Gov. Dean would be a brilliant stroke in my opinion. He’s been in congress, served as governor of Vermont, is a physician and fully understands the healthcare reforms that are needed.

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By Big B, March 7, 2009 at 6:01 am Link to this comment

Good riddence, Sanjay. Your powderpuff reporting on the biggest single crisis in america today can now continue unabated. Yes that’s right, our disasterous healthcare system is a microcausm of all that is wrong with america. It may prove to drag us all down.

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By ThatDeborahGirl, March 6, 2009 at 5:08 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Dr. Sanjay Gupta should be Surgeon General like Captain Crunch should be head of the navy.

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By geoffspear, March 6, 2009 at 4:01 pm Link to this comment

Uh, yeah.  If you want a lot of time to spend with your family, clearly continuing your practice as a *brain surgeon* is the best path.

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