Conyers: Obama Should Not Nominate Sanjay Gupta

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."

Here's the bulk of the Dear Colleague letter:

I join in opposition with respected Noble Peace Prize award wining economist Paul Krugman, who has very serious concerns with having Dr. Gupta be the nation's Surgeon General. [...]

Also, there are highly experienced medical professionals who question whether Dr. Gupta has the necessary experience or even the medical background to be in charge of some 6,000 physicians or more who work in the United States Public Health Service. Gerard M. Farrel, Executive Director of the Commissioned Officers Association, stated in the January 7, 2008 Washington Post that Dr. Gupta will certainly face a "credibility gap" because he never served in the National Health Service Corp, and furthermore, does not have the "experience or qualifications to be the leader of the nation's public health service." Clearly, it is not in the best interests of the nation to have someone like this who lacks the requisite experience needed to oversee the federal agency that provides crucial health care assistance to some of the poorest and most underserved communities in America.

Conyers' letter represents one of the first critical takes on the potential Gupta nomination to come from the Hill. In most quarters, reports about the CNN medical correspondent have been greeted as a smart, if not provocative, pick. Howard Dean, a doctor himself, noted that Gupta's responsibilities would be much the same as those in his current job: explaining medical issues of public concern in a manner that the public could understand.

Outside of government, however, some have begun questioning whether the CNN correspondent has the proper qualifications to be Surgeon General. Krugman, in his post noted that Gupta accused filmmaker Michael Moore of inaccuracies, "when the truth was that on every one of the allegedly fudged facts, Moore was actually right and CNN was wrong." Gupta and CNN would later acknowledge making a mistake and apologize on air. Others have questioned whether he is the right conduit for Obama's health care agenda, and whether or not he has ethical conflicts of interest stemming from the corporate sponsors of his show.

But while Conyers and these individuals have doubts, it's unclear whether the post of Surgeon General will elicit much of a fight, since no Senators (who must confirm the nomination) have spoken critically of Gupta.

Comments

[Camarosc35]

Judging by the fact that there has been no more mention of his nomination and by his deflated demeanor on CNN as of late, looks like this ship has passed him by. Oh, well, many would love to have his current gig.

[RightsGuy]

Gupta does not have the qualifications to serve in the role of Surgeon General of the US. There are major concerns.

1. As a media figure, Gupta 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.

2. He has openly opposed progressive health reform, and cited false information in an effort to discredit Michael Moore's film "Sicko". Ultimately, it was found that Gupta distorted the facts.

3. 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. Media watchdog groups have also expressed concern about lack of objectivity in his reporting: http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3135 and
http://mediamatters.org/items/200707120001

[snowshoes]

I'm with Conyers and Krugman on this.
Being telegenic is his asset but his past is his liability.

[ltyr2002]

John Conyers and Paul Krugman aren't slouches folks. If they really oppose Gupta, perhaps we should consider their point. The SG does indeed oversee thousands of doctors and a large bureaucracy-does Gupta have the administrative credentials to do this?
There's nothing wrong with asking the question.

[rayy]

I don't have a problem with Gupta; he should not be punished for being a household name. I'm sure he is qualified.

The troubling appointment I see is Lisa Jackson for EPA. I guess that is a much lower-profile post, though.

[thentheresmaude]

For those of you who think its a job about educating the masses from behind a "bully pulpit" as some of you say then pick Dr. OZ or Dr Roizen at least their Real Age Institute/Cleveland Clinic comprise the best and most accurate cutting edge health tests and information on how to live and be healthy which is what is the problem with America to begin with they would turn this country around in no time. They also have a high regard for complimentary and integrative medicine and Gupta is a staunch puppet of the traditional medical establishment, extremely arrogant and cocky too. He's a pill.

[thentheresmaude]

You people are completely ignorant thinking that a CNN medical news contributor should be the new surgeon general. Obama is crazy to vote for Gupta and must not know much about drs as there are many more credible candidates and lower profile than Gupta. If he wants a minority in the position there are plenty of high ranking minority medical professionals with seasoned backgrounds to handle the job as well I am sure. YIKES! What's next? Suze Orman as a future Treasury Secretary? Turn off the TV people, read a freaking book or newspaper, whats happened to this country that everybody has to be an entertainer of some sort? What an idiocracy! Good for Conyers doing his job.AT LEAST SOMEONE HAS THEIR THINKING CAP ON!

[FBatRNC]

Although i do not like Sanjay Gupta's stance on national health care I do believe that he is qualified.

He is the assistant professor of neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine and associate chief of the neurosurgery service at Grady Memorial Hospital.

This is what you people consider unqualified?

Lets not compare people such as Suzie Orman or the arrogant Dr. Phil to Sanjay Gupta. They are in two very different leagues.

There are many other reasons this man should NOT be the Surgeon General but medical experience is not one of them.

[hernan1333]

Wish Conyers would have opened his mouth about Burris as well.

[fragman]

Why not Howard Dean? He seems like a much better choice. And has been given the shaft so far by the administration.

[JohnHKennedy]

RE: "he lost his committee chair to Wexler"

WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN and DO YOU HAVE A URL TO THE NOTICE???

THANKS

John

[akhilleus]

Go Conyers go! CNN's staff is increasingly indistinguishable from FOX News'. Their rhetoric is toned down but the interest groups that pull the strings of the two media outlets are the same.

[callings]

conyers just has his shorts in a wad because he lost his committee chair to Wexler. Boo. Hoo.

[Key]

This is not true. Conyers still chairs the judiciary committee. I think you are referring to another Michigan representative - John Dingell - losing the chair to Henry Waxman, not Wexler.

[Indie2008]

I don't recall Rep. Conyers being on the Presidential ballot in 2008.

[JohnHKennedy]

Seems to me that Conyers is wasting time with this guy. Let Obama have whom he wants.

Conyers should be worrying about our Constitution, the Rule of Law and the Separation of Powers.

Conyers and the US HOUSE SHOULD DO WHAT THE ILLINOIS HOUSE DID- IMPEACH B4 JAN 20th

Rep. CONYERS
claims to be pro impeachment but as House Judiciary Commission Chair he
HAS BLOCKED IMPEACHMENT FOR YEARS.

HE PROMISED TO HOLD IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS AFTER THE ELECTION BUT BROKE HIS WORD.

HE IGNORED A PETITION WITH OVER ONE MILLION NAMES ASKING FOR HEARINGS. HE ALSO IGNORED A NUMBER OF OTHER PETITIONS THAT ADDED UP TO ANOTHER MILLION NAMES.

AND NOW WE FIND CONYERS MAY HAVE BEEN CLOSER TO THE REPUBLICANS?

Articles: GOP ELECTION STEALERS RUN REP. JOHN CONYERS' CONGRESSIONAL WEBSITE

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/38816

and GOP Technology Powerhouse eMerges Behind Firewalls on the Hill

http://discuss.epluribusmedia.net/top_tier_GOP_techs_GovTech_and_GSL_Solutions_merge

THE ONLY WAY CONYERS CAN PROVE TO ME THAT HE WASN'T PLAYING GAMES WITH IMPEACHMENT IS TO START the HEARINGS BEFORE JAN 20.

The Illinois House Voted To Impeach in 90 Minutes of Debate

The US House Certainly Can do it before Jan 20th

IF not CONYERS WILL Be Remembered In American History AS
THE MAN WHO HAD THE POWER
BUT REFUSED TO USE IT
TO DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION
AND RIGHTS

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

[americanalien]

Conyers sounds a lot like a concern troll to me. It's not like we're talking about Secretary of Defense or something like that. Gupta is perfect for the job.

[Jonni Rae]

Sanjay Gupta believes there are no medical benefits to cannabis. That is enough to strike him off the list for me. conyers has done great work in his tenure. Don't dis him.