Dean Not Likely For Surgeon General Post, Allies Say

With Dr. Sanjay Gupta having taken his name out of the running for the administration's Surgeon General post, the early chatter has reverted back to the man progressives are pining to have in a health-care-related role: Howard Dean.

The former DNC Chair, who told the Huffington Post that he was interested in the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services, has all the qualifications one would want in a Surgeon General. But sources close to the Vermont Governor tell us, and The Plum Line's Greg Sargent, that he isn't interested in the post.

"I don't think he wants Surgeon General," said one ally of the former chair, who added that the post was not as substantive as HHS.

"He wants to be part of the healthcare fight," said another, arguing that more could be done on that front from the outside.

Nevertheless, Dean's name is being floated for the post, primarily by his progressive defenders.

"It's time for the media to stop asking Dean about the already-filled HHS position," wrote Igor Volsky of the Center For American Progress' Wonk Room, "and start asking about the (soon-to-be) vacant surgeon general position."

Comments

[alnc]

This Rahm vs Dean thing is down right stupid. If Emmanual holds a grudge against Dean for making the Democratic party successful he is really a dumber than I thought.

Dean is the man, without him we have no Dem advantage in the Senate or Congress and no Obama. We had people working and talking to people in areas that Democrats had given up over the last 20 years. Dean is the man!!!

[susanthe]

Dean should not be wasting his time on weasely Democrats. He should be organizing a third party.

[harrymellon]

But Bildeburger Sebelous is right for Health post? Its ok that they want to gut our organic standards and not let small organic farms grow food anymore under guise of protecting us. But Dean has actually done a lot for the party, is not a trilateral elitist and his form of raising money online is why Obama is President today. Shoudn't he be rewarded and not continually stiffed?

[Altruth]

I like Dean but he wasn't the correct person for the job because he has a hot head. If we are to realize Healthcare Reform and Universal Healthcare, we need someone that "plays well"; someone that can work the Democrats and the Republicans.

Remember how Dean messed-up his Presidential run? If you don't remember it was his mouth that got him into trouble. If you don't believe me go to YouTube and watch it for yourself.

Dean is another Rahm, a pit bull; he need to be in a position where that quality is needed.

[joeinvt]

What gave you the idea that Dean is a hot head? I hope it is based on more than a single You Tube video.

[unwashedmasses]

However contrived! This is getting SOOOOOOOOO tiresome....

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/26/politics/main596021.shtml

"Before Dean came out onstage, communications director Tricia Enright worked the press in the back of the hall. "He's going to be fiery," she told reporters. She said Dean would walk out on stage, take off his jacket, hand it to Sen. Tom Harkin and roll up his sleeves. Dean, she said, was fired up.

The rest, by now, you know.

What you might not know, because it doesn't play 30 times a day on the cable news channels, is what was happening in the rest of the room. You don't see the visual and you don't hear the audio. The television crews recording the event plug into an audio source picking up Dean's microphone, not the sound of the room. The cameras focus in to a tight shot of the candidate, not the rest of the room.

What you are not hearing is a room with thousands of people screaming and cheering.

What you are not seeing are hundreds upon hundreds of American flags waving.

What you are not hearing are members of the audience shouting out state names urging Dean to list more.

What you are not seeing is the way Dean's supporters were lifted out of their slump by the speech.

In a nutshell, you are not seeing that Dean's speech fit the tone of the room."

[InspiredByTruth]

I remember, it was a Foxnews reporter who cut out the background noise to enhance the infamous "scream". As head of the DNC he paved the way for Obama's 50-state strategy, all from a post that many did not want him in.

[sector1463]

The Dems have been playing nice with other on the subject of Universal Health Care since 1993. That playing nice hasn't gotten Universal Health Care any where. We need a dynamic sales person who is willing to tell it like it is. Dean is that person. He would have been a great Secretary of HHS or any other department. We need Dean if this is going to become a reality.

[Altruth]

I understand what everyone is saying here but I believe President Obama made the right decision. I really like Dean but he needs to be in a position where he can call the shots and doesn't need votes to approve what he is doing. The "Outcome" of the HHS position require votes and lots of votes. He did an excellent job in running the DNC and I am sure that he will receive a high ranking posiiton that suits his personality if he wants it.

By-the-way, you really don't have to look far if you want to see his personality in action. He is a very direct guy - people have a hard time working with this type of personality, and when people don't like you they will not get on board even if it is in their best interest.

[Womanvoter4Obama]

Look. I just want Howard Dean to be doing SOMETHING in the party. He deserves way more than he's gotten.

[Gayrove]

It's pretty clear. To get Rahm, the President had to forget about Dean. Did he make the right choice?
Dean would do a superb job in the cabinet for the President; but not with the present Chief of Staff, undermining, undermining, undermining. Obama would have to deal with Schurmer's (sp?) hostility, too, not to mention that of the Secretary of State's sophomoric husband.

[cylindar]

I do not think Dean is viewed as a favorable candidate for anything for some strange reason.

[InspiredByTruth]

Not in the Obama admin, apparently because of Rahm.

[swan1]

It is so easy to sit around and speculate about what's going on. You don't have facts ,just your guesses and imaginations. Isn't is possible that he (POTUS) knows what he is doing ,and why he is doing it?

[joeinvt]

It must be because Dean did such a crappy job at the DNC, especially compared to his predecessor, Terry McAuliffe. Coming up with that fifty state strategy in opposition to Rahm Emnuel, Chuck Schumer, and their advisors like Carville and Begala, was the last straw.

[trudem2]

Sounds like Dr Dean wants a position where he can be instrumental in forming guidelines for universal health care. If the Surgeon General's spot doesn't provide that, he should not be pushed into that spot. Let the man enjoy what other appointees do -- to be put in a spot where HE himself feels useful. He deserves at minimum at least that much.

[yellowdogminnesotan]

He'd have to grow a gray beard and get a pair of HUGE 80's glasses if he wants to get noticed, that's what the last rememberable Surgeon General did.

[Manx]

Surgeon General sounds like a consolation prize, an insult to Dean, who has done a great job in expanding the Democratic Party so that candidates like Obama could get elected.

[eirrac]

According to what Dean said recently on C-Span, he wasn't insulted at all. I like Dean very much, but he sounded very much interested in working on health care issues and said he didn't need a title to do it, nor did he really want one. He'll do a very good job, no matter where he is. He's very knowledgable.

[rsprags]

Dean has been asked to be Surgeon General and he is considering the job. I think the best folks for these jobs will be put in place. Please let's keep our eyes on the pride and maintain our focus. We cannot start to destroy our self like the repurg are doing to each other. There are a lot of President Obama, Rahm, and other staff members haters that sign on to HF site faking concern over some issue to get a dialog of hate and discord start between so called progressive & liberal demos. Please think about the alternatives to our President. He is attempting to do everthing he can to manage the economy, national security and defense, staffing all the departments, Iraq, Iran, Aphganathan, Gitmo, Repubicain obstructives, and work many of the other issues that he campaigned on. Remember, many of the post sound fishy; trying to make an issue with Dean that does not exist by repurgs and MSM.

I fear Gupta had some issue and pulled out because he did not want to have his reputaion trashed.

[joeinvt]

When was he asked?

[Carolab]

Cenk Uygur: On which planet was Howard Dean not effective?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvC19y0sV8Y&eurl=http://www.democraticunderground.com/

[joeinvt]

Carol

You're the best. Thanks for the link to Cenk's comments. He said it all.

[DRaymond]

I think Obama should nominate Miranda Bailey. Yes, she only plays a doctor on television, but that is pretty much the qualifications of his prior presumed appointee. And when she tells the nation that it is time to cut the fatty food and get some exercise it just might work.

(no I am not being serious)

[McChimp]

As I posted earlier, the Dean supporters on here whining about Dean not getting a job in the Obama admin are not helping the President any by continuing to complain.

Yes, Dean did the country a great service with his 50 state strategy, and helped Obama get elected, but that by no instance means Obama owes Dean a cabinet spot. It's like helping someone you know get promoted to being an employer at work, and you want to work for that person. Just because you helped that person become the employer does not mean that you are guaranteed a job at that person's company, that person may feel that you are not suited for his/her needs.

Point is, Dean applied for a job he wanted, and did not get it, and he isn't the first to get rejected and won't be the last. Obama has his reasons, just like employers who reject you have their reasons for not hiring you.

Obama has a 72% approval rating according to Newsweek, and that is without Dean in the Cabinet, it is clear that most Americans want Obama to be center left, not a far left radical.

[unwashedmasses]

How old are you? Totally sophomoric!

[Seattlelite]

I agree Obama doesn't "owe" Dean a thing, BUT as a democrat I feel I owe him. He fought the dem party (at his expense) for a 50 state strategy and IT WORKED! Apparently he pissed some people off in the party but hey if they were willing to forgive Liberman.......why not Dean..... not like he campaigned for the opposition. I don't know what it's like to work with Dean but he seems smart, and being the current circumstances we can't afford to waste any talent .