Senate Approves McClellan as Medicare Chief

[TacticalPeek]

March 12, 2004, 11:34am EST
SENATE APPROVES
McCLELLAN AS NEW
MEDICARE CHIEF

The Senate approved FDA chief Mark
McClellan's nomination to head Medicare on
Friday, after the vote was delayed over concerns about his opposition
to legalizing the importation of prescription drugs.

McClellan, a 40-year-old physician and economist, will
oversee implementation of the $530 billion Medicare law
passed in 2003 that provides some prescription drug
coverage for seniors.

"Dr. McClellan is the right person. ... He is an extremely
bright and capable public servant," Senate Majority
Leader Bill Frist said in a statement.

The confirmation followed McClellan's appearance before
a Senate committee Thursday, where he explained his
position on drug importation. Sen. Byron Dorgan,
D-N.D., had previously placed a hold the nomination,
insisting that McClellan testify before the commerce
committee.



http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/mcclellan_03-12-04.html


What a Class-A jerk!

[Qanisqineq]

1. I watched C-SPAN when he was testifying

Dorgan (senator from my home state) and a senator from Washington (forget her name) were pretty tough on him, and he was an ass. Wouldn't give straight answers. They called him on it, too.

Too bad.

[Woody Guthrie]

4. Saw that as well..

McClellan is definitely a political appointee. Despite how much he talked you could never really understand whether he answered the questions or not.
Is he related to the press secretary by any chance? The skill in which he spun his replies was amazing..

[Qanisqineq]

6. welcome to DU!

[metisnation]

10. Woody

Welcome to DU how many people have you met in your life named McClellan?

[peekaloo]

2. wow a physician and an economist

will make pulling all those numbers out of his ass so much easier.

[Woody Guthrie]

7. Peekaloo

Is that Tony Clifton?

[peekaloo]

11. yes indeed! Welcome to DU!

[SOS]

3. His brother is WH spokesman

and his father wrote a book accusing Lyndon Johnson of the JFK assasination. The McClellans and the Bushs are long time friends. Aren't you glad we live in a meritocracy?

[BiggJawn]

12. "It's a Family Affa-a-a-a-air, It's a Family Affair..."

Yes, the Good Doctor's brother, Scotty, is the new "Mouth of Sauron".

[dusty64]

5. So he refused to answer

direct questions and was confirmed anyway. When will they ever learn?

[Demonaut]

8. can he be replaced once Kerry is in office?...nt

[xxqqqzme]

9. yep! the

entire place gets cleaned up! At FDA, he also side stepped over-the-counter designation to 'the morning after' pill, even tho the FDA recommended it, until he was confirmed as Medicare chief.


(I hope that POS legislation can B fixed or I am so screwed!)