Do you know what the Surgeon General does?

[AZBlue]

Before you judge whether or not Gupta is a good pick for the job, why don't you find out?

The duties of the Surgeon General are to:

- Protect and advance the health of the Nation through educating the public, advocating for effective disease prevention and health promotion programs and activities, and, providing a highly recognized symbol of national commitment to protecting and improving the public's health,
- Articulate scientifically based health policy analysis and advice to the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the full range of critical public health, medical, and health system issues facing the Nation,
- Provide leadership in promoting special Departmental health initiatives, e.g., tobacco and HIV prevention efforts, with other governmental and non-governmental entities, both domestically and internationally,
- Administer the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps, which is a uniquely expert, diverse, flexible, and committed career force of public health professionals who can respond to both current and long-term health needs of the Nation,
- Provide leadership and management oversight for PHS Commissioned Corps involvement in Departmental emergency preparedness and response activities,
- Elevate the quality of public health practice in the professional disciplines through the advancement of appropriate standards and research priorities, and
- Fulfill statutory and customary Departmental representational functions on a wide variety of Federal boards and governing bodies of non-Federal health organizations, including the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the National Library of Medicine, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, and the American Medical Association.

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/about/duties/index.html

Doesn't sound like he gets to defend or attack medical, pharmaceutical or insurance companies to me; sounds more like a medically focused position.

[stray cat]

1. He gets to help sell Obama's health care plan to the nation

and I think he is a perfect person to do that to the broadest possible audience

[brentspeak]

5. Sanjay's office says that your check is in the mail.

[cottonseed]

20. I get it! You're calling this poster a paid shill right?

It's a pretty smart reply. I'm sure you agree. I've seen you use it a number of times so far.

[stray cat]

23. Darn - you mean I'm not getting paid for my opinions? There goes my dreams of homeownership

:toast:

[SharonRB]

2. Sounds like he's a perfect pick to me.

[valerief]

3. All medical doctors are required to expound on the wonderfulness of medicine.

Sometimes it's appropriate, sometimes it isn't, but that's their industry, medicine.

[EFerrari]

4. I thought we were happy that Bush is packing in part because

he appointed industry shills to oversee and regulate the very same industries.

I thought we were happy because this new administration was going to be different.

[AZBlue]

6. What industry does this list say he oversees?

I don't see one.

[EFerrari]

12. I once met Surgeon General David Satcher.

He was really something. His resume was a long as your arm and he took unpopular positions.

He was a good, solid man and we were lucky to have him. There was never any question of him shilling for Big Pharma or of being unqualified in the field of public health or of him not having a solid record of being an independent advocate for the public good.

[Skittles]

7. I'm well fucking aware what the SG does

I'm also well fucking aware that Gupta is a smarmy, shilling piece of corprate SHIT

[jberryhill]

17. Yup - and he'll have to advocate Obama's health plan or find another job

What's he going to do? Oppose Obama's plan?

Seriously.

[dflprincess]

19. Obama doesn't have a health care plan.

He has a health insurance plan that will continue to funnel money into the pockets of the crooks currently selling us health insurance. Gupta has made it clear he opposes a single payer plan and, as a corporate whore, will make a perfect advocate for Obama's plan. He'll be a great partner with Daschle.

[Skittles]

22. LOLOL

please

[Joe the Revelator]

21. Oh man, your constant belly aching is tiring

[NYC_SKP]

24. WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA

WHOA!!!

[incapsulated]

8. He debates Micheal Moore, obviously

Then personally decides whether you will live or die and makes the President do whatever he says about Health Care.

Right?

:silly:

[AZBlue]

10. Don't forget - he also gets to throw the first pitch at the World Series.

[Bluebear]

9. No, we were all unaware, thanks.

[AZBlue]

11. So glad I could help out!

[Bluebear]

28. .

[bigwillq]

13. Yes (nt)

[dcindian]

14. Huh?????

I mean really please explain to us how nominating an anti health care - anti medicare and proven liar to such a high profile position is dependent on how much power someone has.

I wouldn't want this puppet picking up dog crap in my yard for me much less anything else.

[moc]

15. Yes I do. Do you understand the difference between public health and clinical medicine?

More critically, does Gupta? I am not aware of his support for public health in general - not saying it doesn't exist, but I want someone to describe to me why I, as a public health professional, should believe Gupta understands what we do, how we do it, why we do it, and how best to promote what we do.

[moc]

18. I'd also like to add a specific criticism of your OP. It's not a "medically focused position".

SG is a PUBLIC HEALTH position.

The fact you labeled it as such means you don't have any more knowledge of what the SG does than the knowledge it takes to cut and paste from the SG's website. Why you assume that qualifies you to lecture anyone about whether they "understand" the SG is beyond me.

[Bluebear]

25. chirp chirp chirp

(crickets sound effects for you)

[AZBlue]

27. "SG is a PUBLIC HEALTH position"

As they say: no shit, Sherlock!
:rofl:

[AZBlue]

26. I do actually - thanks so much for asking!

Nice strawman attempt, but I like to stick to the topic at hand: what on earth gives people the idea this guy will set insurance company regulations or any of the other inane suggestions on this board tonight? That's my OP - if you want to debate whether or not Gupta understands the "difference between public health and clinical medicine" (which I'd think any high school graduate would understand so I'll assume Gupta does too) you can start your own thread, ok? Thanks!

[depakid]

16. "Articulate scientifically based health policy analysis"

A reasonable person generally takes this to mean that:

1. The SG doesn't lie or distort the facts; and

2. If it turns out facts that have been articulated were incorrect- he or she admits they were wrong and makes the opportunity to correct them.

Not a very difficult standard to objectively judge a potential nominee by.