Gupta - The Objective Of Hiring An Accomplished Shill

[jberryhill]

I can't quite understand the "he's a shill" criticism of Gupta.

Isn't that a good part of what the Surgeon General does?

If you want to hire a shill, you hire a good one.

[YOY]

1. Perhaps hiring one of our "shills" might have been a better choice?

n.t.

[Bolo Boffin]

3. He is someone that knows how to slap liberals around

So Obama must consider that a plus.

I'm really starting to get tired of Obama's putting us into our "proper place."

[jberryhill]

4. I guess one can see it two ways

Having Gupta shill for Obama may be more an exercise in putting Gupta in an appropriate place.

[JuniperLea]

5. Maybe Obama won't battle wits...

With the unarmed? He said all along he was going to be a lot more bi-partisan than we are used to... and I think he will avoid a lot of BS by doing so. It doesn't mean he won't be pushing the progressive agenda.

[YOY]

7. After 8+ years of being pretty much dead freaking on...

I really don't need to be put in my place.

[Danger Mouse]

22. It's easy to be 'dead freaking on' when the alternative is abject idiocy.

[jberryhill]

6. One of the frequently made points about Nixon is...

His McCarthism credentials made him the perfect person to normalize relations with China and institute detente' and disarmament talks with the USSR.

Just sayin.

[KittyWampus]

25. what tdo you mean "one of OUR" shills? The man showed Obama's take on AIDs Policy

was far superior prior to the past election.

His work on tv shows pretty clearly he's concerned with "liberal" public health issues.

[YOY]

27. Like privatized health care?

Oh yeah...concerned.

[JuniperLea]

2. I don't get the shill deal at all

You don't become a neurosurgeon being an idiot... nor would you work for Hillary Clinton.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. 'Shill' does not mean 'stupid'.

It means selling your soul to corporate interests.

With him, there is no chance he will back REAL universal health care - at best we will get the kind of universal health INSURANCE that Hillary wants. And as long as private insurance is in the mix there will be NO reform.

[JuniperLea]

9. Is there some evidence of this leaning?

I've heard a lot of talk on DU about it, but never saw anything to point this out.

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. The evidence is that he has publicly expounded on the benefits of

the capitalist health care industry on his show, and nothing he says contradicts anything that Obama has ever said about HIS health care plan.

Obama has NEVER been for single-payer government funded universal healthcare. Choosing Gupta reflects that stance.

[gravity]

17. There are real benefits to the capitalists health system

as well as many drawbacks. Just because someone states there are benefits, doesn't make them a shill.

Any intelligent discussion on the matter will analyze both the costs and benefits of the capitalists system and a single payer one.

[RaleighNCDUer]

21. He discussed single-payer alright - when he reviewed 'Sicko'

and was wrong on every single criticism he made of it.

Michael Moore was right, and Gupta's corporate masters were wrong.

[dflprincess]

24. You'll have to elaborate if you expect me to believe there is any

benefit to for-profit health insurance. I worked for one of those companies. The only real concern they have about health care is how to avoid paying for it.

[jberryhill]

10. He'll be making policy on his own?

There is every chance he will back what the Obama administration tells him to back.

[K Gardner]

12. Of course he isn't an idiot. He is a brilliant neurosurgeon who decided to sell his soul

to Big Pharm and corporations in exchange for fame and enough money to drive the Jag he likes to brag about; to sell the book he wrote; to sell the TV Series he wrote based on his life ("Mash on speed"), etc. Just a brief look through the transcripts of his show reads like an ad for Merck, Pozen, Smith-Kline, etc. Some of the things he has advocated have been outright dangerous.

I've posted all this here in other threads. This doesn't mean he will be an ineffective SPOKESPERSON.. for that, he is supremely qualified, as he will say almost anything he is paid to say.

Google is your friend.

http://moderate.wordpress.com/2007/07/20/doctoring-the-news-cnns-sanjay-gupta-laura-bush-and-merck/

http://mediabloodhound.typepad.com/weblog/2007/07/we-all-witnesse.html

http://scienceblogs.com/intersection/2009/01/sanjay_gupta_for_surgeon_gener.php

[jberryhill]

15. the first link doesn't work....

The second link suggests he is a publicity seeker and bad journalist.

The third link is another re-hash of the Moore thing.

What has he "advocated" for or against as a matter of personal principle?

If he was given a set of talking points for the Moore interview, and went through them in the discussion, so what?

The point is entirely that he is an effective spokesperson when given a position to advance.

[suston96]

11. I don't think anyone can prove that Gupta is a shill for anyone or anything except.....

....for long time good and dependable commentary on prevailing medical questions or events.

[K Gardner]

13. Please do some research on some of the things he has advocated. n/t

[suston96]

18. Do research? I didn't style him a shill. Let the shill advocates do the research....nt

[Occam Bandage]

16. The "shill" complaint seems to be based on nothing more

than the fact that he owns some stock in health-care companies, and that some health-care companies have bought advertising on his health-care-related show. I think that's a very weak case.

[monmouth]

19. CNN may now find more positive views of the Obama Administration...n/t

[ellacott]

20. Regardless of those who oppose him

He is a very popular TV doctor. He has a great deal of credibility with many people. If he agrees to advocate for Obama's health care reforms(if that is even in his job description) people will listen to him. If he takes the position and happens to disagree with Obama's health care reforms chances are he will show restraint and not be too critical.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

23. Ask them for one example of where Gupta's advocated for a poor medical decision.

You won't get one.

[dflprincess]

26. For profit health insurance does make make for good medical decisions

nor does not being able to afford to see a doctor.

Gupta advocates for the current system which is placing the health of Americans in danger.