Paging Dr. Gupta

Extremely disappointing choice. No experience in administration nor public health. TV does not make an MD an expert in issues affecting the health of the nation. Maybe a practicing MD (Neurosurgery) but that does not make it an expert in National Health Affairs

Steve,

You do not know my descent. I know Gupta's.

Here's a Washington Post quote for you: "The Michigan-born son of parents who were born in India"

Don't get me wrong. I have no issue with non-native Indians. It is their culture of 'anything goes for a buck', 'scam the Americans', and 'we know best what Americans need' that I take issue with. There is no place for this in the world of medicine if we truly want to hold physicians to a higher standard.

Yes, they should live well. But they don't have to let Americans die because Americans can't afford their services; doctors don't have to outprice us all just so that they can buy more boats to ensure that they, and they alone, get fresh sea air while telling us that we need to go boating.

I am a health professional and often don't agree with Dr. Gupta's opinions.
I have served in the Public Health Service. I can't believe someone who has dedicated their lives to this field wasn't chosen. Just a popular face.
I'm disappointed.

Our friends up north "Canadians" do not have this problem. Why are we paying so much for health care when we see our neighbours get it for FREE!

charles173,

That was what I wondered, too. Guess we'll all know soon. Based on what I've read thus far, Gupta will side with whichever 'think-tank' that provides the best salary.

On Gupta:
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Michael Moore controversy
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A July 9, 2007, broadcast of CNN's The Situation Room aired a fact check segment by Gupta on Michael Moore's 2007 film Sicko in which Gupta stated that Moore had "fudged facts". Immediately following the segment, Moore was interviewed live on CNN by Wolf Blitzer. Moore said that Gupta's report was inaccurate and biased, and Moore later posted a detailed response on his website. Moore accused CNN and Gupta of being biased in favor of the drug industry because most of the sponsors for their medical coverage, including Gupta's reports, were drug companies. On July 10, 2007, Gupta debated Moore on Larry King Live, and, on the 15th, CNN released a statement in response to Michael Moore's rebuttal. In it, they apologized for an error in their on-air report, having stated that in the film Moore reported Cuba spends $25 per person for health care when the film actually gave that number as $251. CNN attributed this to a transcription error. CNN defended the rest of Gupta's report and issued a point-by-point response to Moore's response in which CNN contended [..] Gupta had afterwards committed a second error, mistakenly contesting Moore's observation that Gupta's one on-air expert was now associated with a Republican-linked think tank rather than a university (a fact which the chyron on Gupta's original report had stated correctly).

Dear "Common Sense"

Gupta was born in Michigan. Making him an "American of American descent."

(whatever that means... the only people with true "American Descent" are the Native Americans. But he is a natural born citizen of this country.)

How does Dr Gupta view the unborn patient? Is it a person or a non-person fetus? Thats the real question. I hope someone asks that before during his confirmation process.

Great choice!!!!

I do not like Gupta. Can't stand him, in fact.

Are there no Americans of American descent available for this position? Gupta also claims that Michael Moore's 'Sicko', the attack on those that deny Americans healthcare, was false when we all know it is truthful.

The best I can say for Gupta is that he was straight up when he said that for him, his profession is all about the money. That's why we need Americans of American descent. Money shouldn't be the motivator for providing healthcare. This is something Michael Moore pointed out in 'Sicko'.

Gupta is just a reminder about all the non-committed citizen's participating in their descendents' foreign culture/world view -- scam all Americans.

Dr Gupta is a great choice for Surgeon General, and shows Obama's penchant for both pragmatism and original thinking, as the situation may warrant. I take the exponential and strident increase in flame comments by the anti-Obama set actually as anxiety-driven. More worry that the picks have been going this well and this quickly than anything else. Saying "ha ha another Clintonite" is high praise of the process, or maybe not, after all, since we must bear in mind that during the Clinton years the economy was in total and utter shambles, billions had to be doled out to billionnaire Wall Street beggars, the very manufacturing base of this great country was threatened; hundreds of soldiers lives were lost before the "surge", which had been recommended years before. Are there any more Clinton missteps? Monica Lewinsky you say? Right!!!

Guess what folks..??? Gupta was an ADVISOR to Hillary Clinton from 1997-1998
Another one from the CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. What next? Judge Judy will be appointed to the Supreme Court.??
lol

I do not like Obama, But Dr. Gupta is well recognized Neuro Surgeon.

Only Question is why he is giving up multi million dollar job(s) unless he is interested in future political office.

What's the problem with Dr. Gupta's? Just name the current Surgeon General appointed by President Bush. And just exactly what has this person accomplished? The most obese nation in the world. The largest rise in AIDs cases globally. And to top it all off, a society of pill poppers. What a breath of fresh air Dr. Gupta will be. Good luck Dr. Gupta. Maybe we can get a Surgeon General who will support the people of the US instead of the drug manufacturers.

Some other cabinet selections that are in the works:

Magnum PI - FBI Director
Capt. Kirk - Secretary of Defense
Barnie - Secretary of Education
Queer Eye for the Straight guy cast - Secretary of Interior
Jack Bauer - Dept of Homeland Security
Leon Panetta - CIA.....oh wait...oops
Matlock - Attorney General
Daddy Warbucks - Secretary of Treasury
Jed Clampett, and Jethro too! - Dept of Energy
Spongebob Squarepants - Global Warming expert
Old macdonald - Dept of Agriculture

to the person who posted ..."Who cares if he's qualified? "He's a HOTTIE!".... You voted for Obama didn't you ??? lol

Sanjay Gupta as Surgeon General?? hahahahhah. What's next??? Barnie as Secretary of Education?? "I love you, you love me, we're a happy family!" Barack Obama and this entire thing are both a gigantic joke!

Who cares if he's qualified? "He's a HOTTIE!"

Give me a break. "At least the women will listen"?? Vapid women, maybe... not this one. Not just based on "hottiness."

I would not trust Obama to appoint a hall monitor. I believe it is becoming more apparent every day what a fool this man is.

Good choice! For the folks who think Sanjay Gupta's a lightweight medical joke or doesn't have any real experience because he's been a media doc and is a comparatively young man, you either don’t know neurosurgeons or you need to take time to get to better know this one’s credentials. He has done more surgically, academically, internationally, militarily and public-information-wise than most physicians two and a half times his age. Read his bios. Check out his training. Look at the volume of public health reporting he’s done and his familiarity with the medical issues facing soldiers and veterans. Listen to him talk and ask questions as he reports. Read what he has written. You’ll have a hard time finding someone with better qualifications to communicate health-related information to the public or to put an informed medical face on American public health.

Is he perfect? I’m sure not. No physician, journalist or public health bureaucrat is. Dr. Gupta has had his share of minor gaffes and fact-fumbles, including his famous set-to with Michael Moore. In the end, though, intelligent beings learn from those fumbles and use them to become more diligent communicators and researchers. Applause for this nomination!