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Obama on his US Surgeon Nominee, She Has Seen What’s “Broken” About Health Care
July 13, 2009 2:07 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports:
Announcing his choice for US Surgeon General, President Obama today said Dr. Regina Benjamin has seen “in a very personal way” what is broken about the health care system.
The president went through Benjamin’s biography, describing how the Alabama family physician’s office was twice devastated by hurricanes, fires, and faced with sick unable to pay their bills.
“When people couldn't pay, she didn't charge them. When the clinic wasn't making money, she didn't take a salary for herself. When Hurricane George destroyed the clinic in 1998, she made house calls to all her patients while it was rebuilt. When Hurricane Katrina destroyed it again and left most of her town homeless, she mortgaged her house and maxed out her credit cards to rebuild that clinic for a second time. She tended to those who had been wounded in the storm. And when folks needed medicine, she asked the pharmacist to send the bill her way. And when Regina's clinic was about to open for the third time and a fire burned it to the ground before it could serve the first patient, well, you can guess what Dr. Benjamin did. With help from her community, she is rebuilding it again.”
Mr. Obama said that she represents “what’s best about health care in America” -- doctors who sacrifice for the sake of their patients, and said by comparison Congress only has to pass a bill to make a difference.
“Now we in Washington and across America have to refuse to give up on the goal of health care that is affordable and accessible for every one -- last one of us. We don't have to deal with hurricanes and we don't have to deal with floods and we don't have to deal with fires. All we have to do is pass a bill to make sure that the American people have a decent shot at getting the kind of choice and high quality health care that's affordable.”
Benjamin has been a relentless prompter of prevention and wellness programs – her own father died with diabetes and hypertension, her older brother died at age 44 of HIV-related illness, her mother died of lung cancer because as a young girl she wanted to smoke, and her uncle is facing a similar battle at home on oxygen.
“My family's not here with me today -- at least not in person -- because of preventable diseases,” Benjamin said.
The nominee, who will face Senate confirmation, said that she can be the “voice in the movement” to improve the nation’s health care system.
“It should not be this hard for doctors and other health care providers to care for their patients. It shouldn't be this expensive for Americans to get health care in this country,” Benjamin said, “as a nation we have reached a sobering realization: Our health care system simply cannot continue on the path that we're on.”
-Sunlen Miller
July 13, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (29)
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Parallex View . ..
"Try fixing the increasing unemployment rates then perhaps people can afford to pay for their OWN insurance rather than rely on the government or tax payers.."
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If only those clean, honest Republicans were in office they could fix the unemployment situation with a snap of their blessed fingers.
Posted by: danita | Jul 14, 2009 2:15:40 PM
Try fixing the increasing unemployment rates then perhaps people can afford to pay for their OWN insurance rather than rely on the government or tax payers..
Posted by: Parallex View | Jul 14, 2009 1:22:22 AM
So, some doctor who's been personally traumatized by losing family members to cancer "from smoking," diabetes "that's preventable," HTN, and AIDS. Who wants to save us from ourselves. By whatever means necessary.
Hail the Nanny State!
AND...she's a saint on top of it all. She'll be given carte blanche to develop any regulations on behavior she wants. You may despise smokers and/or fat people, but what "nasty" habits do you have that will be the next target? I'd personally love them to put governors on all cars to keep them under the speed limit, triggered by the signs. Doable, and think of the lives it will save! But let's not stop there...
Posted by: Eyes Open | Jul 13, 2009 8:36:25 PM
"she knows whats broken" well I sure would like to know EXACTLY what is broken perhaps before we "refom" we can repair. Is it that doctors do not always get paid? the 45 million uninsured? High cost of business ins? just what is to be fixed.
Posted by: tb | Jul 13, 2009 6:04:12 PM
"Our diet is broken. Let's start there. "
Some friends and I were discussing this and how even foods that are "bad" for you are likely better than processed foods.
Posted by: Ryan C | Jul 13, 2009 5:39:52 PM
doctors who sacrifice for the sake of their patients... Posted by: MayBee | Jul 13, 2009 4:29:46 PM
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Yea, that's the part I meant: politicians who sacrifice for the sake of their constituents...
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | Jul 13, 2009 5:19:56 PM
I wish he had picked somebody better qualified. I'm sure CNN will like her. lol
Posted by: bubbles | Jul 13, 2009 5:14:31 PM
@ Maybee
"Politicians are not in it for the money. They are lowly public servants who sacrifice opportunities like big Wall Street jobs to go to work in Washington for the people.
That they often end up millionaires is no fault of their own."
You forgot to add the "/sarc." (sarcasm) tag to the end of your post...there are some who would read these comments and actually believe you...
Posted by: tjp612 | Jul 13, 2009 5:05:48 PM
You mean like politicians?
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Traffic Cop Timmy.
Politicians are not in it for the money. They are lowly public servants who sacrifice opportunities like big Wall Street jobs to go to work in Washington for the people.
That they often end up millionaires is no fault of their own.
Posted by: MayBee | Jul 13, 2009 4:38:23 PM
Mike C- the "doctors shouldn't be in it for the money" comment was a riff on Obama saying that:
...she represents “what’s best about health care in America” -- doctors who sacrifice for the sake of their patients...
Posted by: MayBee | Jul 13, 2009 4:29:46 PM
"Doctors should not be in this for the money."
You mean like politicians?
Anyway, I'll be sure to pass on these thoughts to my nephew who after soooo many years and student loans is fianlly a resident. New plan, my dear nephew! You're no longer in it for the money!
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | Jul 13, 2009 4:26:52 PM
"Doctors should not be in this for the money."
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Cute...very Cute.....
I am sure the families of doctors all over the country will appreciate your opinion!
Posted by: Mike_C | Jul 13, 2009 4:19:39 PM
You know that chef that made pizza for Obama at the White House? He was in DC to visit his girlfriend, he paid his own way. Posted by: borneo | Jul 13, 2009 2:32:56 PM
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Trying to verify your claim but so far have not been able to. I have found stories saying his girlfriend helped him. If you have info, please share:
"It will be casual lunch," says Sommers, who will be helped by Pi chef Ryan Mangialardo, 27, and Anne Schuermann, 24, Sommers' girlfriend. "Hopefully we'll have a chance to say hello to the president."
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | Jul 13, 2009 4:08:01 PM
"Another smart decision by a SMART MAN"
Easy, Cowboy. You are going to upset The One's teleprompter!
Posted by: tjp612 | Jul 13, 2009 4:07:42 PM
"Unfortunately, my mother . . .is not able to be here for me and my family either due to a preventable disease"
What preventable disease claimed your mother? Perhaps we can all learn a lesson.
Posted by: danita | Jul 13, 2009 4:03:08 PM
"Mr. Obama said that she represents “what’s best about health care in America” -- doctors who sacrifice for the sake of their patients, and said by comparison Congress only has to pass a bill to make a difference."
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However, as President, I'll be sacrificing nothing and neither will Congress. In fact, we won't even be on the plan! Now, who wants ice cream!
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | Jul 13, 2009 4:00:08 PM
I do not have anything good to say about the nomination of Dr. Regina Benjamin by President Obama. Unfortunately, my mother was a patient of Dr. Benjamin's and is not able to be here for me and my family either due to a preventable disease - and even more unfortunately the "good doctor" that may be put in charge of the health of this nation couldn't be bothered to refer her to a specialist in time to diagnose the onset of cancer. And yes, she had insurance and no our family is neither illiterate nor fisherman. So, obviously I do not agree with this nomination. Hopefully, the Senate will do a thorough job in their screening process before she is put in charge of millions of unsuspecting people.
Posted by: MoodyOne | Jul 13, 2009 3:55:43 PM
Another smart decision by a SMART MAN. Shall we compare this President's choices to those of the previous President? Moving on...
Posted by: Digby | Jul 13, 2009 3:46:24 PM
"no that's self righteous thinking"
Right...because propagation of welfare benefits and requiring banks to offer home loans to those who could not afford them have not led to poor decisions on the part of recepients...
"Being in lock step opposition makes people advocates for the current wealthcare insurance providers"
I trust the for-profit insurance providers (as bad as some may be) more than the government to provide/administer efficient and effective healthcare.
Posted by: tjp612 | Jul 13, 2009 3:23:38 PM
So, won't "healthcare for all" encourage additional irresponsible behavior rather than encourage individual responsibility?
no that's self righteous thinking....If you can't afford regular checkups then the emergency ward becomed the generel practioner, specialist without records...costing us all.
Being in lock step opposition makes people advocates for the current wealthcare insurance providers
Posted by: reality | Jul 13, 2009 3:12:24 PM
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