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January 8, 2009 at 02:56:25
Promoted to Headline (H3) on 1/8/09: by Michael Collins Page 1 of 2 page(s) |
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Ratings Rule in Obama's "Virtual" Cabinet Corporate Media's Sanjay Gupta, MD for Top Doc
Will Gupta's ratings explode with Surgeon General nod?
The appointment of television celebrity, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, MD, as Surgeon General of the United States looks like the boldest step yet in the creation of a "virtual" cabinet by President-elect Barack Obama.
It's looking like cabinet members are being selected on the basis of "marketability and comfort" rather than qualifications and ideology, with two or three exceptions.
Gupta looks like a trial balloon for the full implementation of virtual politics. Unlike the first wave of appointments which portrayed "comforting stability," Gupta provides both the comfort factor and a near total absence of qualifications.
Previous Obama cabinet picks emphasized the absence of clear ideology while paying lip service to qualifications. For example, Timothy Geithner, the Secretary of Treasury pick, and Larry Summers, named to head the National Economic Council, both seem to have impressive resumes in banking and finance. Obama insiders made what appears to be a safe bet that the public wouldn't notice that both were up to their necks in the recent economic crash and tens of billions in Wall Street welfare.
Summers helped repeal key provisions of the federal Glass-Steagall Act in 1999. These provisions have been in place since the Great Depression. They kept banks from trading in high risk securities. With the reins loosened, banks recklessly invested billions in high risk schemes that led to the recent crash. At the signing ceremony in 1999, Summers said to the New York Times: "With this bill the American financial system takes a major step forward toward the 21st Century -- one that will benefit American consumers, business and the national economy." Some step. Some century.
As head of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, Geithner gave an interview to Jenny Anderson of the New York Times in Feb. 2007. When asked about the high risk credit derivatives market, a risk he claimed that he'd addressed, Geithner said: "The fact that the banks are stronger and risk is spread more broadly should make the system more stable. We can't know that with certainty though. We'll have a test of that when things next threaten to fall apart." Will anybody mention that we've had Mr. Geithner's anticipated "test" and things did "fall apart" because the banks were weaker not "stronger."
Team Obama's attitude seems to be, 'Who cares! Those were one day stories. After all, these guys look good on paper and we can handle the storyline from here.'
The duties of the U.S. Surgeon General include: acting as the chief advocate for programs that promote public health; articulating "scientifically based health policy;" promoting national health initiatives; and administering the doctors and personnel of the Public Health Service. While party affiliation plays a role, the criteria for the job are a distinguished career in medicine and a strong interest in assuring the public well being. The office is typically occupied by a physician with a strong background in public health.
Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, MD, appointed by Pres. Reagan in 1981, was a controversial choice for the position due to his outspoken opposition to abortion. By presidential request, Koop began a study of HIV AIDS at the start of 1986, wrote a report, and arranged for delivery to 107 million homes by the end of the year. It was an accurate, honest, assessment of the risks of AIDS without any judgment as to the causes. He knew the science and spoke out forcefully. He did this over the objections of Reagan loyalists who wanted to avoid the topic and regularly sought to have Koop fired.
Gupta is both absent any discernable political ideology and clearly lacks the traditional qualifications for the position of Surgeon General. This fits nicely into the virtual cabinet model. He looks good on television and corporate America finds him "easy to dance to."
In addition, Gupta earned his corporate media spurs with his "hit job" on Michael Moore's powerful and popular film, "Sicko" which showed the inadequacies of our health care delivery system.
Gupta tried to discredit Moore's favorable reports on national health programs in Canada, France, and Cuba by referencing a leading health industry figure who had ridiculed the programs. Moore responded that the expert was aligned with big pharma and health insurance companies, a point Gupta vigorously denied. Gupta was wrong. The expert was heavily affiliated with corporate health industry interests. Gupta either didn't know this or he deliberately lied.
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"virtual politics"
Great description, Michael~ and yet, tragically, most people will believe these illusions, which is probably what elites expect. Thanks for pointing out how far afield from reality government has gone. by Rady Ananda (182 articles, 374 quicklinks, 49 diaries, 1718 comments [201 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 8:51:48 AM  (0+)
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In addition
Dr. Gupta was also on the panel that developed Hillary Clinton's ill-fated health care plan in the early ninties. This may or may not be a recommendation depending on the provisions of that plan but they were never disclosed and the plan died a-borning. by Mary Pitt (77 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 282 comments [11 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 3:21:01 PM (0+)
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Good article Michael
I'll add another orewllian pick that absolutely disgusts me .. Thomas Vilsack Secty of Agriculure(or Mr Monsanto)http://www.restoretherepublic.org/?p=1549 by jersey girl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1201 comments [734 recommended, 12 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 4:17:42 PM (0+)
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Reply: Hey JGirl....
Remember OMEN III? Damien controls Thorn Industries (Monsanto?) Control the food and you control it all. Vilsack is the worst appointee yet. by Patrick Lafferty (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 557 comments [316 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 5:41:32 PM (0+)
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Reply: damn straight
Patrick, we are living in a science fiction movie.... by jersey girl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1201 comments [734 recommended, 12 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 6:05:33 PM (0+)
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Reply: Hey JGirl....
Remember OMEN III? Damien controls Thorn Industries (Monsanto?) Control the food and you control it all. Vilsack is the worst appointee yet. by Patrick Lafferty (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 557 comments [316 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 6:48:09 PM (0+)
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More on Gupta
Need proof of his big pharma pimpin' skills? Check this out. He and Laura Bush drug pushers for Merck. http://ahrp.blogspot.com/2007/07/cnns-sanjay-gupta-laura-bush-and_24.html Is it any wonder Obama chose this man to add to his cabinet of fascists? by jersey girl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1201 comments [734 recommended, 12 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 4:43:27 PM (0+)
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Reply: Gasp!...
Jersey!!! You don't mean to say...."same ol' same ol'." How cynininatical of you! I am shocked, just shocked, Bobbie socked and trolly hocked. Somebody get me a cheeseburger... by William Whitten (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1686 recommended, 28 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 4:51:40 PM (0+)
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Yes..
Politics is nothing but a TVShow...Punch & Judy for "the masses". I've been watching eyeballs roll as I have pointed this out for years. Crisis as Circus...so much slicker than that old Roman Coliseum...don't foget the P-nuts and Coke! by William Whitten (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1686 recommended, 28 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 4:47:27 PM (0+)
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Reply: ~sigh~
Speaking of big pharma..sometimes I wish I had taken the blue pill over the red. It's all so exhausting and disheartening at times isn't it William? OH wait, Merck has a pill for that too ! (snarkiness intentional) by jersey girl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1201 comments [734 recommended, 12 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 4:59:34 PM (0+)
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Based upon his hideous selections
so far, I am surprised he did not select a Phizer executive to instead. This is the same crock of Clinton cronies and a certainty of the further dissolution of any change for the better. THis administration is shaping up to be scarier than the one we are losing. by Patrick Lafferty (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 557 comments [316 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 5:29:28 PM (0+)
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Reply: ewww Patrick
That picture is really creepin' me out. So it's very apropo :) Clinton's head reminds me of the movie "the fly". That tiny little white headed half man half fly thing at the end... "helllllllp me hellllllp me !" by jersey girl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1201 comments [734 recommended, 12 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 6:09:28 PM (0+)
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Reply: I was looking for a certain edginess
A little OMEN, a little Body snatcher. Thanks for the confim. by Patrick Lafferty (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 557 comments [316 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 6:31:22 PM (0+)
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Reply: Patrick check out my blog too;
http://newspeakmag.blogspot.com/ by William Whitten (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1686 recommended, 28 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 6:44:51 PM (0+)
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Reply: Too late Willy
I read it last night. If you had feedjit on your blog, you would have seen me. You have started a cerebral continuum and I love it. I will follow it regularly. For you are eliquent, insightful, deep in thought and rightousness. I wish I was more of that. I am passionate, often rude and angry. Not good for a Christian. Humor and my rantings are my therapy . You see I am Pro-Life. That means I do not believe in the death penalty under any circumstance or war. So reading your blog was honey to my ears. We are the greatest nation of this world but we can't see across the street when it comes to our hypocrisies. I hope someday to have one of my screenplays accepted by a hollywood that glorifies those hypocrisies, but my message doesn't sell well there. by Patrick Lafferty (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 557 comments [316 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 7:21:58 PM (0+)
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Reply: Thanks!
Thanks Patrick, I have been on your blog as well--really enjoying it...you've been at it much longer than me..I'm just three days into it... BTW you have to hit the Previous Posts button on my blog because it only scrolls for a certain length. by William Whitten (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1686 recommended, 28 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 9:05:25 PM (0+)
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Reply: willy !
love your poetry :) by jersey girl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1201 comments [734 recommended, 12 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 8:08:18 PM (0+)
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regarding the Michael Moore issue
Gupta retracted ( sort of) the following night on his critical comment about Michael's truths. He ate hat but very eloquently. At least he is medically advanced in info unlike Coop. Coop was a day late and a dollar short on every health issue. The most of them since him have also been that way. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a cheerleader for Gupta but he looks purdy dern good compared to the past Surgeon Generals. He's a surgeon and a damn good one so at least that is a plus. I think Gupta may surprise us. I think he will be OUT of the MEDIA picture and that will give him the opportunity to actually practice sound medical advice w/o Time Warner breathing down his neck. Again, I am not thrilled but then again, I think Obama is a big dupe. America is led down the lies and corrupt road again, gee, imagine that. by shirley reese (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 592 comments [98 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 7:50:53 PM (0+)
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Reply: shirley
Hate to burst your bubble. But unless you are a fan of big corporate pharma..Gupta's not the guy....Read the link in my other post. He also pushes the theory that there are no harmful toxins in vaccines and that they don't cause autism. Despite not having any scientific evidence to support his strong stand. All he's got to back up his claim is the backing of the big drug companies. He's their PR guy. Does that sound like a guy you can trust ? by jersey girl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1201 comments [734 recommended, 12 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 8:06:39 PM (0+)
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Jersey
Thank you! I hope you realized--like I told Patrick, that you have to hit the [Previous Posts] button to see the whole thing...it doesn't scroll all the way through on the current page. by William Whitten (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1686 recommended, 28 rejected]) on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 at 9:08:20 PM (0+)
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Charade
It's worth noting that many Democrats have objected to Gupta's nomination, suggesting that politics is not just a charade after all, and that the premise of the OP is dead wrong. by Perry Logan (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 557 comments [74 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Friday, Jan 9, 2009 at 5:43:38 AM (0+)
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