Just what America needs: another high-profile voice for pseudoscience and other BS.

Google "Sanjay Gupta" and "pseudoscience"... and don't forget to recall his "Sicko" hackjob while you're at it.

http://crooksandliars.com/2007/07/11/michael-moore-vs-sanja-gupta/

Or click sig.

Dr. Phil wasn't available?

Next he'll pick Camille Paglia for Commerce.

I was horrified at Gupta's "special" on presidential candidates' health, wherein he stretched himself right over a cliff trying to make Obama and McCain seem equally likely/unlikely to die in office.

This is not the fealty to science and facts that Obama promised just two weeks ago.

The SG position is one more of public advocacy. Who better to do that than a professional media person?

Follow the links around here to Michael Moore's takedown of Gupta. The guy is so busy defending the god-awful medical status quo, he can't be of any possible use.

I get more disillusioned w/Obama's appointments by the day.

You beat me to it.

Congratulations!

I guess Dr. House is still under contract to Fox.

I am counting on Oprah. She wants to live in Gtown so she can give her security guards something to keep themselves busy with. All of DCs teenage ganstahs gonna wan a piece of that cake.

Just asking.

Some people find that important.

tv celebrities in key government posts.... SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!

It's a very interesting choice -- I like Obama's instinct to sprinkle his administration with "celebrity" types in positions where salesmanship and charisma really matter.

Admit it, when Sanjay talks, you put down the magazine and listen. (Ok, well I do, in part because he's HOT!) That's 90% of the surgeon general's job, although probably not fully appreciated until now.

We've not had a president in my memory who is so willing to pick former rivals and celebrities whose stars might shine as bright (or brighter in some cases) than his. What a refreshing change!

I totally disagree with the criticisms expressed here. I think this would be an excellent choice. He is a very highly respected neurosurgeon so his medical bona fides are there. And he is an excellent media person who would be able to put a very good face out there on important public health issues. I'm very pleased.

he should stick to operating on damn brains!

Ron Popeil, Mr infomercial himself, at the post of America's top salesman?

I love it, if it is true?

Always was a big fan of "Swindle", and I look forward to his personality hammering out America's trade negotiations.

Joke.

You made my heart skip a beat with the Willard Scott joke. Willard, in charge of NOAA? Yikes!

Just because he's on CNN does not make him a hack. He's a talented surgeon and a good person who apprently puts him money (and skills) where his mouth is. It also helps that he can communicate ideas, rational ideas since this is a clear weakness of the previous adminstration.

But it shouldn't have been.

Who is being vetted to replace Richardson?

He needs a job, doesn't he? Does team Obama really dislike him that much? The man did implement the 50 State strategy after all- Shouldn't the Democrats throw the unemployed guy a bone?

Yeah, he is a doctor, isn't he?

And not in a good way :-0

Just because he's a neurosurgeon doesn't mean he's a progressive or can think independently about health policy. He's NOT a health policy expert. He is, quite simply, a corporate whore for the medical/pharmaceutical industry (think Fred Thompson folks). Going to medical school is not a big deal and doesn't qualify you for every position under the sun. Being a progressive and speaking truth to power, donating your skills for the poor, working in underserved areas, and taking down these corporate whores on TV IS a big deal. Gupta is no big deal: he's an average whore for the wealthcare industry.

The board at CNN must be creaming their pants over this announcement. All that free publicity for their network.

they would choose a primary care doc. Like, one of the peons of medicine.

What were you hoping for? A transgendered pot smoking alternative medicine 'specialist'?

As has been said already Sanjay is a whore for the sickness industry. He dutifully did his corporate masters bidding in attempting to "debunk" the movie Sicko. Instead Michael Moore called him out for his shilling for Sickness Inc. Obama can do much better than a hack like this.

In another forum, someone complained about Gupta's allegedly crass response to a woman who wanted a face transplant. He essentially said that if she can breathe and eat well, it's best to leave it alone.

The fact is, as with any other transplants, the equivalent of AIDS has to be induced, via immune system suppression, in order to help prevent rejection of the tissue. This is a serious problem that makes such transplants not quite ready for prime time. He was saying what the vast majority of doctors are telling their patients who have catastrophic facial damage: the cure can be worse than the disorder.

Otherwise, he's been a practicing neurosurgeon, he's photogenic, articulate, brave and appealing.

Since when has the Surgeon General been viewed by most of us as anything but a public sales rep for good health and for educating us about public health issues?

Bit of trivia: The Surgeon General is actually a General. Surgeon and Attorney Generals are not addressed as "Sir" or Doctor. They are addressed as "General...". And Generals are allowed to design their own uniforms. Hmmm...

Dr. Gupta has great experience in summarizing and presenting complex medical information to the masses, and will be an excellent Surgeon General.

I think your judgment is seriously impaired. You're right that the position of Surgeon General is one primarily of an advocate. I have no doubt that Gupta can present complex issues in a coherent way for the lay person.

But what we need is not another corporate whore in the position to tell us all what we know not to be true: that our current system of healthcare delivery is just fine. Our biggest health risk is precisely that healthcare is a commodity, for-profit system. This kills people and leads to untold millions of untreated conditions. The country is in deep shit and Gupta will absolutely say nothing to the contrary. He is a terrible choice; and there are hundreds of others who will do exactly what he will do. He's not exceptional in any way.

If Obama were brave, he would appoint a strong advocate who will expose the lies and falsehoods of the wealthcare industry.

If I am wrong (I would love to be wrong in this case) about Gupta you can call me out.