NY Times, January 6, 2009, 4:20 pm
CNN Medical Correspondent as Surgeon General?
By Jeff Zeleny
President-elect Barack Obama is paging Dr. Sanjay Gupta to serve as
surgeon general.
Mr. Gupta, who performs double duty as a medical correspondent for CNN
and a neurosurgeon, is a leading contender to fill the high-profile
position in the Obama administration. The job could be accepted in the
coming days, according to people familiar with the situation at the
television network and in the Obama transition.
Mr. Gupta, who discussed the position with the president-elect late last
year in Chicago, appears frequently on the cable network and as a
correspondent for CBS. He is, arguably, the most recognizable doctor in
television news.
Mr. Gupta, a 39-year-old son of Indian and Pakistani parents, grew up in
Michigan. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the
University of Michigan.
While the post of surgeon general is not cabinet-level, it can certainly
be high profile, as several previous occupants of the position have learned.
For example Joycelyn Elders, who served as the 15th surgeon general of
the U.S. under President Bill Clinton, was criticized for arguing about
the legalization of some drugs as well as distributing contraceptives in
schools. Mr. Clinton, at the time, said Dr. Elder had simply been
misunderstood.
The prospect of Dr. Gupta being named surgeon general created a buzz at
news organizations on Tuesday, with networks sending out breaking news
alerts. But not even CNN had a concrete answer to the question, saying
Dr. Gupta had yet to reach a decision.
---
I wonder what super-Obamaniac Michael Moore will say about this
nomination in light of the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR2U_SAWHdQ
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