by Mark Silva
Dr. Sanjay Gupta won't be making any White House calls.
The television medical reporter and surgeon whose name was floated as a candidate for surgeon general in the Obama administration, has withdrawn from consideration -- says the cable network, CNN, that has made Gupta's a household name.
CNN's chief medical correspondent was among President Barack Obama's candidates for surgeon general during the presidential transition -- Obama had offered Gupta the job, sources reported.
Yet, for all Gupta's experience in medicine and the media, doctors within the national public health service had complained that there is more to the surgeon general's post than publicity -- that someone from the ranks of public health would be better-suited for the office.
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) also had circulated a letter to his colleagues calling the choce misguided.
Gupta is no stranger to the White House.
He had been a White House fellow in 1997 and special adviser to then-First Lady Hillary Clinton, as well as working as a neurosurgeon. He is a member of the staff and faculty of the Department of Neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and routinely performs surgery at Emory and at Grady Memorial Hospital in addition to frequent cable reporting about trends in medicine and health.
He has been with CNN since 2001, appearing on American Morning, and anchoring the half-hour weekend medical affairs program House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Still, even CNN couldn't get a comment from Gupta (pictured in a photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images) about bowing out from the surgeon general's ring this evening.
Comments
This should most certainly and most deservedly open the door for Dr. Howard Dean, whom I always felt would be the best possible choice for HHS, and even FDA would be a large enough and challenging enough job for this great American. Here are two of my articles on Howard Dean for HHS:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Vermont-Senator-Bernie-San-by-Silla-Brush-090209-701.html
and
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-United-States-Needs-Dr-by-Stephen-Fox-090203-382.html
Please take the time to email both President Obama and VP Biden in support of Dr. Dean as Surgeon General; I believe the very future of American Health and Illness
Prevention is at stake, given the corporate onslaught into the regulatory processes we are supposed to trust and depend on; I welcome your insights and ideas! Who else would you trust for designing a complete overhaul of the FDA, the Department of Health, and the Surgeon General's functions more than Dr. Howard Dean?
Thank You!
Stephen Fox, Editor, New Mexico Sun News
stephen@santafefineart.com
Posted by: Stephen Fox, Editor, New Mexico Sun News | March 5, 2009 6:52 PM
What did he forget to declare?
Posted by: Greg | March 5, 2009 6:55 PM
Good.
We need somebody serious in that post.
I am not a cheerleader for Obama's weak picks.
Find somebody better.
Note too all:
I don't support Obama down the line, like all the BushCo employees that post here at the Swamp did for the last 3 years or so.
I think many of BHO's picks were weak, and their demise predicted.
Sebelius should have been on the A team.
Geithner should never have been selected in the first place.
Gupta is just lame.
Posted by: C.Morrisā | March 5, 2009 6:59 PM
well im sure obama or whats his name will save us
Posted by: tony Ha Ha | March 5, 2009 7:10 PM
What is it with Obama? Can't he get anything right? How many cabinet suggested nominees have bitten the dust? Man, the economy is tanking into the Obama Depression, he insults Great Britain, is humiliated by Russia, and now angers Israel with a massive grant to Palestine that will wind up with Hamas rockets hitting Tel Aviv. Those plus the Cabinet dopes. Time for a recall. Too bad there isn't one.
Posted by: Sandalio | March 5, 2009 7:23 PM
Big deal, Gupta is an idiot. Michael Moore made him look like a fool.
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR2U_SAWHdQ
.
Posted by: head east | March 5, 2009 7:27 PM
Why would he want to give up his practice and the salary and perks from being on TV? To make health care better for America? It doesn't pad his paycheck to do so!
Posted by: lochnessmonster | March 5, 2009 7:31 PM
Gupta wanted the publicity but didn't want to do the work. He's a crybaby.
Obama is doing a great thing for this country by shaking up healthcare. Go to WTTW and view Frontline's documentary about healthcare and what other countries do. It will open your eyes to the possibilites.
Posted by: kelly | March 5, 2009 7:36 PM
A brilliant neurosurgeon and gifted communicator?
'
Who needs him?
Put some hack like Dean in instead.
Or does Conyers have a nephew or someone like that for this?
Posted by: ornery | March 5, 2009 7:42 PM
The Left is still ticked that Gupta took on Michael Moore a few years ago, so there had to be pressure on the White House to cut him loose.
The pay cut thing is juicy, but I don't buy it.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | March 5, 2009 7:59 PM
I used to represent a number of pharmaceutical accounts at a large PR firm and Gupta and his producers would take our media packages and present them with very little additional research, editing or critical thought about the originator's motives.
Posted by: Bob | March 5, 2009 8:26 PM
He was not on the take from the drug companies deeply enough. can't have that now, can we?
Posted by: truthurts | March 5, 2009 8:46 PM
Having the government decide if you qualify for a CAT scan instead of your physcian does not equal good healthcare.
Forget government matrix and protocols.
Let the patient and doctor make health choices, not the government.
NO to nationalizing healthcare.
Posted by: Freeman | March 5, 2009 8:48 PM
Gupta was a poor choice. But then anyone who does nothing more than harp about the alleged "obesity" crisis for pharma is nothing but someone more interested in his own pocketbook than true healing.
Posted by: FatNSassy | March 5, 2009 10:05 PM
Is anyone seriously surprised that Obama takes his orders from that fat sack of dung from Michigan?
Posted by: Jeff | March 5, 2009 11:07 PM
Gupta seems like a good man. However, moving on, I agree with Stephen Fox at 6:52 PM. At this time Obama should ask Howard Dean to be SG. Dean has a lot invested in the Dem party and in Obama. He most likely would do a good job.
Posted by: Vivian | March 5, 2009 11:47 PM
"The Left is still ticked that Gupta took on Michael Moore a few years ago"
Did you know that CNN retracted Gupta's statements against Moore after Moore quite successfully proved his original claims were valid?
Posted by: David | March 6, 2009 5:48 AM
From the Huffington Post:
According to Farrell, Gupta had misgivings about both the pay cut he would have to take and the fact that he could be reporting to two high-level bosses: both the health secretary and health reform office director.
Show him the money!
Posted by: lochnessmonster | March 6, 2009 7:04 AM
dean dean dean dean dean
Posted by: dean won congress back in 06 and made obama possible | March 6, 2009 7:31 AM
Another one bites the dust. Its like rats deserting a sinking ship. Man you life jackets.
Posted by: Paul | March 6, 2009 11:15 AM