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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Conyers Raps Obama Surgeon General Pick

Gupta 'lacks the requisite experience,' congressman charges

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(Newser) – Barack Obama's apparent choice for surgeon general, Sanjay Gupta, is drawing fire from within his own party, ABC News reports. John Conyers of Michigan, the House Judiciary Committee chair, sent a letter to his fellow legislators today encouraging them to join him in protesting the nomination of the CNN fixture as "not in the best interests of the nation"—and spelling the celebrity neurosurgeon's first name "Sunjay."

"I join in opposition with respected Noble [sic] Peace Prize award wining economist Paul Krugman, who has very serious concerns," Conyers wrote. Conyers' opposition is technically moot, the American Prospect notes, because only the Senate votes on surgeon-general nominees.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., questions FBI Director Robert Mueller on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, during the committee's hearing on FBI oversight.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., questions FBI Director Robert Mueller on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, during the committee's hearing on FBI oversight.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
In this 2007 file photo, Dr. Sanjay Gupta attends a screening of the environmental documentary
In this 2007 file photo, Dr. Sanjay Gupta attends a screening of the environmental documentary "Planet in Peril," in New York.   (AP Photo/Diane Bondareff)
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, right, and Anderson Cooper attend a screening of the environmental documentary
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, right, and Anderson Cooper attend a screening of the environmental documentary "Planet in Peril," Monday, Oct. 8, 2007, in New York.   (AP Photo/Diane Bondareff)
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Ezra Klein of the American Prospect talks to Keith Olbermann of MSNBC about Barack Obama's apparent choice for surgeon general, CNN's Sanjay Gupta.   (squishydemon)

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5 comments
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lrm
Jan 8, 09 4:22 PM CST
And yet no amount of experience can help you choose a decent shirt. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Mr.C
Jan 8, 09 4:52 PM CST
guess he skipped those fashion classes for something worth learning
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Zebraone
Jan 8, 09 9:02 PM CST
Couldn't find a Dr. Orieo?~~~ Reply
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Ryan
Jan 9, 09 8:40 AM CST
I guess they settled for Gupta after learning Oprah's Dr Phil was unavailable Reply
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riffran
Jan 9, 09 8:43 AM CST
Dang it, I keep liking what Obammy is doing, ticked off another spoiled capital hill cronie, and the fact that it's a dem makes it even better (in my biased ideology)...maybe a liberal implosion in the making???? He he he...one could hope....lol...riff Reply
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Conyers is a major proponent of universal health care, which Gupta opposes
The Hill

Nomination isn't a sure thing
Detroit Free Press

Letter is "one of the first critical takes on the potential Gupta nomination to come from the Hill"
Huffington Post

Healy: "Gupta would bring unique talents unrivaled by any of the prior 17 surgeons general"
US News & World Report


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House Judiciary Committee • House of Representatives • John Conyers • Sanjay Gupta • Surgeon General • US Congress • US Senate • President Obama

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