In Defense Of the Sanjay Gupta Appointment

I understand the critiques launched by Paul Krugman, John Conyers and others against Sanjay Gupta — he did accuse Michael Moore of "fudging the facts" in Sicko when Moore had done no such thing.  But in the end he apologized and admitted he was wrong, which is a lot more than is frequently forthcoming in these situations.

I actually think Gupta is an inspired choice.  This morning in Politico they note that Daschle may use Gupta in a grassroots campaign to sell the Obama health care plan to the public.  Gupta is a known and trusted public personality, and this appointment gives him the official status to explain and defend the plan on the government’s behalf.  His familiar face will be a powerful antidote to any kind of well-funded "Harry and Louise" style campaign aimed at tanking it.

Sam Stein says "Howard Dean, a doctor himself, noted that Gupta’s responsibilities would be much the same as those in his current job: explaining medical issues of public concern in a manner that the public could understand."

I believe Gupta would perform that task really well, and do a lot to redeem public health issues from the savaging they’ve received from the anti-science crowd for the past 8 years.  But if he does nothing more than help keep public opinion about the health care plan favorable long enough for it to pass, he’ll be worth it.

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4. Liveblogging the House Rules Committee: HR 3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act
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