Powerful Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) is circulating a letter among his colleagues opposing the possible nomination of medico/TV personality Sanjay Gupta as Surgeon General. In the letter, Conyers claims that Gupta lacks the qualifications to run a government agency of vital importance to the poor. However, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman recently wrote a blog post objecting to Gupta for “mugging” documentarian Michael Moore over “SiCKO.” Gupta said Moore “fudged his facts”; Krugman cited examples to argue that Moore did no such thing; and according to The Hill, Conyers is friends with fellow Michigan native Moore.
RBR/TVBR observation: And so it goes in Washington. By most accounts, the Obama administration is looking for a SG who can communicate effectively. Many think Gupta was a surprising pick by any account, so the drama of that surprise is feeding even more drama. Maybe we can start a soap about it. We’ll call it “Surgeon General Hospital.”
