Dean in the running for Surgeon General post.
Dean in the running for Surgeon General post.
Earlier this week, The Wonk Room’s Igor Volsky first floated the idea of nominating Howard Dean to fill the vacant Surgeon General post. Over the past few days, many media outlets have written articles exploring the possibility that the former Vermont Governor, doctor, and DNC Chairman might be picked. Now, CNN is reporting that the White House is giving consideration to Dean:
Howard Dean, a practicing physician before entering politics, was under consideration by the Obama administration for the post of U.S. surgeon general, CNN reported Friday. [...]
CNN said two White House officials noted that, while it is too early to compile a list of candidates for surgeon general, they did not rule out Dean getting the job.
“I would not dismiss it,” one of the White House officials said of the possibility that Dean will be selected.
In an interview with HuffPost, Dean said he was “pretty clear” that he was interested in becoming Secretary of HHS. In a subsequent interview with ThinkProgress, Dean discussed “the brilliance of Barack Obama’s [health care] plan.”
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I still regret that Dean wasn’t the Democratic nominee in ‘04. He would have kicked Bush’s ass from here to kingdom come.
March 7th, 2009 at 1:45 pmYeah (not for the topic)a ThinkFast weekend thread!
March 7th, 2009 at 1:52 pmMorning All!
U 2 FredTroll
damn… i hope this is not a hex…
but, one question: WHY is it “too early to compile a list of candidates for surgeon general”?
March 7th, 2009 at 1:53 pmSounds solid to me. I know of nothing yet that would sway that opinion.
March 7th, 2009 at 1:54 pmDean proved himself to be a master strategist with his “50 states” plan. I think he’ll make a great Surgeon General.
March 7th, 2009 at 1:56 pmI hope, I hope.
March 7th, 2009 at 1:57 pmIs Galson still the ASG?
March 7th, 2009 at 1:58 pmDean would be much more effective at HHS. The Surgeon General post wouldn’t give him the ability to enact policy in such an all-encompassing way, as would being head of HHS.
March 7th, 2009 at 2:06 pmBarfly
March 7th, 2009 at 2:16 pmI agree. His progressive views plus his vast knowledge of the subject would be a BIG help.
Go Howard!!
It would be good to see.
March 7th, 2009 at 2:18 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
I still regret that Dean wasn’t the Democratic nominee in ‘04. He would have kicked Bush’s ass from here to kingdom come.
When he couldn’t even beat Kerry in the Dem primary, a far more left wing field than the general electorate? Don’t know what you base this assertion on, Good Camelid.
March 7th, 2009 at 2:18 pmI love this guy, I hope he gets it!
March 7th, 2009 at 2:24 pmIf the Obama admin doesn’t include Dean because of Rahm, it would be criminal. Better to lose Rahm than dis the most popular democrat in the party.
March 7th, 2009 at 2:32 pmPresident Obama, please let Dr. Dean help heal the nation!
March 7th, 2009 at 2:56 pmI am sorry that he was overlooked for HHS. I wonder if the WH realizes just how popular Dean is among the progressive base. I hope that this happens. It would be good for the country.
Meanwhile the evangelical Mullahs are going nuts over Ogden and Sebelius.
March 7th, 2009 at 3:11 pmI wholeheartedly endorse the idea of Howard Dean as Surgeon General. He deserves it, he deserves some recognition for just what a smart and skilled man he is. He was unfairly demonized for one moment of silly exuberance and has been turned into nothing more than a crappy punchline. He deserves better.
March 7th, 2009 at 3:30 pmHoward Dean DESERVES the support of every progressive.
March 7th, 2009 at 3:33 pmWhen he isn’t screaming like a girl, Dean is telling the media that he’s not fully behind a single payer health care system. That tells me Dean will be on the side of the health insurance companies when it comes down to it. Ditch this bozo now. I don’t care if he “deserves it”. We need somebody that actually believes in the idea of a single payer health system, otherwise we’ll get something even worse than what we have now. Maybe if we had a single payer health care system, GM wouldn’t be circling the drain now. How many more of us will lose our jobs and wind up without health care again and you’ll be cursing him then.
March 7th, 2009 at 3:38 pmDean will not take the surgeon general job because it’s not a good fit. He’s set up a series of jobs for himself so it makes little sense that he’d walk away from those for a low profile, low impact position like surgeon general. It’s also a public health job whereas Dean’s interests lie in public policy.
He just landed a consulting gig in the government affairs practice at McKenna Long & Aldridge in DC.
He’s consulting with Democracy for America.
He’s joined a speaker’s bureau.
He’s going to work on early-childhood education with a pilot program in New York.
He also plans to advise foreign governments.
If the administration thinks Dean will accept any job they offer him, they should think again.
March 7th, 2009 at 3:46 pmI think it is in our best interests if he took one of those other jobs. It seems that an opportunity to do something about health care only comes up every 20 years or so. We need somebody we can absolutely count on to be unwavering and resolute to see it through. Just 3 or 4 days ago, Dean said something to the effect that he didn’t think we should force a single payer system on someone. This is too crucial of a time. Let’s just agree to disagree on Dean. If he gets the Surgeon General position, I hope he does a good job.
March 7th, 2009 at 4:02 pmI guess I have to agree with the Zooester on this one…
March 7th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Just for the record – Igor wasn’t first since I suggested the idea back in January on Dkos. Too bad he’s not interested.
Vyan
March 7th, 2009 at 4:26 pmthe gop would fight tooth and nail to take him down no matter what he is nominated for
March 7th, 2009 at 4:30 pmObama couldn’t find a better SG. (Sanjay Gupta? What the hell was that all about…?)
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March 7th, 2009 at 4:36 pmGood choice.
March 7th, 2009 at 4:46 pmI think it is in our best interests if he took one of those other jobs.
No, it’s really not. As with any job anywhere if it’s not a good fit, it’s not going to work. And it’s pretty insulting for the Administration to think he’ll take whatever bone they throw him.
The Surgeon General is not going to be a player in health care reform.
As for his remarks to Think Progress about single payer I suspect there’s more behind what he said. If he has the opportunity to go into more detail, I hope he will clarify those remarks.
March 7th, 2009 at 4:50 pmfred garvin Says:
One word. MORON.
March 7th, 2009 at 5:07 pmIsn’t dean the jackass who called himself a metrosexual?
March 7th, 2009 at 7:02 pmHoward Dean did a great job in organizing and galvanizing the Democratic Party and I think Obama “owes him” a place in his Cabinet.
Dean would be a wise, solid choice for the spot. He definitely gets a thumbs up from me.
March 7th, 2009 at 7:07 pmIn the past the position of Surgeon General has been marginalized into a token position. It’s possible that with Dean’s ingenuity and intelligence, he could become a powerful force behind a national health care program.
Just because the SG has not, historically, been involved in that way certainly doesn’t make the case for it having to remain that way.
I think Dean brings a great deal of health research to the table and is a strong proponent of a revised health care system.
March 7th, 2009 at 7:10 pmThe trolls here and naysayers have to admit one thing which is totally indisputable: Howard Dean, as the head of the DNC, did a flawless job at restructuring and reorganizing the party – nothing short of fabulous! If he lends this same expertise to our health system, you can take it to the bank that it will improve.
Say what you will about him personally (metrosexual, the scream, etc.) but, personally, I think it’s a bit of macho envy on the part of the trolls here.
Howard Dean doesn’t take guff or shit from anyone.
March 7th, 2009 at 7:12 pmIf Sanjay Guppy was in the running, give me a break. Gupta may come off as a nice guy but it’s time to get tough and he would have crumbled under the pressure. Sanjay needs to stick to “faux medicine” anyway – the real stuff is above his pay scale.
March 7th, 2009 at 7:14 pm“Rhe trolls here and naysayers have to admit one thing which is totally indisputable: Howard Dean, as the head of the DNC, did a flawless job at restructuring and reorganizing the party ”
Two words for you: Rahm Emanuel.
There goes your claim down the drain.
March 7th, 2009 at 7:49 pmbarfly Says:
Dean would be much more effective at HHS. The Surgeon General post wouldn’t give him the ability to enact policy in such an all-encompassing way, as would being head of HHS.
I agree with you. Has he even been considered for HHS? If not, then why not I wonder?
March 7th, 2009 at 8:02 pmI would like to see Howard Dean operating in the Obama administration. I’m glad to hear that he’s being considered for this position.
March 7th, 2009 at 8:06 pmFor one thing, Dr. Dean would take away the sour taste that Dr. Frist leaves in the mind. . . Dean BELIEVES in the Hippocratic Oath: “First, do no harm.” It begins to seem as if Dr. Frist has taken the HIPPOCRITIC Oath instead. I had more than enough of Fritzie baby when I lived in Tennessee, and was appalled to watch him widen his snares, courtesy of the pubbies, so that he could trammel the national scene instead.
March 7th, 2009 at 11:52 pmfred garvin Says:
Two words for you: Rahm Emanuel.
Two more: dead fish
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Two more words for you IGNORANT moron.
March 8th, 2009 at 12:23 amRimhotep, I did a little research back and to be honest, I have to agree with you that Dean did do a good job organizing. Rahm Emmanuel was intent on running a national campaign while Dean wanted to campaign in all 50 states. This linked article is off topic because it is about Obama picking a VP running mate, but about 3/4 of the way down, it mentions Dean. Corinne, let’s hope he gets an opportunity to clarify what he said to TP about not forcing anyone to accept single payer health care. Anyone interested in Congressman John Conyer’s resolution on single payer health care, please go here to petition your representative to support it. Congressman Conyers’ resolution mentions 18,000 Americans dying every year because they don’t have health care. PBS’s documentary Critical Condition stated that 38,000 Americans die each year because they don’t have health care. I hope Conyers is more accurate, but it’s still 18,000 too many.
March 8th, 2009 at 3:32 amDean lost in 2004 because the right wingers were horrified by his ’scream’. Wimps.
Dean would make a fine Surgeon General. Hell, whatever the man does he does it well.
March 8th, 2009 at 6:04 amDean is no friend to progressives.
http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog/
March 8th, 2009 at 8:49 amI was going to weigh in on this yesterday but was so mad at so many issues going on needed to do some fast sorting of thought’s before I posted…
First off I wanted Dean in 2004, voted for Kerry like so many other time’s because he was better than bush…But I still wasen’t happy with my vote and the out.come..Sick and tired of holding my nose…I’m sure you all get my drift. Not that there was anything wrong with Kerry, basicly he has no charisma and is to long winded and dry..
It is disturbing to me our Dem’s are treating Dean like a step child. I would of much prefered he was offered the Health and Human services position instead of the person that got it and has pharmacutical, big business tie’s..Who better to change for the better health care than a doctor that is in the ER or hospital healing people on a regular bases.
There are rumor’s flying around about Rahm Emanuel and his influence and or grudge’s with Dean are why he has been shunned….I won’t get into this to deeply because from what I have seen of Rahm is not a happy note here.
IF I were Dean at this point in time I would decline any offer’s, I would find them offensive considering what I had done thus far and being 3rd choice after all other’s is an additional rub…Then there’s the issue of Surgeon General’s job has little weight other than getting anti smoking add;s on the tube..Just my opinion..Blessings
March 8th, 2009 at 4:29 pmfor what it’s worth, on this dead thread…
i googled the 2 names and this was the first article…
and i think i found the answer:
Along the way Emanuel has widened his core of admirers – and made powerful enemies. Nervous about being swamped by Republican money this fall, he spent the summer locked in a bitter dispute with Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean over the allocation of election resources. In private Emanuel told off Dean. In public he’s aimed similar messages at liberal financiers like George Soros for being stingy and at the leftist activists in MoveOn.org for being ineffective.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/06/news/newsmakers/emanuel_easton.fortune/?postversion=2008110613
March 8th, 2009 at 10:13 pmThank you, Katy..I appreciate your info…Blessings
March 8th, 2009 at 10:25 pmThis would be an excellent choice and I hope Obama gives him the position.
March 9th, 2009 at 11:21 am