Michelle Malkin » Obama picks Obamacare advocate as surgeon general; O: “We are going to get this done”

Obama picks Obamacare advocate as surgeon general; O: “We are going to get this done”

By Michelle Malkin • July 13, 2009 11:04 AM

Reuters reports that President Obama will announce his surgeon general pick at around 11:30am-ish this morning.

She’s Dr. Regina Benjamin, an Alabama rural physician.

Benjamin was the first black woman to head a state medical society, received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights and last fall received a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant,” the AP says.

She also made headlines in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in rebuilding her rural health clinic that serves 4,400 patients.

Benjamin will be another administration voice for S-CHIP and Obamacare:

Through her personal practice and advocacy work, Benjamin sees no easy solution to the problem, but hopes for a nationwide movement to provide universal health access for everyone in the country.

“I think there certainly can be a minimum benefit that everyone could have and then you could buy more on top of that if you wanted it,” she says. “It can’t just be a government program. It has to be something that everybody is a part of–government, private industry, individuals.”

She cites the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a federal- and state-sponsored program that aims to provide insurance to all uninsured children in the country, as a step in the right direction.

“Now, we need to cover the parents of those children,” she says. “If we do that, we’ve come a long way toward providing universal coverage.”

***

At Rose Garden ceremony announcing Dr. Benjamin, Obama insists his health care takeover plan is not dead:

“We are going to get this done.”

Posted in: Health care

Printer Friendly

comments (103)

trackbacks (9)

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Trackbacks

Trackback URL

Comments

« Older Comments

#101

On July 13th, 2009 at 6:30 pm, Ragspierre said:

wayiwalk said:

Whoah… Dude….

GOOD drugs…
#102

On July 13th, 2009 at 6:31 pm, Ragspierre said:

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090710/capt.9608f240ca854dbb9f161e2916926044.state_clinton_dcpm102.jpg?x=313&y=345&q=85&sig=x33N9tBR5ZM7VNBFxiGTOg–

“This is your Sec. Of State on drugs….”
#103

On July 13th, 2009 at 7:51 pm, Jeff said:

According to the website, she is unqualified for the post as Surgeon General.

About the Office of the Surgeon General
The Office of the Surgeon General, under the direction of the Surgeon General, oversees the operations of the 6,000-member Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and provides support for the Surgeon General in the accomplishment of his other duties. The Office is part of the Office of Public Health and Science in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Surgeon General serves as America’s chief health educator by providing Americans the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of illness and injury. The Surgeon General is appointed by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the United States Senate for a 4-year term of office. In carrying out all responsibilities, the Surgeon General reports to the Assistant Secretary for Health, who is the principal advisor to the Secretary on public health and scientific issues.

Notice the word ” his ”
Sexists…
#104

On July 13th, 2009 at 9:46 pm, jangar said:

“We are going to get this done…

…over the Nation’s dead body”.
#105

On July 13th, 2009 at 10:08 pm, rightisright said:

ArizonaNeanderthal, best of luck with curing your pneumonia.
#106

On July 13th, 2009 at 10:52 pm, Ragspierre said:

ArizonaNeanderthal, best of luck with curing your pneumonia.

Dittos, AZ. The P is nothing to mess with. Get good meds, and take it easy til you’re all better.
#107

On July 13th, 2009 at 11:30 pm, SpeakEasy said:

On July 13th, 2009 at 5:53 pm, wayiwalk said:Anyone notice the photo of hillary clinton on Drudge today?

That’s what happens sometimes with arm-twisting. Did she meet recently with Michelle Obama- she of the magnificently sculpted arms?
#108

On July 14th, 2009 at 9:04 am, sonofdy said:

“This is your Sec. Of State on drugs….”

How do you tell the difference?
#109

On July 15th, 2009 at 5:46 am, jamesgreenidge said:

Sigh.

I dunno. See how how many and much (gullible, uninformed?) people, let alone media, are raving for “free” total healthcare, I often grimly wonder if the battle to stop socialization is inevitably a futile one. I guarantee you (by real people feedback) the next step beyond is free housing — not in terms of flats and apartments but _houses_ , citizen or not. It’s already happening. “No more projects.” No, not with The American Dream turned a manatory “right.” Sorry you worked your ass off for that mortgage to get yours.

James Greenidge
Queens, NT
#112

On July 15th, 2009 at 9:25 pm, michele hampton said:

Oh that’s a shock…not!