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Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
The Next Surgeon General: Dr. Regina Benjamin

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David G.
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
America - 1 Sanjay Gupta - 0
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SanFranLefty
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
On the more horrifying right wing websites, the GOP meme is already going around that she can't be S.G. because (a) she's black and therefore not qualified and shouldn't have been admitted to medical school; (b) she's overweight and therefore she can't be SG and talk about nutrition; (c) she doesn't understand the needs of health care industry because she worked for free or low pay.

I need to go pound my head against the wall for a while.
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SanFranLefty
07/14/09

@SanFranLefty: And I forgot to include the other criticism of her: She prescribes birth control pills as part of her general family practice.

/back to banging head on wall
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BritneyCanadaWhore
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
I hope that she can help convince the AMA to get with the program.
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Alys Brangwin has a huge talent
07/14/09

@BritneyCanadaWhore: I wish they'd get left out in the cold. They got the 20th century. Let the rest of us benefit in the 21st.
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brinkswomanship
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
"And when a fire destroyed the rebuilt clinic the day before it was set to reopen, she sent out appeals across the country for aid to build again."

This just breaks my heart. God I just hope it wasn't done deliberately.
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formergr
07/14/09

@brinkswomanship:The time just seems way too close not to be deliberate, unfortunately. :(
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MissyMcCLung
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
Poor republicans. They must hate this pick, but she's so freaking awesome it's hard to criticize.
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HarpMadness
07/14/09

@MissyMcCLung:But ... but ... she helped POOR people! She'll be prejudiced against the rich! ...

Boy, you know, I don't even know if the Republicans will be able to pull that one off with a straight face. They'll have to "dog whistle" it. What's the current term for someone who doesn't think only those with a lot of money are human?
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SarahMC
07/14/09

@MissyMcCLung: Oh, it's already started.

A. She's a black woman, and that's the only reason she was chosen.

B. She's fat.
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BritneyCanadaWhore
07/14/09

@SarahMC: I'm doing this!: She probably just went to med school because she couldn't get a gig as a flight attendant.
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1.1.1.
07/14/09

@SarahMC: I'm doing this!:

Sure I noticed that she's overweight -- not the best health role model. But given all she's had to contend with I can't find fault with her on that ground.

Were any other Surgeon Generals overweight? I can't recall.
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thesciencegirl
07/14/09

@1.1.1.: Don't assume that she's a bad health role model just because of her weight. You really don't know anything about her health, or how effective she is at counseling patients on healthy lifestyle choices. Honestly, when was the last time a patient gained or lost weight based on what their doctor looked like?
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foodandshoes
07/14/09

@1.1.1.: Doctors still have one of the highest rates of smoking, so there you go for health.

I agree with the poster above who said that this is one of those "dog whistle" criticisms. It would be a lot easier and refreshing if the Repubs saved us all a lot of time and just said "She's black and a woman and I don't like it that she got the job with those factors taken into consideration. I'd be more comfortable if a white man got the job." Then we wouldn't have to pretend, the ugliness would be out in the open, and we could cut out a lot of the bullshit.
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Shelwood
07/14/09

@1.1.1.: C. Everett Koop, for one, was also unslim.
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lenabug
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
wow! She is well worth the wait. But what happens to all the people she works with in Alabama if she gets appointed?
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Lymed
07/14/09

@lenabug: with the press her clinic is getting right now, the resumes from qualified doctors are probably pouring in
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1.1.1.
07/14/09

@Lymed:

They might have a weird insistence on being paid.

She's wonderful and a great pick, but as noted in the post, you shouldn't have to be a saint to be a caring doctor and shared martyrdom may not be all that attractive to people with other options.

The entire system has to change, just as in public education. Tall order.
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Lymed
07/14/09

@1.1.1.: The donations are probably pouring in as well. And there are doctors who are willing to take less money to do good, just like there are people who leave finance to start teaching.
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1.1.1.
07/14/09

@Lymed:

I'm glad to hear that people are making donations. I hope you don't think that the phenomenon of finance people becoming teachers (if it is significant) has nothing to do with the economy, and uh, lack of finance jobs.

Besides, that proves my point; they made some money first. They can better afford to work for nothing. Good for them.

But actually most of the Teach for America people I read about teach for two years and then apply to investment banks.
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DutchessOfDork
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
Hey Alabama chick lady! You're empathetic? You're in!

/sarcasm
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PaintedTrollop
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
I'm a little worried. Dr. Benjamin sounds as if she has empathy- and we know what a dirty word THAT is.
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tonightineed is actually Mrs. Ziegler-Spock
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
She sounds like a fantastic pick for this position. Reading about Katrina just turns my stomach, I can't believe events unfolded the way they did. Given that it's hurricane season now, I hope that if anything like that happens again Obama and his administration will do a far better job of handling the crisis. With a woman like this supporting them, I'm not sure they could do any less.
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Zombie Ms. Skittles
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
Okay, so let's start taking bets on how she'll be challenged. I'll be the house and wagers start at $5.
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Lymed
07/14/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: She'll be accused of tax fraud for not reporting the in-kind payments of shrimp and smoked fish she received for services rendered.
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Sputnik_Sweetheart
07/14/09

@Zombie Ms. Skittles: But what about all the white fishermen who have to pay in money, not cake, for their healthcare? Reverse Racism!
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hortense
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
She also has an MBA!

I have been reading about her all morning- I am really excited about this pick, as well.
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Lymed
07/14/09

@hortense: I'm trying to figure out how to work for her
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tscheese
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
Benjamin often allowed patients to pay her in "cakes, smoked fish, and shrimp,"

You had me at hello, Benjamin. You had me at hello.
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Lymed
07/14/09

@tscheese: I wouldn't mind getting part of my salary in smoked fish.
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ucelluccia
07/14/09

@tscheese: My dad used to do that in his veterinary practice here in OK. It's the only reasonable response when a good chunk of the population in your town lives below the poverty level. Like my dad, Dr. Benjamin did what was best for her community, which was to not take what little money the patients had.
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Edited by ucelluccia at 07/14/09 11:02 AM ucelluccia was starred ucelluccia was unstarred

bitingfairy
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
Wow, she sounds amazing. I feel like she needs a halo or something.
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Lady Skittlehattington
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
Shouldn't it be Dr. Benjamin in the first paragraph? I mean, she didn't spend eight years in evil medical school to be called "Ms." thankyouverymuch.
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Opti-Miss
07/14/09

@Lady Skittlehattington: Honestly, by the sound of her description I'd say she wouldn't be the kind of person to be phased by titles.

Plus I kinda disagree with any system that gives fancy titles to people who have gone through years of education / training...what about parents, teachers, volunteers, etc who are just as dedicated and amazing but aren't deemed special enough in our society to have a title?

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Edited by Opti-Miss at 07/14/09 9:51 AM Opti-Miss was starred Opti-Miss was unstarred

Lady Skittlehattington
07/14/09

@Opti-Miss: But she's a doctor. That is her official title. It's not personal taste. She has a medical degree. She's a doctor. If parents, teachers, volunteers, etc. want to go to med school, they can be called "Dr." as well.
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Anna N.
07/14/09

@Lady Skittlehattington: Good catch, thanks!
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vivianthelibrarian
07/14/09

@Lady Skittlehattington: She wasn't called Ms. or Miss or Dr. She was simply called her name. I think you're right that the 'ms.' title would be wrong, but I don't find it particulary offensive to simply call someone by their name.
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Flackette Goes Retro
07/14/09

@Lady Skittlehattington: AP is actually a little sketchy on when to use the Dr. title. And the NYT almost never uses it. So, it isn't a copywriting sin to leave it out, but it's probably good to have it in this case too.
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sshacker
07/14/09

@Opti-Miss: Whether you disagree or not, it is a title given to people in her field. She earned it and should be called it.
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foodandshoes
07/14/09

@Lady Skittlehattington: Yeah, it's not "Ma'am" vs "Senator," Dr. is her title, and it's an MD, so all you PhD naysayers can feel okay. She's a real doctor.
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BAngieB
07/14/09

@vivianthelibrarian: How did NO ONE get Dr. Skittlehattington's movie reference?
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BAngieB
07/14/09

@Opti-Miss: Did you fail out of medical school or something?
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Lady Skittlehattington
07/14/09

@BAngieB: That's LADY Skittlehattington to you, bitchface. I am a lady. I went to the academy.
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BAngieB
07/14/09

@Lady Skittlehattington: I am offended by your remarks. Besides, that's Dr. Bitchface to you. I didn't go to medical school, but I am deeming myself special enough to have the title.
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Lymed
07/14/09

In reply to Obama's Surgeon General Pick Made Sacrifices to Treat Poor
I hope she is a sign of where the Obama administration is planning to go where health care reform. May the focus on primary care be more than just the public face.
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AmericanSplendor
07/14/09

@Lymed:

Having attended about a bajillion HCR hearings, there will DEFINITELY be an emphasis on preventative/primary care in any bill that passes. Ultimately, it saves money, and anything that saves money is going to be pretty high on the agenda.
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Lymed
07/14/09

@AmericanSplendor: But the emphasis needs to be more than just throwing money at primary care. We need to rework our system so every person has a strong medical home.
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NefariousNewt
07/14/09

@Lymed: I think her nomination was calculated to increase the leverage for health care reform. The Surgeon General is America's doctor, and she has a background that suggests she is all for ensuring everyone has access to affordable health care.
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formergr
07/14/09

@AmericanSplendor:Heh, I'm sure we've seen each other, then. There will be an increased focus on primary care, but I bet not as much as there should be, since the specialists will fight any cuts tooth and nail. And since it's almost a zero sum game at this point to keep the bills' scoring below $1 trillion, the only way to really increase primary care funding is to shift money away from the specialists (which I'm all for, especially in re: to imaging).
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