In all the hubbub surrounding Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings, I nearly forgot that Obama would be appointing a new Surgeon General today.
The announcement has just been made that Dr. Regina Benjamin, a family practice physician and the president of the Alabama Medical Association, will be the new Surgeon General. Dr. Benjamin, in addition to her other accomplishments, was awarded a MacArthur “Genius” Grant last fall: you can read about her here. Most notable (to me) is her interest in providing health and preventative care to rural and underserved populations, which is sadly an increasing proportion of the country. I hope Dr. Benjamin’s experiences working–despite some long odds–in southern Alabama will inform the ongoing health care debate and help wake up legislators (and those few private citizens who are worried about SOCIALISM!!!) to the fact that it is less expensive to keep your citizens healthy than to treat them when they are sick.
Dr. Benjamin is only the third woman to officially hold the post of Surgeon General; Dr. Antonia Novello (1990-93) and Dr. Joycelyn Elders (1993-94) preceded her. Dr. Audrey Manley served as Acting Surgeon General from 1995-97.
Congrats, Dr. Benjamin.
Perhaps sadly, but not unsurprisingly, my first thought upon reading this was a slightly frantic, “Is she pro-choice?” The most my googling turned up was someone saying that she’s on a list of abortion providers that antis pass around amongst themselves (whether or not she has ever actually performed an abortion is unclear). So — probably?
She does sound like quite a good pick in all other aspects, however, and I echo your congrats.
I hope she’s ready to fight the good fight in the Senate if that’s the case. I’m reminded of how Clinton appointee, Dr. Henry Foster, basically got railroaded out of the Surgeon General nomination because he’d performed abortions–he’s an ob-gyn by training. Performing a safe, LEGAL medical procedure got him dragged over the coals until eventually he withdrew his nomination when Phil Gramm threatened to filibuster.
At this point, all I can find are rumors. I have yet to see any list from antis that she’s been on except a list of the members of the Alabama board of public health (or similar). However, I have a hard time believing that anyone who was anti-choice would ever end up on a list of abortion providers.
But of course the chatter from the crazies about her race has already begun, to wit: “Protected class, and kills babies. I’ve no idea what race she is, but if she is of a color other than Anglo, then were in bonus rounds.” “Perhaps she is tasked also with the population reduction program, or, more like it, the get rid of the ice people, to make room for more sun people, the populace of new amiricah.”
(c.f. http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_political/3551368.html)
Well, yeah, but the crazies always come out of the woodwork in that livejournal comments (which is why I never read the comments section of, say, the NY Post or Daily News). I don’t think that kind of thinking is pervasive among members of the Senate.
Ahahaha, perhaps not pervasive, but I would not be surprised to hear such statements (albeit perhaps with better spelling and grammar) from Sen. Sessions.
She sounds AWESOME. I love that he is using her to light a fire under the feet of weak legislators who are afraid to fix health care.
I have met Regina. She immediately impressed me by her tenacity to get things accomplished in her practice for serving the poor. She is a sharp cookie and will be a great representative and advocate for health care. She is her own person, very intelligent and accomplished and has an inner strength and confidence which is readily apparent. She’s simply top-shelf.
I begrudgingly admit that Obama could not have made a better choice for the position.
Congrats Dr. Benjamin!
Just read some about her personal and professional background and so far, so good.
Everything I’ve read has been incredibly favorable. But then I’ve got those socialist-leaning, woman-loving tendencies, so I wasn’t a hard sell. If there is any nonsense bullcrap hogwash about her opinion on abortion policy…raaaaaaaaaaaaaage. DORK SMASH.
I think we’re in the clear. She’s been on the board of an organization that opposes the global gag rule and the illegality of abortion in other countries, and has made statements in support of med schools teaching abortion. That sounds solidly pro-choice* to me.
*I have decided to try saying pro-freedom to have an abortion and anti-freedom to have an abortion in the hopes that such will catch on and be shortened to pro-freedom and anti-freedom. This is, so far, my favorite solution to the lexigraphical problem.
I met her a few years back. She is a warm wonderful person who will make a great surgeon general.