Dr. Regina Benjamin - A must read

[peacebaby3]

I saw Bill Maher attack Dr. Benjamin last Fiday night. He really can be an ass at times and he's way off on Dr. Benjamin. She is a real hero and I had the pleasure of meeting her several years ago. I made a small donation to her clinic when I discovered what she was doing for the poor. She's an amazing, real woman and we should be proud to have someone like her as Surgeon General.

http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/dr-regina-benjamin----a-healing-force/article19591.html

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/best-leaders/2008/11/19/americas-best-leaders-regina-benjamin-small-town-primary-care-physician.html

[maxsolomon]

1. his point was that she's a role model for health

and she's overweight.

i find that flimsy grounds to object to her, but i see his point. he's pretty fixated on the obesity epidemic. i think that in some ways, struggling with weight will make her more "one of us" to the people she needs to reach.

as long as she doesn't suggest that masturbation isn't a mortal sin (see Jocelyn Elders), she should be OK.

[mike_c]

4. who says the surgeon general is supposed to be a role model of health...?

Not disputing you necessarily, just asking. Since the SG is the leader of the uniformed public health service, at the nominal rank of vice admiral, my impression was that th SG is supposed to be someone very knowledgeable, especially regarding public health issues and public health administration, but that doesn't necessarily mean someone who is themselves a role model of heath and vitality. Lots of buff celebrities fulfill that last criterion, but none would make a good SG. Until the last couple of generations, most Americans would never have known whether their SG was overweight or not.

[maxsolomon]

5. well, exactly

C Everett Coop wasn't particularly svelte IIRC.

[Joe Chi Minh]

2. What a giant of a person! And heartening that so many other people

are inspired to help.

I can't believe even the most brittle and shallow comedian could find a reason to attack Dr Benjamin.

[Joe Chi Minh]

3. Deleted as repetition