I think Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta should get the hell out of there

[Duer 157099]

Seriously, they are only 40 miles away and yet they are outside, no protective gear whatsoever.

I really wish they'd get out of there.

[Toucano]

1. Gupta can stay. n/t

:evilgrin:

[HEyHEY]

4. Yes, doctors usually have built-up immune systems!

[MadBadger]

5. Not really funny

[Botany]

6. Gupta is a good guy

He is one of the few t.v. docs I will stop to listen to.

[JVS]

9. He's an asshole who lied about the health care industry to try to smear Michael Moore...

and delegitimize his criticism.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1309124

[Botany]

11. And he is also a very good neurosurgeon who has helped lots of people

n/t

[Toucano]

13. Then he should do that and get his ass off television.

If he wants to be an industry spokesman, he can buy an infomercial.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

20. He's a practicing neurosurgeon who also saved a Marine's life and a 2 y/o Iraqi.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1870277,00.html

But you post on a message board, so you've clearly contributed more to society.

[Toucano]

21. You have no idea!

He can save 1000 marines and 250 puppies and he's still a smarmy prick and a corporate tool.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ThatPoetGuy]

29. While Gupta risks others' lives to pursue his glory, you mean

if you had any respect for the truth.

But admiring a lying scum has an effect on one's honesty.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

30. Yep, he shot people while performing brain surgery.

:rofl:

I know, here's the part where you say something idiotic like, "He's a shill for Big Pharma and you're enabling the deaths of millions because you refuse to hate him over one mistake he made."

Or you take it up a notch to crazytown and bring in the Nazi references. ;)

[ThatPoetGuy]

32. You're the one who just hit himself in the eye with Godwin's Law,

not me.

One of us is flaming at random, cussing, posting subject lines so thoughtlessly phrased that they turn out as self-insults, and making empty ad hominems, and it isn't me.

One of us has been paying attention and is thinking calmly, and it isn't you.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

36. Really?

Well, "paying attention and thinking calmly" doesn't lead to mind-blowingly stupid statements like this:

Sorry, it's hard to find a worse human being than someone who deliberately, consciously set out to discredit health reform for the sake of his own ego and career advancement.

How many lives would be better if that scum had never been born? Ten million? Twenty million? Thirty million?

Last I heard there were 47 million Americans without health insurance. Gupta worked his lying, evil ass off to make sure they stay that way.

You're blaming him and him alone for the condition of tens of millions of people. You can't "find a worse human being," according to your own words. Assuming you'd jump to a Nazi reference is not that surprising.

People like you won't listen to logic. You don't possess any in the first place. You're lucky your idiocy is even being addressed, even if it's partially in the form of insults.

[ThatPoetGuy]

43. "People like you won't listen to logic"

What an odd, and hypocritical thing to say.

"You're blaming him and him alone for the condition of tens of millions of people." No, I never blamed him alone. Each and every statement I've made says he has some blame, but not one statement, not one phrase, sentence, or independent clause, suggests that he alone is responsible.

He bears some responsibility, and to this date, he has never retracted, withdrawn, or apologized for his shameful, self-serving smear attack on the health care reform movement.

You said: "You can't 'find a worse human being,' according to your own words." But my words were "it's hard to find a worse human being," and then I bolstered those words with a clear-eyed, objective argument in support.

So can you make a point, at all, without misrepresenting what's being said? Or do you, like Gupta, have a problem with truth?

-------

I forget, did Gupta take money from the Raelian cultists when he gushingly reported their fraudulent claims to have cloned people?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

46. Sorry, "it's hard to find a worse human being" makes so much of a difference.

Really? It's hard to find a human being who's worse? How far back are you reaching?

And even if you're referring only to the health-care debate, you still can't find a worse person? Not the Big Pharma CEOs who haven't saved lives but who have used their clout to keep vital medicine unaffordable? Not the lobbyists who ensure we won't have single-payer in our lifetime? Not the elected politicians (unlike Gupta) who actually have the chance to take a stand against the health-care industry? Out of all them, it's "hard to find a worse human being" than a neurosurgeon and correspondent who erred in an interview that took place long after the disastrous state of health care became an issue? Really?

You said, "How many lives would be better if that scum had never been born? Ten million? Twenty million? Thirty million?" You never placed the blame on the aforementioned people. You never made any qualifying statements. Don't lie to me when your own words expose your so-called thought process.

[ThatPoetGuy]

48. Hard to find people.

Has anyone in my family done as much harm as Gupta? Nope. Have any f my neighbors done as much harm? Not bloody likely. How far would I have to walk to find someone who had done as much harm with as little conscience?

I think it would be hundreds of miles. Maybe, if I walked from coast to coast, I might find someone who has done as much harm and shown as little remorse. But I doubt it.

People tend to be good. Gupta is unusual.

-----

You quoted me:

> You said, "How many lives would be better if that scum had never been born? Ten million? Twenty million? Thirty million?" You never placed the blame on the aforementioned people. You never made any qualifying statements. Don't lie to me when your own words expose your so-called thought process.

Yes. I phrased those as questions for a reason. We're talking about likelihood, about what-might-have-happened. There's excellent reason to believe that Gupta's lies (and then his campaign to defend those lies) helped prevent millions of people from receiving health care.

Gupta could spend every minute of every day for the rest of his life saving Marines and kids, and it wouldn't make a dent in the harm he did -- and he did it on purpose.

It would take him all of thirty seconds to retract his lies, to make a statement, to take responsibility -- to behave like a decent human being.

He could try to make amends. He could crusade tirelessly to help those millions of people he helped to hurt.

It's what any decent person would do in his shoes.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

51. So you believe he's done more conscious harm than anyone in Big Pharma?

Got it.

I can see how you think Gupta is so evil. After all, what's personally saving so many lives compared to a short debate on CNN in 2007 that had no legal ramifications, that nobody outside political junkies can recall, and that wouldn't have swung the health-care pendulum in a significant way in either direction? After all, "There's excellent reason to believe that Gupta's lies (and then his campaign to defend those lies) helped prevent millions of people from receiving health care." I can't argue with that brilliant conjecture. You might as tell me next week's lotto numbers.

Have a good night.

:eyes:

[ThatPoetGuy]

54. Is it easy to find pharmaceutical executives?

If they were common enough that I couldn't spit without hitting one, I'd spit a lot more often.

I live in a city. And yet I doubt there are any big pharma sleazoids who live within a mile of me. Are they worse human beings than Gupta? Probably. But they're HARD TO FIND. Unfortunately. (See above, re: spit.)

[Toucano]

31. He's very accomplished at being a smarmy prick and corporate tool.

I can never aspire to reach such a height of doosh-ness. If only I could become a smarmy prick and a corporate tool, then I'd feel better about Dr. Gupta, I guess. I'd be able to love my inner Dr. Gupta.

Since tomorrow is another day, isn't there still hope for me?

Might I too, one day, be able to lie on television like Dr. Gupta has done? Please show me the way! For I am lost in a desert of intellectual honesty and truth.

For the record, I am not at home nor is my home comfy. And I never asked Gupta and Richy Rich to "put their lives at risk" as I'd be perfectly happy if the Bozos stayed home. Forever.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ThatPoetGuy]

34. Isn't this a flame?

I don't see how making ad hominem attacks on DUers refutes their points in any way.

George W. Bush is more accomplished than you will ever be. It doesn't make him a decent human being. The same is true for Gupta.

See? That's a logical argument.

[Toucano]

35. I think we've found the president of the Gupta fan club.

Walls are probably wallpapered with "Tiger Beat" cut outs of the good Prince Sanjay.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

37. Yes, not hating someone because I disagree with them makes me a fanboy.

Oh wait, it makes me a rational adult.

[ThatPoetGuy]

44. LOL.

You might be an adult.

[Toucano]

45. If that makes you a rational adult, then why are you behaving like a star struck teen-age girl?

Dr. Sanjay Gupta is a smarmy prick and a corporate tool.

Maybe if he was on radio, you'd understand that he's not worth defending.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

47. So again, not hating a person over a disagreement equals fanboy/starstruck teenage girl.

:rofl:

Honestly, how do you get through life? Do you only associate with people who agree with you all the time? What sort of fantasy land do you inhabit?

Maybe if he was on radio, you'd understand that he's not worth defending.

So now you've detoured into some bizarre homophobic statement. I'm not even gay, but I am offended that you would risk hurting GLBT DUers just so you could get a lame insult in against me.

[Toucano]

49. Homophobic? Insult? I am offended that you would risk hurting LGBT DUers by thinking I suggested you

have a special affinity for Dr. Gupta or that anyone could insult you by saying so!

Wow, you're on some kind of roll tonight! Is it something the good Doctor recommended?

People on television have a responsibility to tell the truth. Doctor Gupta does not. He lies.

I do not favor or support his continued appearance on television because Gupta is a smarmy prick and a corporate tool who lies as it suits him and his corporate paymasters.

It's not like I've sent him to the gas chamber.

As to Sanjay's fitness for radio, it's well documented that people's physical appearance affects our perception of their message. It has nothing to do with ones sexuality.

You're such an ardent defender of a lying smarmy prick and corporate tool, I think it's fair to suggest that his Hollywood face has affected your reason.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

53. And that's why you went from "fanboy" to "starstruck teenage girl."

You tried to find some way to smear me and ended up with an ironically homophobic insult.

It's beyond your comprehension that I won't hate someone because of a disagreement, but then again, I'm not the one constantly referring to someone as a "corporate tool." My thinking isn't nearly as black-and-white as yours and for that, I am thankful.

Don't try to backtrack your statements by saying it has nothing to do with sexuality. You knew what you were doing. Defending someone who made a mistake has nothing to do with their physical appearance. If that were true, DUers would be defending Mitt Romney day and night.

I pointed out the flaws in your logic and the best you can do is level an accusation better suited to a 5th grader than a rational adult.

And for the record, I'm not offended at the implication that I'm gay -- I'm offended that you see it is fit to use as an insult.

Good night.

[Toucano]

57. You pointed out flaws of logic? Where?

Fanboy and "starstruck teen-age girl" are two sides of the same coin.

I'm not concerned with you. I'm concerned with what you say.

Your gender, sexuality, religion...not of interest to me.

You don't just "not hate someone" who's a smarmy prick and a corporate tool, you *like* and defend him, citing his many accomplishments and his bravery.

Why so?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

58. Because I don't think in black and white.

I admit he made a mistake in the interview, but I'm not going to let that discredit his many accomplishments, which is why I brought them up.

I can't stand the common viewpoint on DU where otherwise good people are reduced to a silly catchphrase like "corporate tool," as if they have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. It's a silly way of thinking that liberals should place themselves above. Surely a man who has literally saved lives with his skills and knowledge can't be evil, even if he is misguided on a particular issue.

Unfortunately, any sort of multilayered thinking towards any similar individuals is viewed as the thoughts of a "fanboy" or someone without critical thinking skills when in fact, it is those people who actually are using said skills to look at the overall quality of a person instead of reducing them to a cipher.

[ThatPoetGuy]

50. Accusing Toucano of homophobia would only make sense

if Toucano had reason to believe you were male.

Did he/she have reason to believe that? Or were you just looking for a dishonest reason to insult Toucano?

[ThatPoetGuy]

52. Broad swaths of insult! :P

Toucano's insult was gendered; he or she did use one gender as an insult when either gender could have worked.

And you insulted the differently abled when you called it a "lame" insult.

If the discussion were calmer, it would be interesting to learn what we personally have on the line in this dispute. I can see why someone of South Asian ancestry might want to overlook Gupta's deeds.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

55. Really, that's what you went for?

Yes, I am of South Asian descent. So what? I also can't stand Bobby Jindal or Nikki Haley, who are also from the same background. Happy now?

Good night (again).

[ThatPoetGuy]

56. And I'm disabled.

When I guessed you were South Asian, it wasn't an attack or an insult. I have something personal on the line, because an operation I can't afford could change my life, and you have something on the line, because seeing a South Asian on television, successful and articulate, helps keep hope alive.

Both of us have reasons to hold passionate beliefs. But you know what? We both have passion. So we're cooler.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

59. Again, that's not why I'm defending him.

I just stated that I don't like Jindal or Haley, who are also both South Asian. In fact, while I'm happy for his success, Gupta's TV presence isn't a factor for South Asians in general. They're already the most successful ethnic group per capita in the U.S., so it's not like we suddenly found our "great brown hope," to turn a phrase. And furthermore, I'm generally not a big fan of the emphasis put on ethnicity in general (for any race). I long for a day when none of it matters anymore.

Having said that, my main objection to your posts was what I viewed as the excessive hyperbole (a pet peeve) towards Gupta, someone whom I believe is a good person overall despite the one mistake people seem to focus on. And my more guttural responses were an extension of that, though I apologize for posting them in the first place. I'm not normally that abrasive, and, going by your own calm post here, I'm assuming that you are not either. So hopefully we can agree to disagree. Cheers.

:toast:

[ThatPoetGuy]

23. I'm not a serial killer

so yes, I've contributed more to society than Sanjay Gupta.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ThatPoetGuy]

28. That's the most accurate subject line I've ever seen!

Today a woman needs surgery because she can't use her hand. But she has no insurance, and she can't get surgery, and she is in pain and helpless every single minute of every single day.

And there are millions like her.

And Sanjay Gupta is partly responsible for all of it.

[ThatPoetGuy]

27. I'm not a serial killer

and I've never engaged in conscious deception to discredit facts that could have helped tens of millions of people. This means that yes, I have contributed more to society.

There's every reason to believe that millions of Americans would wake up every day to a better life, if Sanjay Gupta hadn't put his ego and career ahead of our lives.

[ThatPoetGuy]

22. And he took steps to hurt millions.

Sorry, it's hard to find a worse human being than someone who deliberately, consciously set out to discredit health reform for the sake of his own ego and career advancement.

How many lives would be better if that scum had never been born? Ten million? Twenty million? Thirty million?

Last I heard there were 47 million Americans without health insurance. Gupta worked his lying, evil ass off to make sure they stay that way.

[Ikonoklast]

41. There are lots of good neurosurgeons that help lots of people

that also don't go on the television in order to try and keep health care away from people that need it.

That's the difference.

[Toucano]

12. He's a shill.

Just google Gupta/Moore if you don't recall the part the good doctor played in discrediting Moore's "Sicko" a few years ago.

[OhioChick]

38. That he is...

Everyone here was up in arms when Obama offered him the job of Surgeon General.

[grahamhgreen]

42. I like Sanjay, too.

[JVS]

2. Nah

[Botany]

3. No doubt they have Dosimeters to see what radiation they are getting

n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. I would not bet on that

[Hissyspit]

7. They tweeted that they are moving from area

[flamingdem]

8. AC just tweeted he's leaving for safety concerns

andersoncooper Anderson Cooper
Due to safety concerns we are leaving this area an therefore not live for the second hour

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. How about that GE shill guy too?

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. they cancelled the second live hour

andersoncooper Anderson Cooper
by TahitiNut
Due to safety concerns we are leaving this area an therefore not live for the second hour
33 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[Raschel]

16. I can't believe they went over there in the first place.

[Whisp]

17. why do they even have to be there?

of all the news I've been hearing on this horrible evenr, CNNs is the least relevant with mostly filler. But I haven't really been watching/listening to them for any duration as I can't stand the repetition the 'concern' wringled eyebrows, the posing.

[aquart]

18. Sanjay's assistant says they are leaving the area.

DanielleCNN

major switch in tone re: nuclear radiation risk in #japan. i'm w/ team @sanjayguptacnn & @andersoncooper. we're heading north for safety. 36 minutes ago via ÜberSocial

[AC_Mem]

19. I'm yelling at the television

get out!!!! get out!

my god does he want to get contaminated? this isn't fairy dust AC!!!!


RNNNN

[still_one]

24. No one is forcing them to stay /nt

[Lindsey]

40. IMO, AC is a fearless guy. There comes a point though that one

has to get a grip on their own mortality.

[cecilfirefox]

39. Oh, if this radiation hurts my Anderson you better bet I will have a FISTFIGHT with nuclear power!

Gods, get the hell away from that crap!