Obama Surgeon General Nominee Prevails Over NRA And Right-Wing Media Smear Campaign [View all]

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Dr. Vivek Murthy overcame a longstanding right-wing media and National Rifle Association smear campaign to gain Senate confirmation as Surgeon General on Monday by a vote of 51-43.

Conservative media had worked to cast Murthy as a radical for his uncontroversial stance that gun violence is a public health issue and criticized his supposed lack of qualifications.

The conservative media attacks against Murthy began in early March. Coverage of his nomination focused on his past acknowledgement that gun violence affects public health, which conservative media spun as evidence Murthy is obsessed with gun regulations. (Murthy has actually said his focus as Surgeon General will not be on gun violence, but rather obesity.)

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In fact, Murthy's stance on firearms is common within the medical community. The American Medical Association (AMA) agrees that gun violence "has reached epidemic proportions" and has argued that the medical profession carries an obligation to combat gun violence. The Institute of Medicine has also advocated for a "public health approach" to fight gun violence. Furthermore, Murthy's credentials were endorsed by a broad array of health care groups including the American Public Health Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, and Trust for America's Health.

Murthy's confirmation marks a significant loss for the NRA, which began its campaign against the nominee even before conservative media joined the crusade. In a February 26 letter to U.S. Senate leaders, the NRA's top lobbyist warned that confirming Murthy would be "a prescription for disaster for America's gun owners." The letter kicked off an extensive lobbying and grassroots effort as well as the mobilization of the NRA's media arm in a failed attempt to block Murthy's nomination.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/12/15/obama-surgeon-general-nominee-prevails-over-nra/201887

Oh yeah, and Joe Manchin disingenuous reasoning for voting NO.


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.@Sen_JoeManchin opposed Vivek Murthy for SG because of Murthy's "political beliefs" - ie he favors sensible gun laws
10:58 AM - 15 Dec 2014 15 Retweets 6 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/15/president-obama-delivers-remarks-to-the-troops/#comments

What a poignant day for Vivek Murthy to be confirmed in the Senate as yesterday was the two year anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre.


For the victims and loved ones of the Sandy Hook Kids