Sen. Paul tries to block Obama's 'political' surgeon general nominee

[Origanalist]

http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/assets/876/493/vivekmurthy.jpg?ve=1&tl=1

Sen. Rand Paul is trying to block the nomination of President Obama’s surgeon general nominee, Dr. Vivek Murthy, over what he calls “serious concerns” about Murthy’s leadership in a group that promotes ObamaCare and gun control.

Paul, R-Ky., told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a letter that he objects to Murthy’s nomination because he questions Murthy’s ability to impartially serve as “America’s Doctor.” The letter marks an escalation in a simmering fight over the nominee, for a post that is typically not so controversial.

“Historically, the Surgeon General of the United States has been a position with the purpose of educating Americans so that they may lead healthier lives, rather than advancing a political agenda,” Paul wrote. “Dr. Murthy has disqualified himself from being Surgeon General because of his intent to use that position to launch an attack on Americans’ right to own a firearm under the guise of a public health and safety campaign.”

Paul is placing what's known as a hold on the nomination, a courtesy afforded to senators allowing them to voice their opposition. But Reid could technically still move forward, and a Reid spokesman suggested the majority leader would not sit on Murthy's nomination simply over Paul's objections.

"This is just one of the many ways Republicans exploit routine matters to impose gridlock on the Senate," he said in a statement. New Senate rules approved by Democrats could also make it easier to push through nominations like Murthy's.

Paul was hardly the only conservative raising concerns about Murthy. The doctor is the co-founder and president of Doctors for America, a group of over 16,000 doctors and medical students which heavily lobbied for ObamaCare. The group has participated in ObamaCare rallies, filed an amicus brief in the health law’s Supreme Court case and has promoted the law at the Republican National Convention, among other things.

cont......http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/26/sen-paul-voices-serious-concerns-about-obama-surgeon-general-nominee/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fpolitics+%28Interna l+-+Politics+-+Text%29

[jct74]

Sen. Paul Holds Surgeon General Nomination

Feb 26, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Sen. Rand Paul issued the following letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid objecting the consideration of the nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy to the position of Surgeon General of the United States. The text of the letter can be found below.



LETTER TEXT:


February 25, 2014

Dear Senate Majority Leader Reid,

I am writing to convey my objection to floor consideration of the nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy to the position of Surgeon General of the United States.

I have serious concerns about Dr. Murthy's ability to impartially serve as "the Nation's Doctor". The majority of Dr. Murthy's non-clinical experience is in political advocacy. As you know, Dr. Murthy is the co-founder of Doctors for America, born out of the campaign organization Doctors for Obama, and it is a project of the left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress and has worked closely with Organizing for America, President Obama's political organization. I have outstanding questions about who is funding these organizations, and it is clear that more transparency is needed from a group whose influence frequently impacts appointments in the Obama Administration.

The primary policy goals of Dr. Murthy's organization have been focused on advancing stricter gun control laws and promoting the Affordable Care Act. In his efforts to curtail Second Amendment rights, Dr. Murthy has continually referred to guns as a public health issue on par with heart disease and has diminished the role of mental health in gun violence. As a physician, I am deeply concerned that he has advocated that doctors use their position of trust to ask patients, including minors, details about gun ownership in the home. His organization has also advocated that physicians collect and report data on gun ownership to the Federal Government and increasing Federal funding for gun control research.

Historically, the Surgeon General of the United States has been a position with the purpose of educating Americans so that they may lead healthier lives, rather than advancing a political agenda. Dr. Murthy has disqualified himself from being Surgeon General because of his intent to use that position to launch an attack on Americans' right to own a firearm under the guise of a public health and safety campaign.

Accordingly, I will object to any unanimous consent agreement or the waiver of any rule with respect to the nomination of Dr. Murthy.

Sincerely,

Rand Paul, M.D.


http://www.paul.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1111

[Brian4Liberty]

Another great move by Rand!

[Brian4Liberty]

438741122131587072

[V3n]

Retweeted.

Go Rand!!

[jtap]

Good to see this.

[Brian4Liberty]

438753008860418048

[Origanalist]

Obama's Anti-Second Amendment Nominee For Surgeon General: Guns Are a Healthcare Issue;

The age of politicizing everything is here and President Obama's pick for Surgeon General is no different. Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy has been tapped to lead the charge when it comes to promoting public health with the full weight of the federal government behind him. He also has a history of promoting gun control, of slamming the Second Amendment and has publicly called guns a "healthcare issue" and public health threat.

Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy is the president and founder of Doctors for America, which grew from the campaign organization that was called Doctors for Obama, started in 2008. The organization has advocated for a number of liberal initiatives, including strongly supporting the passage of Obamacare and Medicaid expansion.

The group has also been supportive of the Obama administration’s failed push for expanding gun control laws in 2013. It successfully fought a proposed Florida law that would have prevented doctors from including in a person’s medical file whether they are a gun owner. Doctors for America has referred to guns as a public health threat, and circulated a petition to pressure Congress to pass stricter gun laws.

Investors Business Daily reported on Murthy’s anti-gun tweets, including, “Tired of politicians playing politics w/ guns, putting lives at risk b/c they’re scared of NRA. Guns are a health care issue,” during the 2012 presidential elections, and in December 2012 in the immediate aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre: “NRA press conference disappointing but predictable — blame everything in the world except guns for the Newtown tragedy. #wakeup.”
We've already seen doctors across the country asking patients if they have guns in their homes and recently, we saw President Obama sign new gun control executive orders related to mental health, an area Murthy would cover if confirmed.

The National Rifle Association is strongly opposing the nomination and has urged its five million members to contact their Senators. NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox has also written a letter to Senate leadership opposing the nomination.

more.....http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2014/03/11/meet-president-obamas-antigun-nominee-for-surgeon-general-n1806895

[Matt Collins]

Looks like he passed... anyone have the roll call votes?


http://gunssavelives.net/gun-politics/breaking-senate-confirms-anti-gun-dr-vivek-murthy-as-surgeon-general/

[YesI'mALiberal]

Looks like he passed... anyone have the roll call votes?





http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=2&vote=00356

Grouped By Vote Position

YEAs ---51


Baldwin (D-WI)
Begich (D-AK)
Bennet (D-CO)
Blumenthal (D-CT)
Booker (D-NJ)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Coons (D-DE)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Hagan (D-NC)
Harkin (D-IA)
Heinrich (D-NM)
Hirono (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kaine (D-VA)
King (I-ME)
Kirk (R-IL)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Markey (D-MA)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murphy (D-CT)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schatz (D-HI)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Walsh (D-MT)
Warner (D-VA)
Warren (D-MA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)




NAYs ---43


Alexander (R-TN)
Ayotte (R-NH)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Burr (R-NC)
Coats (R-IN)
Coburn (R-OK)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX)
Donnelly (D-IN)
Enzi (R-WY)
Fischer (R-NE)
Flake (R-AZ)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Heller (R-NV)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (R-WI)
Lee (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Paul (R-KY)
Portman (R-OH)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Scott (R-SC)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Toomey (R-PA)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)




Not Voting - 6


Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Cochran (R-MS)
Johanns (R-NE)
Rubio (R-FL)




p.s. Should I post this in all the threads you necroed so you'll have your own little zombie army?