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Critics Slam Overweight Surgeon General Pick, Regina Benjamin
abcnews.com ^ | July 21, 2009 | SUSAN DONALDSON JAMES

Posted on 07/21/2009 2:01:19 PM PDT by kellynla

Dr. Regina M. Benjamin, Obama's pick for the next surgeon general, was hailed as a MacArthur Grant genius who had championed the poor at a medical clinic she set up in Katrina-ravaged Alabama.

But the full-figured African-American nominee is also under fire for being overweight in a nation where 34 percent of all Americans aged 20 and over are obese.

Critics and supporters across the blogsphere have commented on photos of Benjamin's round cheeks, saying she sends the wrong message as the public face of America's health initiatives.

But others support the 52-year-old founder and CEO of Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic, citing new research that shows you cannot always judge a book by its cover when it comes to obesity.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: bhosurgeongeneral; obesity; overweight; reginabenjamin; surgeongeneral
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To: Venturer
This lady is carrying a few extra pounds, but honestly...it's not like you can spot her from space or anything.

Having said that, we really need to do away with the office of the Surgeon General altogether, and have an Office of the Comedienne General instead. That position would be Joycelyn Elders' for life.

"...We need safer guns, and safer bullets..."

--Joycelyn Elders
21 posted on 07/21/2009 2:14:32 PM PDT by Milton Miteybad (I am Jim Thompson. {Really.})
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To: kellynla

WHAAAAT...I just said she was a walking ad for Lipitor....a mite touchy are we??????


22 posted on 07/21/2009 2:15:31 PM PDT by Marty62
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To: kellynla
Dudes, before you crack wise, learn about the lady.

EXPERIENCE — Founder and chief executive, Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic, Bayou La Batre, Ala., 1990-present; chair, Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, 2008-2009; president, Medical Association of the State of Alabama, 2002-2003, trustee, American Medical Association, 1995-1998; diplomate, American Board of Family Practice; fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians.

EDUCATION — M.B.A., Tulane University, New Orleans, 1991; residency in family medicine, Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon, Ga., 1984-1987; M.D., University of Alabama, Birmingham, 1984; B.S., chemistry, Xavier University, New Orleans, 1979.

QUOTE — “I can be a voice in the movement to improve our nation's health care and our nation's health. I want to be sure that no one falls through the cracks as we improve our health care system.”

It does appear she some (limited) executive experience, but no Public Health experience.

Is she someone I would have picked for a position that is a General? No. She has no Public Health experience - hard to head up an organization you know nothing about.

And yes, she would be a General

The Surgeon General is nominated by the U.S. President and confirmed via majority vote by the Senate. The Surgeon General serves a four-year term of office and is the highest ranking uniformed officer of the PHSCC, holding the grade of a three-star vice admiral while in office.[1] However, the Surgeon General reports to the United States Assistant Secretary for Health, who himself may hold the rank of a four-star admiral within the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

23 posted on 07/21/2009 2:16:06 PM PDT by ASOC (Who is that fat lady? And why is she singing???)
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To: domenad
In fairness to Dr. B, she has slimmed down since medical school:


24 posted on 07/21/2009 2:16:39 PM PDT by Callahan
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To: kellynla

Why aren’t men ever referred to as “full figured?”


25 posted on 07/21/2009 2:18:22 PM PDT by drew
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To: kellynla

0buma needs to euthanize her immediately....and not wait when she’s 65. She’s offensive to skinny, starving people and obviously has a huge carbon footprint.


26 posted on 07/21/2009 2:19:11 PM PDT by Dallas59 ("You know the one with the big ears? He might be yours, but he ain't my president.")
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To: Callahan

put down the KFC , put your hands in air lady- now DANCE!!!


27 posted on 07/21/2009 2:22:45 PM PDT by MissDairyGoodnessVT
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To: FlorianG
Wonder if she’d be forced to pay tax on sugar or trans-fat?

No she'll just force the rest of us to pay taxes on sugar, transfat and all around "junk" food.

28 posted on 07/21/2009 2:23:04 PM PDT by rockabyebaby (We are sooooooooooooooooooooo screwed!)
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To: evets
Obama likes big booty.

What choice does he have?


29 posted on 07/21/2009 2:23:36 PM PDT by Albion Wilde ( Jim Thompson for President.)
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To: kellynla

What would Bluto’s reaction be to this pic projected on the side of the Delta basement wall?


30 posted on 07/21/2009 2:23:39 PM PDT by A_Former_Democrat
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To: Dallas59

Lol I can’t believe the MSM picked up on this meme against a woman who is by all accounts pretty nice. Get ready for the fat acceptance backlash.


31 posted on 07/21/2009 2:24:21 PM PDT by Callahan
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To: kellynla

Heard on a radio chat show last week that the good doctor does not believe that doctors should make a profit.


32 posted on 07/21/2009 2:24:27 PM PDT by Churchillspirit
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To: drew

On the same line of questioning, why is it okay for a guy to be a little heavy, but every woman needs to look like a super model?


33 posted on 07/21/2009 2:26:10 PM PDT by HungarianGypsy
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To: isthisnickcool

Thanks. I called 1-900-MIX-A-LOT

And now I’m sprung


34 posted on 07/21/2009 2:29:02 PM PDT by A_Former_Democrat
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To: kellynla

Mmmmm Mmmm, maybe she can endorse Dunkin’ Donuts as a comfort food.


35 posted on 07/21/2009 2:29:06 PM PDT by silverleaf (If you can't be a good example, at least don't be a horrible lesson)
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To: kellynla
Bayeux Sir Mix-a-lot Pictures, Images and Photos
36 posted on 07/21/2009 2:35:15 PM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: Jim Scott
Dr. Regina Benjamin is clearly overweight. Perhaps the flap over her weight might motivate her to eventually lose it and encourage others to do the same, a la Oprah Winfrey.

You might be right. I could see her doing NeutraSystem commercials wearing a bikini....whoa, whoa, whoa, getting a little too carried away there.

37 posted on 07/21/2009 2:36:56 PM PDT by Harley (Life is Tough, But It's a Lot Tougher When You're a Liberal.)
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To: ASOC
Bayou La Batre!

Why that's the home of Bubba Gump Shrimp Company!


38 posted on 07/21/2009 2:38:54 PM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Jim Scott
What does Sotomayor have to say? This white male doctor is clearly more qualified:
39 posted on 07/21/2009 2:41:42 PM PDT by Callahan
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To: ASOC
I want to be sure that no one falls through the cracks as we improve our health care system.”...

Ain't no mountain high
Ain't no valley low
Ain't no crack so wide
That I can be fallin’ through.

40 posted on 07/21/2009 2:42:30 PM PDT by Old North State
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