Obama’s Medicare Chief Donald Berwick Quits

The Blaze ^ | 23 November 2011 | Jonathan Seidl

[Erik Latranyi]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The point man for carrying out President Barack Obama’s health care law will be stepping down after Republicans succeeded in blocking his confirmation by the Senate, an official said Wednesday.

Medicare chief Don Berwick, a Harvard professor widely respected for his ideas on how to improve the health care system, became the most prominent casualty of the political wars over a health care overhaul law whose constitutionality will be now decided by the Supreme Court.

Berwick’s Dec. 2 resignation was confirmed by a senior congressional official, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of an announcement by the administration. He will be replaced by his principal deputy, Marilyn Tavenner, formerly Virginia’s top health care official.

Forty-two GOP senators – more than enough to derail Berwick’s confirmation – had announced their opposition to his nomination months ago. That started a countdown on his temporary appointment, scheduled to run out at the end of the year.

[Erik Latranyi]

Good riddance.

[freespirited]

Medicare chief Don Berwick, a Harvard professor widely respected for his ideas on how to improve the health care system

Also widely despised for his ideas.

[bassmaner]

a Harvard professor widely respected for his ideas on how to improve the health care system

Puke.

"Respected" by whom? Fidel Castro? Kim Jong-il?

[malos]

Take a hike DB and I don’t mean Donald Berwick.

[rockinqsranch]

Yeah, the guy is nuttier than a fruitcake, perhaps as nuts as Sunstein IMO.

[muir_redwoods]

He is as refit a lump of scum as Rahm Emanual’s brother Mengele

[Cyman]

And a member of the Ivy League Mafia

[muir_redwoods]

“refit” s/b “fetid”, damned auto correct

[muawiyah]

Given that Berwick's big secret on reducing medical costs is to kill the patients it's really surprising that anyone could be foolish enough to appoint him to this job just as the Baby Boomers turn old.

Obama and his running dog lackeys are definitely politically tone deaf.

Now that he doesn't have his guards around him (and he's on the streets), let's see how long he lasts ~ bet it's not long.

[grumpygresh]

Zero will simply choose another fascist as a recess appointment unless the Senate does not go into recess. I don’t know if the minority can stop this.