Obama Appoints Ebola Czar With No Medical or Health Care Background

[lawildcat]

This makes no sense to me at all.

 

 

 

Obama to name longtime political aide as 'Ebola czar,' bypassing senior health official | Fox News

 

Responding to growing calls to appoint an "Ebola czar" to lead America's battle against the deadly virus, sources confirm to Fox News that President Obama plans to name Ron Klain, a longtime political hand with no apparent medical or health care background.

 

He did, however, serve as chief of staff to Al Gore and later Vice President Biden.

 

In making the appointment, Obama will effectively bypass another official, Dr. Nicole Lurie, who has served as assistant secretary for preparedness and response (ASPR) at the Department of Health and Human Services since July 2009.

 

Congress, nearly a decade ago, created that post, which would seem to fit the bill for Ebola coordinator -- at least on paper.

 

Yet, as Obama prepares to name Klain, the senior official currently filling that health job has been virtually absent from the public eye. She's on the team, the Obama administration insists -- just not in the lead.

 

A spokesman with HHS told Fox News that in addition to roles played by other agencies, "Dr. Lurie and her team in ASPR are dealing primarily with advance development of countermeasures, [Public Health Service] deployment, and hospital outreach."

[All Tell]

Another political crony rewarded for sycophantic service.

[Getslow]

Serious question: do you need a doctor in this role? It sounds like this guy's job is going to be to coordinate efforts and information to streamline the government's response. That being the case, it seems like you would need an effective administrator and not necessarily a physician.

 

Does anyone even know what a czar does? Czars usually don't have any significant authority and simply report to the president on the coordinated efforts of various agencies to address a problem. All of them have different functions and it sounds like this Dr. Lurie might already be in exactly the job she's needed for.

[LIPTON BASH]

Serious question: do you need a doctor in this role? It sounds like this guy's job is going to be to coordinate efforts and information to streamline the government's response. That being the case, it seems like you would need an effective administrator and not necessarily a physician.

 

Does anyone even know what a czar does? Czars usually don't have any significant authority and simply report to the president on the coordinated efforts of various agencies to address a problem. All of them have different functions and it sounds like this Dr. Lurie might already be in exactly the job she's needed for.

 

Not being a doctor should not disqualify you but I do believe experience in Hospital or Healthcare Administration should probably be ideal experience for this position .

[75center]

While a medical background could possibly help, if he's an effective administrator he'll put the right people in place around him and will be ok.

[CBDV]

Do we need a Czar?

 

Didn't agree that we needed them with other administrations, don't agree that we need them now.......it is what the CDC is for....

[lawildcat]

Do we need a Czar?

 

Didn't agree that we needed them with other administrations, don't agree that we need them now.......it is what the CDC is for....

 

Because they are doing a bang up job right now? Probably a smart move by Obama, although I am in the camp that thinks the guy should have some type of health background. People do not trust the CDC right now.

[lawildcat]

[ColonelCrazy]

Because they are doing a bang up job right now? Probably a smart move by Obama, although I am in the camp that thinks the guy should have some type of health background. People do not trust the CDC right now.

 

Hell, I'm a fan of appointing somebody with common sense. A health background would be a bonus.

[jericho]

Most college ADs have no sports playing experience but are in the business background.

[kypride]

Here is my problem. I don't care if the new Czar has medical experience as long as he has some common sense and a little leadership capability. The problem is that we have been (taxpayers) paying some people a nice salary to do the job already for several years. Dr. Nicole Lurie, assistant secretary for preparedness and response (ASPR) at the Department of Health and Human Services and Tom Frieden Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Maybe they could kinda be prepared to do their job or something. I joked with my wife that the writers for TV shows always make the CDC and health organizations look really smart on TV and in movies. If they wrote an episode with these kinds of blunders people wouldn't think it was believable enough.

[Wireman]

Great...now I have to Google czar.

[FarBeyondDriven]

This guy is a political hack, plain and simple.

[PurplePride92]

I'd rather have the doctor doing the work she is doing now which is obviosuly something she is good at rather than take her out of that role and have her do administrative/political work. I get how it looks funny to not have someone with a background in healthcare in this spot but if it is an administrative role then I get it. Condoleeza Rice is on the NCAA playoff selection committee and she is no more qualified than I am to be in that position. How important is it to have someone with a healthcare background in what appears to be a made up role for a buddy of his?

[lawildcat]

I'd rather have the doctor doing the work she is doing now which is obviosuly something she is good at rather than take her out of that role and have her do administrative/political work. I get how it looks funny to not have someone with a background in healthcare in this spot but if it is an administrative role then I get it. Condoleeza Rice is on the NCAA playoff selection committee and she is no more qualified than I am to be in that position. How important is it to have someone with a healthcare background in what appears to be a made up role for a buddy of his?

 

Nailed it.