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spanone

(135,636 posts)
Mon Dec 15, 2014, 03:54 PM Dec 2014

Confirm new surgeon general over NRA's opposition

(CNN) -- Because of a fumble by Republicans over the weekend, the U.S. Senate has an unexpected opportunity to provide a holiday gift to the country before it goes home this week: formal approval of Dr. Vivek Murthy to become the next U.S. surgeon general.

President Barack Obama nominated Murthy early this year, but Republicans ganged up against him on two grounds. They said that at age 39, he was too young and inexperienced for the post. More importantly, they bowed to the National Rifle Association, which fiercely opposed Murthy because he had the temerity to say that guns are a public health issue.

Never mind that Republicans were wrong on both counts. The point is that the NRA remains an extraordinary force in our politics. As it whipped up opposition, a good number of Democratic senators, especially those up for re-election this past November, soon buckled to the NRA too. The White House continued to give Murthy quiet support but ducked a public fight. Murthy's nomination went into a tailspin and has seemed doomed since April.

But then a strange thing happened -- by beginning debate on a point of order against Obama's immigration executive order, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz gave Majority Leader Harry Reid the opportunity to call a special session and put two dozen stalled Obama nominees on the agenda for confirmation before the Senate recessed.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/15/opinion/gergen-confirm-new-surgeon-general-murthy/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

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