What makes Kathleen Sebelius qualified to be Secretary of Health?

does she have any medical background or experience with healthcare?

So she was apparently a State Insurance commissioner for Kansas, which somehow makes her qualified to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services? Isn't that kind of like putting the executive of an insurance company in charge of HHS? Sebelius may understand insurance and business, but has no experience with patients. No healthcare background whatsoever, at least none that I can find. And Obama picked this person over Dr. Howard Dean? Jesus Christ.

(She doesn't even seem to know the difference between public option and co-ops, forcing the White House to come out and correct some of her statements, which made me curious to find out about her background.)

there is something he was afraid about that he wouldn't pass scrutiny. I think he still is and Sebelius takes phone calls from him.

Daschle's problem was with having not paid taxes on many of th ebennies he received from various corporate parties.... most prominent among them being The Health Care/Health Insurance Industry.

"Isn't that kind of like putting the executive of an insurance company in charge of HHS? Sebelius may understand insurance and business, but has no experience with patients."

In my view (but I come from the odious Insurance Industry) the analogy is wrong. Sebelius, as an Insurance Commissioner, would be like putting an incorruptible cop (yeah, go ahead and laugh) in charge of Mafia oversight, instead of some corrupt and on-the-take councilman.

Fact is, it is more important to have, as a regulator, someone know the business model rather than the day to day operations. Some people could do both, as could Dr. Dean, whom I also support. But, if a candidate doesn't have experience on both sides, the best bet is a regulator from the outside (Tim Geithner being an excellent example of a bad choice, in that regards, IMHO). Otherwise I think we agree.

Sebelius was a very early supporter of Obama. And is an Obama Loyalist. And, truth be told, I think that loyalty is her weakest point. Sen. McCaskill, of Missouri, bears the same pluses and minuses, BTW, IMHO.

crazy like that. She was the first (and only) one to be Ins Comm and not take campaign money from insurance companies. It is not like putting an insurance exec in the office. They don't like her.

It would not be Sebelius who threw anything under the bus. If the words are from her mouth, they are directed by someone "further up".

Figure it out. You know who called the shot. She was TOLD to make whatever statements that were made.

That is the only qualification needed under the Constitution.

but it doesn't make her the most qualified.

to run the health department? seriously?

be the most qualified ?? Think he could have been confirmed??

Shouldn't she be good enough for us?

That designation belongs to the president. If you don't like his decisions you have a vote like everybody else!

that we were totally screwed on health care reform. I guess that's something.

SILVER!! The usual term applied to the hair of "elder statesmen" who are well-respected and wise.

Sebelius is no patsy for the Insurance Industry, and if she gave any ground, it was because "higher-ups" (not Daschle's phone) told her to do so.


edit for syntax:

If you want to bitch, call out the ones who make the decisions.

but I'm willing to be patient

a loss for this country.

Management skills and Obama's nomination.

She watched insurance companies like a hawk and pounced on them when the stepped out of bounds.

I believe she was a strong advocate of public option, so she may not be inspired by the co-op crap. Kind of like when you are trying to get people to believe something you do not believe in yourself.

her believed she was qualified for that post in his cabinet. The Senate of the United States agreed with him when they confirmed her for that position.

The only qualification necessary. They do not actually want to reform health care; they want to reward insurance companies. They simply do not care that these companies are run by evil, greedy fuckers who only care about the bottom line.