President Obama nominated Dr. Vivek Murthy to be the U.S. Surgeon General last year, but after the GOP learned how Murthy felt about guns, they blocked his nomination. One year later, as the country prepares itself against Ebola, the Repubs are blaming Obama for there being no Surgeon General, reported ThinkProgress.
When it became known that Murthy believed guns in America was a health issue and that he supported gun control, the National Rifle Association, America’s largest hub of right-wing conservatism, mounted support against Murthy and coordinated his blocking.
Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) appeared on Meet the Press. When host Chuck Todd asked the senator about the NRA’s role in blocking the nomination, Blunt blew off the question, blaming Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), saying that Reid never put the nomination to a full vote.
“The NRA said they were going to score the vote and suddenly everyone froze him,” said Todd. “That seems a little petty in hindsight, does it not?”
“Well, the president really ought to nominate people that can be confirmed to these jobs, and frankly then we should confirm them, there’s no question about that,” said Blunt.
What Blunt truly means to say is that the President should nominate a Surgeon General that the Republicans will agree with, whose politics fall in line with theirs. Nominate anyone different and they’ll block them. Todd asked Blunt about the influence held by the NRA over the nomination of the country’s public health leader, Blunt again deflected and blamed Reid.
“I’m not sure that’s why, you’d have to ask Senator Reid why he hasn’t move that of the top of his list to be confirmed,” said Blunt.
Murthy has expressed adamantly that he will not use his office to bolster his political ideals, but the GOP blocked him anyway. Lobbying groups maintain ratings on politicians and gauge that rating upon how they vote. Any Republican that voted in favor of would have gotten dinged on their rating from the NRA.
This is a subject that no outside organization should have any influence over. The NRA manipulated the nomination process for the Surgeon General. There is no low that GOP groups won’t stoop to in order to protect themselves, no matter how many people it may hurt. GOP obstruction strikes again.