ABC’s newly hired senior medical editor is also an Obama donor, having contributed $400 to the Democratic presidential candidate in 2008. TV Newser reported on Thursday that Dr. Richard Besser, the director of the Centers for Disease Control, would assume the position in September. A search on the website Open Secrets finds two donations by Dr. Besser on August 22, 2008.
As senior health correspondent, Dr. Besser can be expected to play a major role in ABC's coverage of the health care debate this fall.
Dr. Tim Johnson, who currently holds the position for ABC, has long been an advocate for government-run solutions to the health care problem in America. Going back to the last big push in the early '90s, he told then-First Lady Hillary Clinton on July 19, 1994: "So at least from the physicians represented here, you get a 100 percent vote, including mine, for universal coverage." Johnson will become the "chief medical editor" for ABC News.
Besser was the acting Director of the CDC for the first five months of the Obama administration, but had a long professional career there as an expert on foodborne illnesses and epidemics.
Here's a screen capture of the OpenSecrets search result:
On a related topic, the MRC’s Brent Baker observed on July 29, 2009 that, so far, 12 journalists have made the jump from reporting to actually working for the Obama administration, including former ABC News reporter Linda Douglass and ABC News Justice correspondent Beverly Lumpkin.
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
GASP!
July 30, 2009 - 12:02 ET by Paul AtreidesSomeone help me up off the floor!
→ Begs the question
July 30, 2009 - 12:04 ET by Cool ArrowThat question being:
Of academicians it has been said "Those that can - do. Those that can't - teach"
Maybe there are those doctors who need the protections government coverage offers.
Hope is an excuse for doing nothing - Rush Limbaugh
CA, Something makes me
July 30, 2009 - 13:51 ET by Scuba DudeCA,
Something makes me think this guy was the type of "Doctor" that had to be dragged kicking and screaming to look at patients. He probably does not know what doctors will have to contend with if the Govt gets involved in making medical decisions.
The Obama Administration: THE most fiscally irresponsible Administration EVER
Obama just doesn't get it...
July 30, 2009 - 12:07 ET by DJEddleThe last thing the White House needs is another advocate for government-run health care. Do they not notice their rapidly declining poll numbers?
Perhaps these people ought to think about why their plans aren't registering with us common folk. Could it be that constitutional principles are more known than we previously thought - people just aren't aware that their opinions reflect those of our founding generation? Maybe they should read this:
The Truth About Health Care: Philosophy and Rhetoric
It certainly couldn't hurt if they understood what a "right" truly is and how we exercise such rights. Oh...and how the government does not confer them - it's supposed to protect them.
Rational Liberty: Where Reason and Government Collide - The best website ever!
Oh Roseanne!
July 30, 2009 - 13:06 ET by theduck6You're the female Joe Biden.
NO ONE can be that stupid, can they?
And yet all these America hating , whining douche bags remain here and suck up valuable air.
WOW!
July 30, 2009 - 13:22 ET by SgthulkaI'm floored. You mean to say that a major network is using an Obama contributer to give unbiased, straight-down-the-middle reports on the health care debate?
I'm speechless.
Oh My
July 30, 2009 - 13:40 ET by Tyler DurbinWhat, was C. Everett Kook not avaiable?
The truth
July 30, 2009 - 17:11 ET by nkviking75"TV Newser reported on Thursday that Dr. Richard Besser, the director of the Centers for Disease Control, would assume the position in September."
Ain't that the truth.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Oh my gawd!
July 30, 2009 - 17:59 ET by wjneillI betcha Brent Bozell, editor of this newsletter, doesn't make any monetary contributions to any political parties or politicians.
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Does he? Or James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Mike Savage, Mark Levin, Dennis Prager, Mike Gallagher, or Michelle Malkin. Eh?
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All pure as the driven snow and would never think of giving money to any political venture.
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Why even the writer of this story, Scott Whitlock has never made a monetary contribution to a political venture, has he?
Typical lefty. Comparing Apples and oranges while trying...
July 30, 2009 - 18:19 ET by R D Helm...to convince people its really lemonade.
-Dave
Oh my gawd!
July 30, 2009 - 18:30 ET by wjneillCare to point out, with great precision, the apples, oranges, and lemonade?
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Put another way, what's the difference between the personalities I've named and them individually making contributions to political parties and candidates of their choices?
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Answer: none.
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Explain your apples, oranges, and lemonade analogy. You can provide an explanation, can't you?
OK your thickness
July 30, 2009 - 18:42 ET by general companyLets see, do you know the politics of each of the personalities you named? Do they pretend to give you unbias news? Well ABC does, and this guy is the new editor in charge. Got it?
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Oh my Gawd????
July 30, 2009 - 21:46 ET by RESTLESS 1So, who's the new valley girl troll?
I mean, like, who says that???
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
Dang, you goof
July 30, 2009 - 21:51 ET by general companyThought he came back. I was excited too. : ]
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Sorry GC
July 30, 2009 - 22:11 ET by RESTLESS 1I've just been lurking lately and came upon the latest and greatest of the intellectual left. Just thought I'd get acquainted. ;)
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
wjneill... There's one
July 30, 2009 - 18:51 ET by DJEddlewjneill...
There's one major difference you're overlooking:
All of the people you mentioned from the right aren't claiming to be unbiased journalists. They make their political philosophies known and critique their opposition accordingly.
This fellow from ABC News is going to be running an allegedly unbiased group of journalists and reporters whose reporting and commenting will exclusively be dedicated to the health care debate - even though he is a Democrat/Obama donor and advocate of Obama's government-run health plans. Unless he or ABC discloses his views and/or bias, then they are not being very journalistic - i.e. honest - with their viewers.
Your argument is a non-sequitur. Or as some people would say: you're comparing apples to oranges.
Rational Liberty: Where Reason and Government Collide - The best website ever!
You're not . . .
July 30, 2009 - 19:18 ET by wjneillR. D. Helm. Or is he no longer capable of stating his case and you or another of his mentors must not step in for him?
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You also make the interesting comment: "All of the people you mentioned from the right aren't claiming to be unbiased journalists."
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Can any of them claim to be "journalists" in the literal sense of the word?
You ask a question on a public board
July 30, 2009 - 19:38 ET by general companyYou will recieve answers from who ever feels like replying. Must not be like that at NASA huh?
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Nice rebuttal, wjneill. I
July 30, 2009 - 21:38 ET by DJEddleNice rebuttal, wjneill. I can tell you're a seasoned pro at this "debate" thing.
Rational Liberty: Where Reason and Government Collide - The best website ever!
So, all I have to
July 30, 2009 - 19:23 ET by jessieHSo, all I have to do is "donate" a couple hundred dollars to the man who would be president, and I have a six figure job? No thanks, I have morals.........
Read Malkin's new book.
July 30, 2009 - 19:28 ET by Radical1979Read Malkin's new book. Get some friends to donate, bundle it up, and your taken care of.
Some change we got.
Besser has the credentials
July 30, 2009 - 23:39 ET by stratmanBesser has the credentials and street cred for CDC employment, paying his dues by working in hellholes on earth. While contributing to Obama's campaign didn't hurt, I doubt $400 was sufficient reason to hire him.
I am confused -- Is Besser stepping down from gub'mint work to be at ABC? Wouldn't it be 'conflict of interest' if he holds a position with government and ABC simultaneously?
I don't recall Besser specifically during the H1N1 debacle. I thought Sebelius, the CDC, and Obama handled the situation with confusing proclamations of doom while not sealing the borders because it was already "too late". Would be good to know precisely what Besser's contribution was to the H1N1 mess before painting him with the same scorn deservedly earned by Sebelius and Obama.