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Is There a Doctor in the House?

By Kate Pickert | @katepickert | April 19, 2010 | +

Yes, there are 16 actually, according to a fascinating new USA Today article reporting that 47 physicians are running for seats in the House and Senate this fall. All but six are Republicans, which is noteworthy, especially given that nearly all of the doctors currently in Congress are also from the Grand Old Party. Republican doctors in the House – well aware that they are uniquely qualified to articulate their party’s opposition to Obamacare – recently launched their own issue advocacy web site. Of course, Republican Senators Tom Coburn and John Barrasso sort of beat them to it. Both MDs, Coburn and Barrasso already have their own online YouTube series called the Senate Doctors Show, launched last summer when the health care reform debate was heating up.

So what is it about being a doctor that makes someone want to run for public office? Well, the new health reform law for one. Dr. Nan Hayworth, a Republican running to represent New York’s 19th district, says on her website, “to prescribe a massive and costly federal takeover of health care when the overwhelming majority of our citizens prefer to keep what they have now is, simply, bad medicine.” Will these words carry more weight come election day from a woman who’s tagline is “doctor.mother.businesswoman.congress.”? Or how about Dr. Larry Bucshon, running for Indiana’s 8th district against Democrat Brad Ellsworth, the incumbent who decided late in the game to support the reform bill?

I’ll be on the lookout this fall for races between vulnerable incumbent Democrats who voted in favor of health reform and MD challengers. In these races, it’s a safe bet that health care will be front and center.

Related Topics: doctor show, Health Care, health reform, john barrasso, larry bucshon, nan hayworth, tom coburn, usa today, Uncategorized

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  • http://www.ghostnote.com Cookie Puss

    If I send the House GOP doc caucus some grainy videotape can they provide a diagnosis for me? I’ve got this shooting pain in my back …

  • deconstructiva

    Thanks, Kate. Please stay on this. Since many challengers are R’s, is there a deliberate / coordinated effort by them to run beyond the Doctors’ Caucus? (Of course, why didn’t they run more MD’s last go around since Obama campaigned heavily on HCR, telegraphing his moves? But I digress.) Is our friend Dr. Earl Jr., MD running too? But if finance reform / Goldman Sachs take up media space this summer, they’d better bone up on Finance 101. Thanks for your thoughts, Kate.

  • shepherdwong

    “Dr. Nan Hayworth, a Republican running to represent New York’s 19th district, says on her website, “to prescribe a massive and costly federal takeover of health care when the overwhelming majority of our citizens prefer to keep what they have now is, simply, bad medicine.” Will these words carry more weight come election day from a woman who’s tagline is “doctor.mother.businesswoman.congress.”?”
    .
    Hard to know, Ms. Pickert. Do you suppose that anyone in your industry will bother to tell the public that she’s a lying lunatic?

  • Ivy_B

    massive and costly federal takeover of health care

    Was I not paying attention? Did we pass a single payer, Medicare for all system? Or a retread Repub plan?

    Much talk today about the survey showing dissatisfaction in government. No discussion about the effect of the press endlessly repeating whatever Republican lies are the lies du jour. The breathless coverage of the TP rhetoric, without noting that at best it represents 28% of the public, has helped to sour the mood of the country. I was pleased to see Joe note that he wasn’t going to go on any cable shows to discuss them.

    The above is not directed specifically at you Kate, you have done some admirable fact checking recently. I know it is important to look for an angle, but I remember hearing of one Democratic doctor who was refusing to sign up for Congress’ health plan until his constituents had similar access. Somehow he didn’t get as much coverage as Coburn who has spread a lot of lies.

  • square1

    Maybe the GOP can draft Orly Taitz. Dentist-Lawyer-Clown.

  • deconstructiva

    Too bad Stormy Daniels chose NOT to run against Sen. Vitter. No doubt she played many medical professionals in her movies.

  • earljr1

    No, decon, I am not running but I have a very close friend and colleague who is. Not only is he a crackerjack surgeon, but holds a law degree as well. This makes him immanently well qualified to deal with a lawyer dominated congress…I think he will do extremely well. His motivation for running? To prevent this administration from ruining the best health care delivery in the world and to help correct some of the MANY wrongs incorporated into this monstrosity of a bill. shepardwong, your commentary borders on deranged. The Doctor you so willingly disparaged, should sue you for defamation.

  • megatronrises

    Okay, let’s take this apart:
    .
    “to prescribe a massive and costly” – is misleading, since as per pay-as-you-go, the bill is completely paid for, costly though it may be.
    .
    “federal takeover of health care” – an outright lie. The federal government is maintaining a private health care system, but regulating it in such a way as to prevent the more sleazy insurance practices.
    .
    “when the overwhelming majority of our citizens” – also an outright lie. Last I checked, it was more 50-50 if not leaning towards a majority favoring the bill.
    .
    “prefer to keep what they have now” – is misleading, because Americans CAN keep what they have now.
    .
    You have at least 2 outright lies and 2 misleading statements. Awesome. She’s qualified to run for congress.

  • briansdad

    I am a physician and a Democrat. I seriously considered a campaign for the House of Representatives this coming fall, to the point of making my intention publicly known.

    I also talked with a well-respected financial consultant who has functioned as a fund-raiser in Presidential campaigns and in several successful campaigns for the U.S. Senate and for state Governors. He advised that it would take a minimum of $800,000 to run a creditable campaign. Not necessarily a winning one. My Republican opponent-to-be had a reserve of $600,000 at the end of his last run for office and has a voting record aligned with financially powerful interests.

    The consultant also advised that the quality of my positions and my ideas was irrelevant until the electorate in this district was disenchanted with my opponent. My first task had to be to attack in order to create an opening for my message to be heard.

    And so I dropped the thought of my campaign.

  • fhmadvocat

    Dear briansdad,

    I hope one day you decide to run for public office and given your apparent integrity, you may be lucky and find an open seat.

    We need more people like you in office. Too many of our current politicians play a game of “Gotcha!” and the idea of winning at all costs, i.e. Carl Rove. So hang in there, I hope to hear more about you in the future.

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