Bush to Bypass Senate to Appoint AntiGay Surgeon General Nominee?

Disturbing new developments to the case of Dr. James Holsinger, the Bush Administration's controversial nominee for Surgeon General. Holsinger's nomination stalled in July and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee never took a vote.

Apparently, the Bush Administration does not believe a confirmation vote is necessary. Frank Lockwood at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Bible Belt Blogger, whose impartial reporting has been invaluable throughout the nomination process, reports Holsinger has resigned from the board of a conservative seminary and confides to friends "the president plans to appoint him to the post anyway once the Congress goes into its holiday recess."

A recess appointment would be allow Holsinger to serve until the end of 2008.

Holsinger has been roundly criticized for previous anti-gay positions and the American Public Health Association opposed his nomination. Gay rights groups were concerned over his previous controversial positions on homosexuality, biology and religion, and, the ex-gay ministry at the United Methodist Church that he co-founded. The right-wing is also opposed to Holsinger's positions in stem-cell research. It is unlikely that he will be confirmed. Holsinger would succeed Dr. Richard Carmona, who told Congress last summer that the Bush Administration routinely interfered with the surgeon general's office for political purposes.

Some Background ...
Kennedy to Block Surgeon General-Nominee? [R20]
NYT Editorial Slams Surgeon General Nominee [R20]
Republicans Opposed to Surgeon General Nominee [R20]
Confirmation Hearings Set [R20]
Lift Gag Rule from Surgeon Genl Nominee [R20]
Joycelyn Elders on Surgeon General Nominee [R20]
Senate GOP Leader Supports Nominee [R20]
Surgeon General Warning [R20]
Clinton, Edwards Oppose Surgeon Genl Nominee

Comments

[Kevin C]

Where does Bush keep finding these wicked ass bastards? He has yet to present a candiate that has an open minded postion. It's always some Hilter type crap to their backgroud.

Kevin C
ATL

[Andy in Seattle]

He finds them in the country clubs and other moneyed corridors of White Privilege that donate millions to his campaign and who pledge undying support (as in the Religious Right), that's where, Kevin C.

Wanna start a pool on how quickly the Democrats fail to act on this? I'll put in my $5...