“Fox News continues to lead the conservative attack on Ron Klain, whom President Obama appointed as the administration’s Ebola coordinator, termed by some a “czar,” to help direct the government’s response to the rare virus and its arrival in Dallas, Texas.
After days of demanding White House action on the issue (such as appointing a czar), conservatives, led by Republican Party leaders, immediately criticized the choice of Klain. Why? Because he has no medical background and because he’s enjoyed a career as Democratic political insider, working as chief of staff for both former Vice President Al Gore and current Vice President Joe Biden.
Except, apparently, when the president was George Bush, the health fear was the bird flu virus, and Bush’s czar had no medical background. Note that prior to becoming the nation’s bird flu czar, Bush’s point-person served as general counsel for Amtrak.
In 2004, Bush’s bird flu czar was Stewart Simonson. He worked as an assistant secretary of health and human services for public health emergency preparedness. And although he had no medical experience or expertise in public health, he did enjoy a noted career as a Republican political insider.”*
Read more from MediaMatters.org here: http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/10/20/flashback-when-conservative-media-didnt-care-bu/201229
Cenk Uygur (http://www.twitter.com/cenkuygur) and Ana Kasparian (http://www.twitter.com/anakasparian) of The Young Turks discuss President Bush’s bird flu czar. Tell us what you think of this right wing hypocrisy in the comment section below.