President Obama's nominee to be the next surgeon general of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy, happens to be of Indian heritage. However, just because Murthy is an Indian-American, it does not automatically follow that he gets along with other people who happen to be Indian-American doctors, too. This is a simple concept.
And yet it would appear this idea — that not all people of the same heritage and same profession automatically get along with one another — is beyond Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts' capacity.
During a Senate hearing on Murthy's confirmation (which is all but assured, now that filibuster reform is done) Roberts asked the doctor whether he'd ever visited his home state of Kansas.
"I have not, sir. But I would love to come," was Murthy's genial response.
"Well, good," Robert said. "I'm going to invite you, because we have a lovely doctor from India. She's in her mid-30s and she's highly respected by the community. And another doctor from India that did my carpal tunnel [surgery] when I did a stupid thing. And so, I think you'd be right at home, and we would welcome you."
Roberts then moved on to question Murthy about some of his more political tweets, but not before mentioning that his staff did not allow him to use Twitter, which is probably for the best.
Watch Roberts be embarrassing below, via Slate:
Shares