I appeared live in a 5-minute segment of a Sunday morning TV public affairs program on WXIA (11-Alive, the local NBC affiliate). The producers called me 2 days earlier to ask me to come in for an on-air “discussion” with another local physician (unidentified) who had a “different point of view about the president’s HC reform plan.” I agreed, and attempted to explain to the producer that my view was critical of Mr Obama for not moving more boldly toward a single-payer solution. That was obviously too subtle for his attention.

After arrival at the station I learned that my opponent was the president of the Medical Association of GA (MAG). He and I were seated in separate, isolated cubicles. There was no pre-interview with the show’s hostess/moderator (in a 3rd studio) whom I never saw or met. Although I was well prepared with several pointed arguments, I was caught off guard when she began the on-air segment by introducing me as a supporter of the president’s plan.

“There IS a problem with HC,” I began, trying to develop a short argument to say that Mr Obama and congress were not doing enough. 2 or 3 sentences later I was cut off as the moderator turned to the MAG president. His presentation, far to the right of the larger AMA, was that there was no place for government intrusion in HC. Decisions should be left entirely to the patient and doctor. This allowed me to return with the obvious challenge that market-based commercial insurers were already extremely intrusive in medical relationships.

Then it was over !! I doubt I received more than 90 seconds of air time. I had no opportunity to mention PNHP although I had intended to do so. I was even prepared to wave a copy of the PNHP brochure that I had brought along in my back pocket. C’est la guerre!