Dr. David McKalip apologizes for Barack Obama-Witch Doctor e-mail
July 24, 2009 at 6:38 am by Wayne GarciaFrom St. Pete’s best known anti-tax neurosurgeon, Dr. David McKalip, comes this e-mail apology this morning for the Barack Obama-as-Witch Doctor e-mail I chronicled late yesterday afternoon:
I have had a very hard day. When you stand up and fight effectively for freedom and to protect the rights of patients from control by the government and insurance companies – you develop powerful enemies. They have used the opportunity of a lapse in judgment to try to discredit me since they can’t discredit my arguments. I am proud of my accomplishments in this fight. I am more proud of the hundreds of thousands of Americans I have come to know who feel as I do and are willing to stand up for freedom. The next few days will be difficult, and I ask for your support.
DR. DAVID MCKALIP SENDS APOLOGY DIRECTLY TO PRESIDENT OBAMA
McKalip apologizes for sending insensitive image via e-mail
St. Petersburg, FL (July 23, 2009) – David McKalip, M.D., brain and spine neurosurgeon of St. Petersburg has never been shy in expressing where he stands regarding President Barack Obama’s health-care reform. Despite McKalip’s position on health system reform, he sends a sincere apology for a forwarded image of President Obama in an e-mail depicting the president in Papua New Guinean tribal garb with a logo beneath it saying, “Obama Care.”
“I genuinely regret the decision I made in passing this e-mail message along. Directly to President Obama, I sincerely apologize for offending him. This was, in no way whatsoever, my intention. The image has nothing to do with my feelings or thoughts on any race or culture. I recognize that this image is offensive and hope that the nation refocuses on assuring all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health care with no party interfering in the patient-physician relationship. My intention is to focus directly on the issue at hand, which is putting financial and decision-making power into the hands of patients and taking it from government and insurance companies,” said McKalip.
The image forwarded was from a long chain of e-mails and not created by McKalip.
July 24th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Ironic that the Tea Baggers have to communicate racism to make their point.
The American Medical Assocation and the American Nurses Association endorsed HR 3200, no racial slurs or racist pictures necessary.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:31 am
St. Anthony’s hospital weighs in…
AMA’s statement…
McKalip’s previous objections to Obama’s health care plan…
all at: http://bit.ly/575MT
July 25th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
How can you provide (from his own website) “Personalized, compassionate care emphasizing patient understanding of all issues and involvement in decision making. ” if you are this incapable of identifying racism?
July 25th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Dr. Kalips does not want to be held accountable by anyone except inside his CSN Societies. In 2007, he wrote a resolution to terminate support for public reporting programs. The “ObamaCare” plan would undo that. :)
July 26th, 2009 at 10:59 am
To those that need reassurance that Dr. David McKalip is on the right page regarding health care need only go to any number of web sites to see that ordinary Americans are questioning whether Health Care Reform is viable in a stagnant recession. In increasing numbers, President Obama is seeing his health care reform numbers recede as ordinary citizen’s question this massive overhaul to our existing system.
Efforts are being ramped up in order to sell this program at any cost to people that are wondering how it will be paid for. Unfortunately, since this is obviously a high stakes poker contest, there are liberals and other politics at work trying to see it actively pushed and prodded through passage. Activists such as Dr. David McKalip that have been successful communicators to try and get the message out, that this reform measure is bad for Americans are coming under increasing scrutiny.
Having known this man for several years and having served on his board of directors of Cut Taxes Now, I can honestly attest to his passion and motivation for what is near and dear to his heart. This man does not have a racist bone in his body. He has served honorably on numerous board of directors, has helped our community with patients that had little or no resources for payment, and has worked tirelessly in tax reform. I believe if the good doctor indicated he saw it as satire only, then I believe him completely. I also believe if George Bush was still our president and it was his picture depicted, there would be no clamor or racial implications. Presidents and public officials need to know everybody in public office is fair game when it is in regard to impending legislation as important as the nations Health Care. President Obama is of course the holder of this most prominent position and as so as in past presidents can be satirized. I found this image to be satire only and not a racist picture. It was a picture of a witch doctor and the key word here is doctor which from my view point indicates an image of inferior health care with the image of the man that is carrying the torch for health reform. It is unfortunate that we live in a society that still will use racism as a tool even though that dividing line barrier had been broken with the election of our first black president.
I hope this helps in calming down what I believe is an undeserved knee jerk reaction and public scrutiny of a fine man, a fine physician and humanitarian with impecable integrity.
David Simpson
former “Cut Taxes Now” board member
July 27th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
The good Dr, McKalip had NO reason to apologize to Obama or anyone else for his actions! I also received that same email photo and passed it on to my contacts and have no regrets or apologies for having done so! That photo was only a satire expressing the feelings of MANY American people! If anyone needs to apologize, it is Obama to the good doctor and the American people for fraudulantly usurping the presidency through governmental corruption! Dr. McKalip would have gained allot more respect had he stood firm and not nullified his true feelings through an undeserved apology! If we do not stand our ground, we will most certainly lose the ground we stand upon!!!