There’s one thing you can say about Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder: He has zero #$@&%*!s to give when it comes to how things look or are perceived by the public. Today we have Exhibit A in this regard:
Gov. Snyder has appointed Michgan’s chief medical executive Dr. Eden Wells to lead the newly-formed Public Health Advisory Council:
Gov. Rick Snyder has appointed a top state official criminally charged in the Flint water crisis investigation to head a new council tasked with improving Michigan’s response to emerging public health threats.
Dr. Eden Wells is Michgan’s chief medical executive.
Wells will be in court tomorrow for a hearing on charges of obstruction of justice and lying to an officer in connection to the Flint water crisis. Prosecutors say an additional charge of involuntary manslaughter will also likely be added.
Wells allegedly interfered with efforts by independent researchers studying a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Genesee County.
Despite the charges against her, on Monday, the governor tapped Wells to lead the Public Health Advisory Council. The council, which was recommended by the Michigan Public Health Commission, will develop an action plan for implementing the recommendations of the commission. It also is tasked with providing advice about emerging issues in public health, monitoring the effectiveness of Michigan’s public health response system, and reviewing multi-agency efforts to support collaboration and a unified approach on public health responses.
A rational governor would have avoided the appearance of putting a fox in charge of the henhouse in this way and found someone not in any way connected to the Flint Water Crisis to lead this important group. But, as I’ve said, Gov. Snyder is unconcerned by how his actions are seen by others. He does precisely what he wants.
While, as Snyder’s spokesperson says, “Everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” it is also true that “there are many fish in the sea.” It goes without saying that any number of public health officials could have filled this position. But, like our president, Rick Snyder will never admit that he has made a mistake, whether it’s having appointed someone as the chief medical executive who should never have been elevated to such a lofty position or then elevating that person even further while they are under a cloud of suspicion. A cloud, I might add, that was created by his own Republican Attorney General, Bill Schuette.
Once again, Michigan is the laughing stock of the United States of America.
[CC image “Michigan Governor Rick Snyder Political Suicide” by DonkeyHotey | Flickr]
