Doctors for Kerry: Taj spams for socialism

HIGHLAND, MI — In a spam message sent Tuesday to many of his hospital’s medical staff (a list that is confidential and not to be used for political purposes), Dr. Syed Taj’s campaign forwarded a fund-raising e-mail for Progressive Democrats of America, a PAC operating within the Democratic Party. The e-mail solicited contributions to the PAC, which supports Taj. The “Paid for by Taj for Congress” disclaimer appeared below the forwarded message.

The fund-raising letter was signed by, among others: Mark Dudzic, National Coordinator of Labor Campaign for Single Payer; Robert Score, steering committee member of Labor Campaign for Single Payer; and David Green, Detroit chairman of Democratic Socialists of America, a group that claims to be the largest socialist organization in America and an open supporter of single payer schemes.

Supporting “single payer” is a plank of Progressive Democrats of America.

“Single payer” is a euphemistic term to describe universal health coverage paid for by the federal government. The Doctors for Kerry Bentivolio coalition contends it is more accurately called “socialized medicine.”

“Numerous physicians in my group, who all received this unsolicited e-mail, are of the view that first, using hospital staff directories for political fundraising is wildly inappropriate, and second, it is remarkable that while Dr. Taj publicly stated on the Frank Beckmann show Monday that he has not received any support from socialists, he sends out an e-mail the following day boasting about it,” said Dr. Matt McCord, a Brighton anesthesiologist who is on staff at one of Oakwood’s affiliated hospitals.

“Dr. Taj explicitly supports a complete government take-over of the medical industry which fails Americans and the neediest of our society, he apparently works closely with socialist organizations, and abuses hospital resources to spread his message and solicit money.

“Americans and doctors are not stupid. We have seen the ravages of government run health care in Massachusetts. Less access to care and the highest health care costs of any industrialized nation. Limiting access and rationing health care is not progress.”