Whenever I write a story about Dr. Mehmet Oz and his asinine bid for the senate seat in Pennsylvania, I find myself stabbing my keyboard like I hope he can feel each punch. I realize he has always been a sleazy snake oil salesman, but at least at the start of the coronavirus outbreak he was occasionally on the right side of medicine. But then he got a taste for politics, and he’s been spouting the pro-pandemic rhetoric ever since. Dr. Oz is an actual doctor with a valid medical license who promoted hydroxychloroquine, reversed his comments about the efficacy of masks and advocates for the country to resume business as usual without any mandates or precautions. All because he wants to court the right-wingnuts.
In keeping with his new political strategy, Oz’s latest ploy is pathetic. In January, he issued a challenge to Dr, Anthony Fauci to a debate. He did this on Twitter, mind you. Over a month and a half later, Oz returned to Twitter to let us know that Dr. Fauci is refusing to engage in this playground nonsense:
I challenged Dr. Fauci to a debate 44 days ago, and still haven’t heard a thing from him…🦗 https://t.co/3A763Mz8Pg
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) February 26, 2022
Dr. Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. He is also the Chief Medical Advisor to the President. Both positions are appointments. He isn’t running for anything. Nor is in a high school speech and debate club. So there is no reason for him to dignify Oz’s posturing with any form of response. Dr. Fauci has enough to do. But Oz has absolutely no other platform to run on. He has no political background, and his flip-flopping doesn’t seem to be going over well (although I don’t know why not, the Right certainly embraced former Democrat Donald Trump when it suited them). So he really thinks his medical credentials are his in to the senate seat. I see Oz’s thought process. Covid is a hot button and I’m sure the people Oz is courting dislike Dr. Fauci, just as Fox News told them to.
Obviously, I very much do not want Dr. Fauci to have anything to do with any of this. However, I begrudgingly have to hand it to Oz, this is the kind of sleight of hand that some voters fall for. They won’t weigh the fact that Dr. Fauci has no reason to debate something he’s published researched data on. They won’t look at the fact that Oz has no platform, his campaign splash page is just a bunch of doctor puns. Nor do they seem to notice that what Oz is actually doing is avoiding the candidate he’s supposed to be debating:
Oz, too scared to debate me last night goes on Fox and asks to debate Fauci.
No more media thirsty politicians.
— Kathy Barnette (@Kathy4Truth) January 13, 2022
It’s rich that Oz is trying to make Dr. Fauci look bad by saying he hasn’t responded to him when Oz isn’t responding to any of the questions being asked of him. Like, number one – why are you running for a sente seat and why are you doing it in a state that you don’t represent?
Just because Dr. Fauci took the high road, doesn’t mean Twitter did. And bless them for it. Oz was dragged mercilessly for this
I challenged Simone Biles to a battle of “cuttin’ flips” on a mattress in my aunt Marvell’s backyard 44 days ago and I still haven’t heard a thing from her …🦗
— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 28, 2022
I’ve challenged Lebron James to a game of one on one a couple of years ago and still haven't heard from him. https://t.co/HkHdtui62H
— David Weissman (@davidmweissman) February 28, 2022
It’s been nine months since I challenged Patrick Mahomes to a passing competition and he still hasn’t come to my house. Coward!
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) February 27, 2022
I challenged Betty Crocker to a bake-off 44 days ago, and still haven't heard a thing from her. https://t.co/ms7F2ghPo0
— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) February 28, 2022
I challenged Jimmy Page to a guitar duel and still haven’t heard a thing from him. https://t.co/KEjVTYa6u2
— Hart Hanson (@HartHanson) February 27, 2022
And so on. It was funny. And sad because it’s lost on us. We know Oz is all smoke and mirrors, but I worry he’s going to snake oil himself into a senate seat. I thought this was a joke when it started but I’ve been listening to those of you who know the area and you seem to think voters might go for him. I hope not. No one deserves this guy. If he can contradict everything he said once, he can do it again. He’ll be an absolute puppet in government.
Thanks to DListed for the heads up.
They gave Oz a star on The Walk of Fame?!
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Photo credit: Avalon Red, InStar, Twitter and Getty Images
I always asked myself the question: do they really believe what they spew or doing it for votes? Which one is worse ? Doing it for politics or doing it because he truly believes it ?
We have gone bonkers over here
In this case, he’s 100% doing it for votes. I don’t think Dr. Oz believes a lot of the snakeoil he shills but if he thinks something can be profitable and marketed toward dumb people, he will absolutely stand behind it. He’s a con artist. There are some really good podcasts out there about him.
I strongly recommend the episode that the “Maintenance Phase” podcast did on Dr. Oz. It’s amazing how he started out as a legitimate surgeon and has descended to the level of pandering huckster.
Yes @Maida that was a great podcast (it’s on You’re Wrong About as well), and I was coming here to recommend it. I think his arc has been a tragic one.
I think with Covid restrictions being loosened up and not having troll farms stirring sh-t up on Twitter that it’s best Dr. Fauci ignores this hack because it will only give the attention he wants. No one one seems to care about his campaign.
Dr Oz makes my skin crawl.
Right?! He riles me up to the point of just wanting to punch him in his stupid face.
To be honest, I’m surprised that Oz has the lead in the PA primary considering the ads being run against him by Republican opponents. My fear is that “moderate” Republicans and those who “aren’t political” may be willing to vote for him because he’s being portrayed as a RINO for his past support of abortion rights. I’m sad they’re not hammering home that he just bought a huge mansion in Florida but still hasn’t purchased any property in PA and used his in-laws address to register to vote in the state.
No, she does not. Oprah produced content. Oz produces his life. Stop blaming women for crappy men. They’re grownups, not toddlers.
I agree. So far from what oprah would ever approve Im so surprised this turned out to be like this. I used to like him during his oprah days…
That comment has been deleted. Next time just comment “troll” instead of responding. Oprah is not responsible for a grown ass man she helped 19 years ago.
Will do and preach!
He’s hanging out with Dean Cain after he bought himself a star on the Walk of Fame? I never liked the guy but I’m not sure how he can say he’s a PA resident. Hopefully voters will see through him.
@H – THAT is Dean Cain? egad, he has not aged well at all.
DR OZ DOESNT EVEN GO HERE
signed PA
This whole article and subsequent comments are so biased and one-sided.
Not really
Dr. Oz is a complete and total sell out to fame.
The man is trained as a surgeon and must have earned enough money to be well off and yet, he has now spent years being a snake oil salesman to make the all mighty dollar.
He offends me on the sheer principal of First do no harm as a doctor.
Yes, many voters will go for Oz because he is famous, he knows Oprah, he is a doctor, and worst of all he is a doctor spewing garbage that they agree with.
I wish I was joking about any of these reasons but, sadly the Trump lovers and conspiracy lovers are still a huge voting block and they will turn out for him.
Nobody is awarded a star on the Walk of Fame. The “star” buys the star on the Walk of Fame themselves.
My in-laws watch Fox News (ugh) and always try to turn it on when they come over. My husband finally deleted the channel (we use Roku not cable) and now plays dumb when his dad asks to turn on FN saying “we don’t get that”. Last time he turned on CNN for them and his dad said he doesn’t like it because “it’s boring.” IT’S NEWS!! It should be boring!! smh
Why does Dr. Oz look like absolute hell? Is he sick? I think he needs to see his own doctor and leave Dr. Fauci alone to fight the good fight.
Unlike you, Mehmet, he has a real job that he needs to focus on.