Senate Democrats approve controversial Obama pick for surgeon general

The Senate on Monday approved President Barack Obama's nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy to serve as U.S. surgeon general, despite opposition from Republicans and some Democrats over his support for gun control.

Murthy, 37, a physician at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and instructor at Harvard Medical School, won confirmation on a vote of 51-43. He's a co-founder of Doctors for America – originally called Doctors for Obama – a group that has pushed for affordable health care and supports Obama's health care law.

Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso said most of Murthy's career has been spent as an activist focused on gun control and other political issues, rather than on treating patients. 'Americans don't want a surgeon general who might use this position of trust to promote his own personal campaign against the Second Amendment of the Constitution,' Barrasso said.

Supporters said Murthy is well-qualified and noted his promise not to use the position as a bully pulpit for gun control.

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