"Trump was reportedly smitten with how Jackson performed when discussing the president's physical"

[highplainsdem]

From a new Daily Beast article about Ronny Jackson's nomination being on life support:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/ronny-jacksons-va-nomination-is-on-life-support

Two sources familiar with the proceedings on the Hill tell The Daily Beast that lawmakers have been instructed to no longer push for Jackson’s confirmation after allegations surfaced that he was hostile to co-workers, struggled with alcohol use, and over-prescribed medications during his time in the Navy and during his tenure as the White House physician. A third source told The Daily Beast that lawmakers are particularly hung up on the fact that there are numerous allegations of repeat behavior regarding Jackson, and not solitary or isolated incidents.

-snip-

Jackson was an unexpected choice to lead the VA. He had never run a bureaucracy larger than a few dozen employees. What he lacked in experience, however, he made up with gravitas. Trump was reportedly smitten with how Jackson performed when discussing the president’s physical (which Jackson conducted) at the White House briefing room. And the two got along well during their meeting to discuss the VA vacancy.

-snip-

Gravitas? I didn't think Jackson showed gravitas during that briefing. A doctor doesn't project gravitas by lying about the president's health and weight, and burbling that with a better diet Trump might live to be 200.

But he flattered Trump. The most important qualification, always, to Trump.

I'd say that the fact Jackson looks like a casting director's idea of a doctor was the second most important factor.

Of course, that wasn't a factor, obviously, in Trump's choice of Dr. Harold Bornstein to be his doctor for so many years. But Bornstein wasn't in a media spotlight then. And Bornstein flattered Trump, as that ridiculous letter about the candidate's health showed.

[Soxfan58]

1. In other words

He was real good at BS.

[Orsino]

2. I believe his words about the physical were, "I can relay the following information..."

Note that he was not attesting to the truth of what he was handed.