I did exactly what the doctor told me to do. Unfortunately, I'm not feeling a bit better. Maybe even a little worse.

Last week, Dr. Michael C. Burgess, tweeted this directive: "Mark your calendars: Rick Perry will join Health Caucus' Thought Leaders Series next Wednesday, December 7 @ 5 p.m."

Eager to hear what thought leadership the Texas governor and presidential candidate would be imparting, I marked my calendar as Dr. Burgess prescribed. Imagine my dismay when I learned yesterday morning that Perry would be sharing his thoughts behind closed doors. The media and public, it turns out, had been disinvited.

Burgess, a Texas Republican, chairs the Congressional Health Care Caucus, which, according to its Web site, "is committed to advancing reforms that reduce costs, increase patient control, expand choice, and promote cures."

Committed as it may be, the caucus is composed of Republicans only, and most of the thought leaders who have appeared before it in recent months have been Republicans running for president.

Last month, both Herman Cain and Ron Paul spoke to the caucus. Newt Gingrich was the guest of honor last spring. But unlike yesterday's meeting of the caucus, all of those were open to the public and media and streamed live on the Internet.

Burgess said it was the Perry campaign's request to close the meeting, not his.

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