Wednesday, July 11, 2007

SURGEON GENERAL STRIKES

I'm shocked to find gambling. . . you know the rest.
President Bush's most recent surgeon general accused the administration Tuesday of muzzling him for political reasons on hot-button health issues such as emergency contraception and abstinence-only education.

Dr. Richard Carmona, the nation's 17th surgeon general, told lawmakers that all surgeons general have had to deal with politics but none more so than he.

For example, he said he wasn't allowed to make a speech at the Special Olympics because it was viewed as benefiting a political opponent. However, he said was asked to speak at events designed to benefit Republican lawmakers.

"The reality is that the nation's doctor has been marginalized and relegated to a position with no independent budget, and with supervisors who are political appointees with partisan agendas," said Carmona, who served from 2002 to 2006.


1. Like a lot of useless government jobs we don't need a Surgeon General.

2. Presidential appointments are political by nature. Did this guy think he was being brought into the administration to disagree?

3. Why would he be surprised that people who work for the President favor positions that the President favors?
Another report, on global health challenges, was never released after the administration demanded changes that he refused to make, Carmona said.

"I was told this would be a political document or you're not going to release it." Carmona said. "I said it can't be a political document because the surgeon general never releases political documents. I release scientific documents that will help our elected officials and the citizens understand the complex world we live in and what their responsibilities are."

Any document released to "help elected officials understand their responsibilities" is political. If you are intent on persuading elected officials, your making a political statement regardless of the research that strengthens your argument.

This guy wanted a cushy political job where he could be a one-man band releasing documents how he sees fit impacting legislation and then wanted to be treated as some sort of old testament prophet rather than a political animal. Apolitical science is when researchers let the public draw their own conclusions to the findings in a study. An executive branch job is a mouthpiece job. If he wants to be his own man he should create a program on talk radio.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The surgeon general is teaching kids things that they could easily learn at home from their parents. Do we need to pay a guy to teach kids drugs are bad, sex can cause diseases, etc. Moms and dads need to render this guy as irrelevant as Al Gore, and fast.

Anyway, I am contacting conservative bloggers around the country since I am one as well. I hope this email is not an intrusion.

I would like it very much if you would go to http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/blogs/show/21020 and vote for me for best political blog and best overall blog as well, IF AND ONLY IF you feel my blog is of a high quality. I really think I have a legitimate shot at winning. If you are open to spreading the word, that would be cool as well.

Thank you.

eric aka www.blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com

P.S. If you are open to doing a link exchange, I get some pretty decent traffic.

E said...

You know it's bad when even the Surgeon General is running away from you.

The media loves new Bush-haters and really it is a credit to him how few turners there have been.

I listened to President Bush (resolute) and Senators Boxer (angry), McCain (sleepy) and Biden (pompous) make speeches yesterday on C-SPAN Radio and I would vote for Bush all over again. He is a terrible communicator but I generally agree with the transcripts.

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