Junto Boys

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.