Former Surgeon General Was Muzzled, Censored By Bush Administration
Former Surgeon General Was Muzzled, Censored By Bush Administration
Richard Carmona served as President Bush’s first Surgeon General from 2002-2006. Today he spoke before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and revealed that political appointees in the Bush administration muzzled him on key issues such as “stem cell research, contraceptives and his misgivings about the administration’s embrace of ‘abstinence-only’ sex education”:
[A]lthough most Americans believe that their Surgeon General has the ability to impact the course of public health as “the nation’s doctor,” 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. Anything that doesn’t fit into the political appointees’ ideological, theological, or political agenda is ignored, marginalized, or simply buried.
Watch it part of Carmona’s testimony:
Carmona revealed that when he tried to explain the science of stem cell research to the American public, he was “blocked at every turn, told a decision had already been made, stand down, don’t talk about it.” Additionally, political appointees were specifically assigned to “vet his speeches” and “spin [his] words in such a way that would be preferable to a political or ideologically pre-conceived notion that had nothing to do with science.” He was also barred from speaking freely to reporters.
The politicization of “America’s doctor” fits with broader White House efforts to politicize faith-based initiatives, global warming, contraceptives, and the Justice Department.
On Thursday, the Senate will consider the nomination of Dr. James Holsinger to be the next Surgeon General. Perhaps not surprisingly, Bush has this time nominated someone who has repeatedly put ideology over sound science, peddling views of homosexuality that have been rejected by the medical community.
The Gavel has more.
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Ah yes the all out politicization of the The Presidency.
The Founders would be proud.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:35 pmAnything that doesn’t fit into the political appointees’ ideological, theological, or political agenda is ignored, marginalized, or simply buried. - - I think this was actually part of the Republican platform in 2000.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:36 pmAs someone else around here once said, the less cells something has, the more we care!
July 10th, 2007 at 1:36 pmActually John Dean covered this mindset quite well in his book, “Conservatives Without Conscience”. You know, the drive to control everything and make everyone conform to their own narrow doctrine.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:39 pmSo? That’s the prerogative of the government and the executive in particular.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:39 pmWelcome to the New Dark Ages, kids….that’s what future generations will have to say about this time in history.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:40 pmGot Fascism?
July 10th, 2007 at 1:40 pmTo make everything, even science, political?
No, it’s not. In fact, the executive branch is there to enforce the laws Congress passes.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:40 pmEver wonder why the right hates homosexuals and abortion? In absence of rape, if there was ever a group that would likely not need an abortion….
Anyone else getting tired of these appointees crying about their working conditions like they didn’t know who they were working for?
July 10th, 2007 at 1:41 pmNo-one in particular sez:
It’s the prerogative of the government and the executive in particular to subvert and regress medical science?
July 10th, 2007 at 1:42 pmYes and he is being replaced by a extreme far-right homophobic guy now.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:42 pmWe are, indeed, regressing in the area of science. It’s time to stop mollycoddling these crazy anti-science Christian Fundamentalists.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:43 pm#5 . . . “No-one (of consequence) in particular”
July 10th, 2007 at 1:46 pmYou clearly never excelled in either American History or Critical Thought.
Sad Busheep . . . Please consider birth control.
#10: Science, like any civilian activity, is subservient to the government screening.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:46 pmWrite to and/or call your senators!
July 10th, 2007 at 1:46 pmThis is shameful.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:46 pmThe Hole-in-the-Head Gang sure can pick ‘em. A compromised surgeon general and a compromised surgin’ general. Holsinger and Petraeus: Do they serve the nation, the administration, themselves?
July 10th, 2007 at 1:48 pm#10 It’s the prerogative of the government and the executive in particular to subvert and regress medical science?
Comment by TripMaster Monkey
You make the giant leap that NOIParticular even understands science. I am sure his kids are either home-schooled or go to a school where no evolution is taught. Follows the lead of Brownback and Tancredo, his two Repug heroes.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:49 pm#10: Science, like any civilian activity, is subservient to the government screening.
Comment by No-one in particular
July 10th, 2007 at 1:49 pmAre you speaking of the United States government?
“stem cell research, contraceptives and his misgivings about the administration’s embrace of ‘abstinence-only’ sex educationâ€
Supersti-tion
July 10th, 2007 at 1:51 pmüber alles!
Ãœber alles
in die Welt!
.
#19: I’m speaking as a Patriot who honors and respects his government.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:51 pmScience, like any civilian activity, is subservient to the government screening.
In communist countries, you mean.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:51 pm.
Filed under ‘b’ for ‘big f*cking surprise’
July 10th, 2007 at 1:52 pmMy God! Every time Congress turns over a new rock…
We’re getting into Stalin territory here. Even the Comrade’s views on genetics became science. Here, it’s reductionism: If we don’t like it, we don’t study it, or censor it, or mock it, or censure scientists who attempt to contradict the Party Line.
Could Einstein get published today?
July 10th, 2007 at 1:52 pmLook, blind followers of both parties need to be thrown bones to keep the illusion of tension between the two going. Bush stops embryonic stem cell research. Dems start 300 meaningless investigations to pacify those who might be angry that they betrayed those who elected them by funding the war and reauthorizing the patriot act.
Congress needs a new direction. Their leadership has failed. Remove Reid and Pelosi.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:53 pm#19: I’m speaking as a Patriot who honors and respects his government.
oh really? even 1992-2000?
July 10th, 2007 at 1:55 pmI’m speaking as a Patriot who honors and respects his government.
OK. And just how is the weather in North Korea today?
July 10th, 2007 at 1:56 pm.
Please don’t respond to the troll known as Mr. President, CV, PIP, Conservatron, No-one in particular, and who-knows how many others. It has no interest in legitimate discourse. It is here to derail any and all discussion. Especially if that discussion is pertinent to the thread at hand. It uses the same talking points every time. It uses the same types of ad hominems when its arguments are torn apart or its lies are seen through. It throws up the exact same straw men to batter down in every thread. It has a political agenda, and responding to it at all only encourages it. Let it spam the crap out of the boards as it always does when we ignore it. It’s TP’s problem, not ours, if this troll finishes the destruction of their comments section. There are thousands upon thousands of sites we can go to that will allow us to discuss opposing viewpoints without resorting to the craptacular load of shit that our own resident bridge-dweller loves to wade and roll around in.
We should make it a point to identify every new persona it tries to bring forth, and proceed to utterly ignore it.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:57 pmI’m speaking as a Patriot who honors and respects his government.
Especially when they dishonor and disrespect me!
comment by No-one in particular
That’s what NOIP is getting at!
July 10th, 2007 at 1:57 pmPlease don’t respond to the troll known as Mr. President, CV, PIP, Conservatron, No-one in particular, and who-knows how many others. It has no interest in legitimate discourse.
Hey, I’m just trying to figure out where the guy’s from, since he’s obviously not an American.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:59 pm.
Robert Greenwald film about Fox Nibbish spin on Global Warming
http://foxattacks.com:80/?utm_source=rgemail
just came out.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:59 pmRobert Greenwald film about Fox Nibbish spin on Global Warming
After all, FOX News is the only news network that actually went to court to defend its right to lie to you … and won!
So: we know where to file their content.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:01 pm.
Better late than never, I suppose. Still, why he chose to eat that kind of s**t for 4 years is beyond me. I’d of thought simple pride would have got the better of him. It’s not as though he’d of need gone begging for work had he resigned in protest.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:02 pm#19: I’m speaking as a Patriot who honors and respects his government.
Comment by No-one in particular
You, sir, are no patriot. You are a flag-waver.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:03 pmHey, I’m just trying to figure out where the guy’s from, since he’s obviously not an American.
Comment by Grand Moff Texan — July 10, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
It claims, with more than one of its supposedly different personalities mind you, that it is from Virginia. So, it is, in theory, an American in body, albeit not in mind or spirit. It stands for all that is anathema to freedom, liberty, and justice.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:04 pmSo, it is, in theory, an American in body, albeit not in mind or spirit. It stands for all that is anathema to freedom, liberty, and justice.
Just like Aldrich Ames. No wonder he supports a communist policy like lysenkoism.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:09 pm.
“I’m speaking as a Patriot who honors and respects his government.
Comment by No-one in particular — July 10, 2007 @ 1:51 pm”
Theres your problem……
A Patriot cares MORE for the CONSTITUTION then the govt…….
Honor is something that is generated from ones actions…..
Respect is earned…..
NEITHER of these have been achieved from the current administration.
I think you are in fact the OPPOSITE of a Patriot!!!!
You do not know what the word means….. Here, let me help you out with that:
Definitions of patriot on the Web:
“one who loves and defends his or her country ”
Please note that it does NOT say one who loves his govt…..
July 10th, 2007 at 2:12 pm#
#10: Science, like any civilian activity, is subservient to the government screening.
Comment by No-one in particular — July 10, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Science is based upon facts. Those don’t change to fit an ideology.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:13 pmAnything that doesn’t fit into the political appointees’ ideological, theological, or political agenda is ignored, marginalized, or simply buried.
There’s more of that Freedom of speech Mr P mentioned that the GOP stands for.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:15 pmTypical of these un-American fascists. If it wasn’t for supressing the truth and lies, this administration would have nothing to say.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:16 pmTo No One in Particular. You are NO patriot! A patriot demands his government be open, HONEST, and follow the Constitution of the United States of America. And machine-like support of an administration without question is not good for the COUNTRY and is not patriotism.
Go read the Constitution sometime. Read about the Revolutionary war and the circumstances of the original patriots - our founding fathers. Claiming you are a patriot does not make you so.
You, sir (or madam), are no patriot!
July 10th, 2007 at 2:16 pmScience is based upon facts. Those don’t change to fit an ideology.
Comment by krazny
Which is why science in particular, and academia in general, are always under attack by the right. We won’t knuckle under to their pressure, unlike journalists. We’re not “on message.”
Can’t have that. The Glorious People’s Cultural Revolution requires that all citizens be up-to-date on Dear Leader’s latest “scientific” pronouncements.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:17 pm.
Just like Aldrich Ames. No wonder he supports a communist policy like lysenkoism.
Comment by Grand Moff Texan — July 10, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
Pretty much. And due to the fact that it is on TP a good 15 hours + a day, as with Aldrich Ames, it is very likely a paid traitor. It collects its 30 silver to betray our nation to enemies who wish to see freedom, liberty, and justice as mere concepts of a past they rid the world of.
So yeah, that is likely an apt comparison in terms of the kind of traitorous scum it is. Fortunately for us, it is most likely not an asset, and therefore isn’t sending lists of covert agents to our enemies so they can be murdered.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:19 pmThe worst administration in history by far / period!
July 10th, 2007 at 2:19 pmEven a truthful conservative has difficulty when the President wants science and medicine to conform with his agenda.
Look what happened to Everett Koop. Reagan wanted him to say that abortion caused infertility and health risks for women. Even though Koop was personally opposed to abortion on a moral level, he could not find evidence that this was true. He was also bluntly truthful about AIDS — mailing AIDS info to every home in America when his boss barely acknowledged the disease. He explained truthfully what was known about risk at the time, without making moral judgments, because he saw the issue as a health concern more than a moral one.
He also resigned a disillusioned man. Guess he was tired of fighting with the wingnuts who didn’t like what he had to say.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:19 pm…it is very likely a paid traitor. It collects its 30 silver to betray our nation to enemies who wish to see freedom, liberty, and justice as mere concepts of a past they rid the world of.
Comment by Moderation — July 10, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
That, or it simply has no life. Both are distinct possibilities. The end result is the same, regardless, eh?
July 10th, 2007 at 2:22 pmWhat, the President has politicized a very important position within the government? No… I just can’t believe that would ever happen!
Impeachment isn’t the answer. This soulless criminal and all his cronies deserve the Saddam treatment.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:27 pmThis is shocking!
A President is asking one of his appointees to communicate the positions of his administration?
What next? Will the President pardon a former aide who was convicted of trumped up perjury charges for a non-existent crime?
Oh wait, he just did that.
You people need to understand the reality of the situation: the President has every right to do these things. Former Presidents have done them and future Presidents will too. Get over it.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:46 pmPaul O’Neill was right: in the Bush administration there is “a pattern: either no process, or a truncated one, where efforts to collect evidence and construct smart policy are, with little warning, co-opted by the White House political team, or the Vice President, or whoever got to the President and said something, true or not.”
So was John Dilulio: “There is no precedent in any modern White House for what is going on in this one: a complete lack of a policy apparatus,” DiIulio tells Esquire. “What you’ve got is everything–and I mean everything–being run by the political arm. It’s the reign of the Mayberry Machiavellis.”
DiIulio: “When policy analysis is just backfill, to back up a political maneuver, you’ll get a lot of ooops.”
And so were these other un-named Bush officials:
A current senior White House official: “Many of us feel it’s our duty–our obligation as Americans–to get the word out that, certainly in domestic policy, there has been almost no meaningful consideration of any real issues. It’s just kids on Big Wheels, who talk politics and know nothing. It’s depressing. DPC [Domestic Policy Council] meetings are a farce.”
Senior White House official: “Don’t you understand. . .We got into the White House and forfeited the game. You’re supposed to stand for something . . . to generate sound ideas, support them with real evidence, and present them to Congress and the people. We didn’t do any of that. We just danced this way and that on minute political calculations and whatever was needed for a few paragraphs of a speech.”
July 10th, 2007 at 2:46 pmDid Bush campaign as a radical right wing extremist?
July 10th, 2007 at 2:58 pmThink he would have ever been elected if he exposed his radical right wing ideology, instead of concealing them behind a wall of lies?
Just asking.
The Hippocratic Oath has a well-known liberal bias.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:06 pmOxyCon,
I don’t see what is radical in his position. A majority of Americans agree with it (BTW, I don’t).
July 10th, 2007 at 3:07 pmThe Bush Crime Family stifling what someone in their administration can say? I’m shocked…shocked I’ll tell you.
I can’t understand why anyone with a conscience would even consider working for the Bush Crime Family. Maybe that’s why they are having such a hard time filling the Homeland Security positions.
Can’t say as I think much of this guy. He stuck around for 5 years allowing Bush to tell him what he could say and do. Why didn’t he just quit the first time they did that to him?
Why is it that these people are only able to find their souls once they no longer work for the Bush Crime Family. Maybe they suck out your soul and only give it back to you once you leave their employ.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:07 pmWhen do ‘Born Agains’ die?
Is their some way to hasten that outcome?
Are they born again after they die?
When does it stop?
Is this some kind of God Groundhog day?
July 10th, 2007 at 3:09 pmthe only problem is that the guy never mentioned bush in his statement.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:09 pm#21 “I’m speaking as a Patriot who honors and respects his government.
Comment by No-one in particular “
I’m curious. If the President was a Democrat and that President had made all branches of the government extensions of the Democratic party, would you honor and respect that government? Now answer truthfully, if it is possible for you to do that.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:13 pm“the only problem is that the guy never mentioned bush in his statement.
Comment by bill — July 10, 2007 @ 3:09 pm”
It’s actually OK for you to think for yourself…….. REALLY!!!!!
Who else do you think he was talking about?????
You do realize that sleeping on your books will not allow you to soak up the information in them, don’t you??
July 10th, 2007 at 3:14 pmCynicon Implant,
It would help if you would mention which of Bush’s radical right wing positions you think Americans support.
Is it stem cells you are talking about?
If so, you are completely wrong.
============================
Those Favoring Stem Cell Research Increases to a 73 to 11 Percent Majority
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=488
Poll: Stem Cell Use Gains Support
July 10th, 2007 at 3:15 pm58% In CBS News Poll Approve Of Medical Studies Using Stem Cells
http://www.cbsnews.com/ stories/ 2005/ 05/ 24/ opinion/ polls/ main697546.shtml
“the only problem is that the guy never mentioned bush in his statement.
Comment by bill — July 10, 2007 @ 3:09 pmâ€
there’s the kind of thinking on the subject of accountablilty that’ll get you below 30% approval ratings.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:20 pmStunning. But not Surprising, after all of the other muzzling that this admin has done.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:24 pmNo-one in particular says: “So? That’s the prerogative of the government and the executive in particular”.
Could the commenter really believe this or his he/she provoking thought?
It is a sad day when a country is driven by ideologues, or in Bush’s case, myopic madmen with sociopathic goals. How can your principles be correct if you have to muzzle voices of reason or dissent?
These madmen just don’t understand that in the end they lose. Dictators can only reign for so long. In a democracy it takes a bit longer but the evil ones will ultimately be held accountable.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:26 pmAmerika’s doktor, bound and gagged.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:26 pmFu(k, what a sick joke this administration is.
“Assault on Reason” Vol II - The Dark Ages.
I wonder whether this new, well not so new but increasingly influential, medieval thinking is coming from.
To a degree I can understand that people feel insecure in an ever faster developing technological environment. The world gets increasingly complicated and the answers to the problems increasingly complex. You are not born, schooled, trained in a specific profession then pensioned after 45 years on a modest but sufficient pension. The loss of these comfortable structural safety surely leads to some insecurity. But is negating science and its achievements a solution to the problem? Is renouncing reason, the means to analyse the world around you, a useful instrument to allay the fear? To me its “head in the sand”, “whistling in the woods”.
We won’t force the “good times” to come back by forcing unnatural behaviour on our kids, by negating progress is happening and by insisting that a world that ceased to exist 40 years ago is still the role model for today.
And evangelicals, as well as islamists, fundmentalist jews, fundamentalist hindus, and all the other sects who are are claiming the ultimate competence in matters life and death for themselves are doing the worst damage.
We, the people have to insist that our leaders’ decisions are based on reason, not ideology.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:26 pmTo Cynicon Implant:
It’s reasonable to expect any appointee to respect the general ideology of the administration he/she works for. However, this doesn’t mean you should have to claim the earth is flat (in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary) just because your boss says it is.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:27 pmBush is our duly adjudicated leader, and while he is in office we should not try to discuss issues of science and reality vs faith. In 2009 we will kick the religious freaks to the curb and get the country back on course.
These Xian fanatics that look to some story book for their answers are the same ilk that stoned witches. The same idiots that a few years ago were screaming that organ transplants were the work of Satan, and surgeons were doing the Devil’s work.
Pity we have to share a country with the 25% religious zealots who have more in common with Al Qaeda than any other group. Two sides of the same stupid coin.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:28 pmNot if it resulted in the most insane clusterfuq in the history of the country. I’d be just as furious as I am now.
Of course, the Neoconservatives have made the government a political wing of the GOP in ways no president of any party has ever done, and have done so at the expense of logic, science, facts, reality, the law, and countless lives.
Someone would have to make one hell of an effort to match it.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:28 pmI don’t understand how he could be prevented from giving his opinion to the press. He couldn’t go to a private office and make some calls? Was he chained up and locked in a closet somewhere? How could he be forced to give a speech he didn’t agree with? Why does he have integrity now? Did he find some on the bus?
July 10th, 2007 at 3:29 pmSo why did he stay for four years? Why didn’t he say all of this two years ago? I’m really tired of the rats coming off the SS Bush as it sinks and expecting us to congratulate them. They’re just positioning themselves for a good think tank job.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:30 pmAmazing.
During the Cold War in the Soviet Union, Communist party officials would often overrule scientists if the scientific papers did not align with Party Policies. Go back and read some of the papers published in the scientific journals out of the Soviet Union from this time and you will see standard Communist clap-trap always added to the science.
See: History of Russian Academy of Sciences and read about the rejection of “idealism” in quantum physics (and the rejection of genetics as “bourgeois”).
How is this different than the stated goal to reject contraception in favor of abstinence.
I am sure the irony is lost on these Bush people.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:35 pmThis administration is absolutely pathetic. They have politicized EVERY level of our government. They censored the former Surgeon General, and they nominated a new man for the job whose only expertise was in writing papers about how gay people can be “cured” of their gayness. The ONLY thing that matters to this administration is sticking to the political talking points, even at the expense of American’s health.
They politicized the entire Justice Department. They politicized NASA and had them censoring any pro-global warming message. They politicized the Surgeon General. They politicized FEMA. The politicized the CIA. They politicized the NSA. They even politicized public television. All of these areas only care about sticking to the Republican/Bush talking points, not actually doing their jobs.
Also, politicizing these departments is supposed to be against the law. It’s against the law to turn government funded departments into partisan political departments.
This administration is just disgusting. If more people knew about everything Bush has done to ruin our government, just imagine how low his approval would be, and how much more support for his impeachment there would be.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:49 pm“Comment by Floridian — July 10, 2007″
you forgot the EPA.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:52 pmand the FDA.
and the USDA.
Further to #70. They have also muzzled the CDC (disease control) and NOAA (weather) reporting, the US Park Service, not to mention NASA. This admin wants to control facts and probably this is why they want control over the internet - so citizens can’t get at the truth. They have bankrupted the US both literally and figuratively. I hope you’re all rich because you’ll need to be in the very near future.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:57 pmJesus Christ! First NASA can’t acknowledge global warming and now the Surgeon General can’t acknowledge that ESC’s can save lives or condoms can help prevent the spread of AIDS! This may be the most dangerous administration in US history because it’s setting the precedents which could lead to the destruction of Science as we know it. ‘Truthiness’ isn’t as funny a concept anymore when it’s actually being put into practice…it’s your worst nightmare!
July 10th, 2007 at 4:06 pmKatie says:
“I’m curious. If the President was a Democrat and that President had made all branches of the government extensions of the Democratic party, would you honor and respect that government? Now answer truthfully, if it is possible for you to do that.”
This is one major difference between people on the right and people on the left.. people on the right will blindly support anything, any time, from any member of the GOP. If Bush said he was adopting a policy of baby-eating, many right wing faithfuls would follow right along. Many righties have been displaying this retarded level of loyalty to the GOP for the last 6 years, and it’s pretty sickening. Lefties, on the other hand, I think for the most part just want to see people do the right thing. If some Republican started saying and doing the right things, he’d get support. We’re Americans, first and foremost, and we want what’s right for America - we don’t care who or what political party gets it done. It just so happens we think the Dems will make the best decisions for the country at this point, because the GOP has proved to be incompetent, at best.. pure evil at worst.
Point is this - the answer to your question is NO, we would not honor that government. Most of us know and understand what America is about.. I’m not sure you on the right do. The only thing your sheep mentality will allow you to understand is how to follow the herd and be loyal to your party before you’re loyal to your country.
July 10th, 2007 at 4:10 pmWhy am I not surprised?
July 10th, 2007 at 4:16 pmSee what the last 3 Surgeons General had to say about this subject and the Bush Administration (Videos)
Oversight Hearing on the Office of the Surgeon General
July 10th, 2007 at 4:24 pmhttp://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=563
I really had looked to the surgeon general as an unbiased and rational voice to protect and educate americans. I am not shocked just increasingly ashamed of america’s politics and the president’s practice of such vain/selfish censorship. Even if you do agree with some of bush’s agenda, we need to be educated! help, what is going on?
July 10th, 2007 at 4:48 pmWho would have thought the US would eventually become the Soviet Union?
Coming up soon to a school near you: Political commissars.
July 10th, 2007 at 4:59 pmSounds like the Doctor should have been an abortionist.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:21 pmIs this like how Joycelyn Elders was canned by William Clinton?
July 10th, 2007 at 5:31 pmIf anyone listens to all of the testimony, this issue was a problem during the Clinton presidency, too. I do not agree with Bush politicizing the Surgeon General’s office anymore than I agree with Clinton doing the same. Fair is fair.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:32 pm“Is this like how Joycelyn Elders was canned by William Clinton?”
No, dear, it’s nothing at all like that. Now run along and play, dear; the grownups are trying to have a discussion.
July 10th, 2007 at 5:47 pmI really had looked to the surgeon general as an unbiased and rational voice to protect and educate americans.
Tell that to the Clintons!
July 10th, 2007 at 5:59 pmSurgeon Generals are “classified as non-combatants, but can fall under the uniform code of military justice” (From Wikipedia.)
As military personnel, they fall under different codes of conduct, and ostensibly can be ordered by the executive branch with regard to their public behavior.
:(
July 10th, 2007 at 6:24 pmReply to 84
Surgeon Generals are “classified as non-combatants, but can fall under the uniform code of military justiceâ€
What about:
the Justice Department
The EPA
NASA
The FDA
FEMA
…and so on and so on
July 10th, 2007 at 6:52 pmJust what we need - another Rove-Robertson mouthpiece.
What fresh hell is this?
July 10th, 2007 at 8:39 pmGee, who does this Surgeon General think he is testifying today? His name tag may say Surgeon General but he’s not the “real” Surgeon General.
The “real” S-U-R-G-E O-N General is, George W. Bush. With Bush everything is SURGE ON, SURGE ON, SURGE ON, SURGE ON, SURGE ON, SURGE ON, SURGE ON, SURGE ON, AND SURGE ON. You can’t tell me that he’s the “real” General in this war, too. According to him, everything is SURGE ON. Yeah! Sure!
In addition to impeaching Bush, let’s file a malpractice suit. This turkey is playing doctor, without a license, and he has killed and maimed thousands of people. I think this S-U-R-G-E O-N General needs to hang up his doctor shingle. Real soon! Like tomorrow!
Oh! Oh! Oh! Something just occurred to me. Now I get it! Now I get! Now I get! Everything falls into place.
Jeff Gannon was staying at the White House all those many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many many, many nights because he was getting physicals by the S-U-R-G-E O-N General ( Georgie ). We all know Jeff Gannon likes to play soldier, and George W. Bush probably likes to play doctor. S-U-R-G-E O-N General kind of doctor that is.
To be perfectly honest, I wish George W. Bush would play doctor. I’m certainly tired of him playing president. George, just play anything but president. Anything!
Are there any good malpractice lawyers in Washington? That’s what we really need. Forget impeachment.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:15 pmElders firing was really sad. She was a very nice person, which is a rare commodity in Washington.
Just think of all the sexual romps in Washington since then. She paid a huge price while most people are doing a lot more than what she was talking about.
I am really fed up with this country. The rich and the powerful think they can do anything they want and get away with it. Anything!
I wonder if Jeff Gannon would write a book if he was offered $100,000,000 dollars. Maybe more! A book offer of $1,000,000 is nothing these days.
Here’s how the rich and powerful operate. Barbara Walters upped her autobiography price, because Greenspan got a bigger book deal. I can’t remember what he’s getting. Maybe five to eight million? Two or three million isn’t enough for Walters.
I’m thinking of writing a book; do you think I’ll get that much money. I probably can’t even find a publisher as it would be my first book.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:59 pmElders firing was really sad. She was a very nice person, which is a rare commodity in Washington.
Yep. Why did Governor-elect George Walker Bush of Texas do such a thing?
July 10th, 2007 at 11:26 pmThe Chimp didn’t fire her; Clinton did.
Spanking the monkey may be fine for chimps but not for humans.
July 11th, 2007 at 12:19 amHey, you disagree with the President? That’s fine - Express your opinion, try to get it represented through elected officials or lobbying. But to even suggest that “science” has some exclusive prerogative that trumps ethical, theological, or any other form of reasoning is really a dangerous argument. Science is objective and universal only because it consciously avoids the complexity of moral and other considerations; that doesn’t mean that those other considerations are unimportant.
July 11th, 2007 at 11:19 amDon’t make the mistake of using “science” as an excuse to exclude consideration of other Americans’ deeply held values. Such an approach actually stifles free speech and imposes a minority doctrine on the country - just what we’re afraid of happening. “Politics” embodies the entire range of values that matter to Americans and our representatives. That’s exactly as it should be, and the President is acting just as “politically” as he should as a political leader (even if his policies are incorrect or misguided).
American liberals need to have the courage of directly engaging in the difficult debates over values, ethics, even theology - not hide behind shallow interpretations of “science”, “secularism”, “separation of church and state”, “personal rights”, etc. Let’s all tackle these issues with wisdom and deep consideration.
The nation has been without a doctor for a year, yet we are engaged in two wars. At Healthline.com, we stand proud to have Dr. Carmona on our Board of Directors. See my post http://www.healthline.com/ blogs/ healthline_connects/ 2007/ 07/ shot-through-heart-dr-carmona-nations.html
July 11th, 2007 at 2:11 pmPreach it! While I am glad to see the rats fleeing, it pisses me off to think about the years, YEARS, that were wasted while they marched in lockstep as Good Americans.
This is all about shifting as the wind blows. Ugh.
July 13th, 2007 at 11:51 pm