for those in the 25% Bush approval rating, they’ve got to see GW or Cheney shoot someone in the head right on TV before doubts will even begin to seep into their brains.
“If the Administration’s message is at odds with the best scientific information, your argument amounts to saying that the SG should ignore his official mission.”
Of course there is nothing in his statements that indicates that.
Sigh. I am bored by this guy. You guys have the last word.
The Surgeon General is one of those difficult positions where the political agenda of the administration can clash with the scientific truth. On one hand, yes, the Surgeon General is a political appointee and serves at the pleasure of the President and his message. On the other hand, an administratio has a certain responsibility to allow the Surgeon General to actually pursue the best science, as free as possible from political considerations. So, if the Surgeon General doesn’t feel the administration is giving him that kind of ability, he can either quit, or he can stick around trying to do as much good work as he can.
That said, it’s always funny to hear people question a guy’s loyalty for speaking out against an administration after he’s out, considering he had the loyalty to keep his mouth shut and put out the administration’s message while he was in office. You put the guy in a Catch 22. He’s not supposed to speak out in office because he serves at the pleasure of the President, but if he waits until after he quits or is fired, then he’s just criticized for not having said anything earlier. No win situation.
**You guys have the last word. **
Now there’s a first. Maybe it’s the first crack??
“Of course there is nothing in his statements that indicates that.”
Although the antecedent of your pronoun “that” is unclear, I’m assuming you mean that his statements don’t indicate that any conflict between the Administration’s messages and “best scientific information” exist. If you believe that, you obviously didn’t read the linked article:
“Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional panel Tuesday that top Bush administration officials repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations. The administration, Dr. Carmona said, would not allow him to speak or issue reports about stem cells, emergency contraception, sex education, or prison, mental and global health issues. Top officials delayed for years and tried to “water down” a landmark report on secondhand smoke, he said. Released last year, the report concluded that even brief exposure to cigarette smoke could cause immediate harm.”
I am sure that Jocelyn Elders thought she was getting the best scientific information on public health out by saying that masturbation should be taught in school too. Her boss disagreed. Clinton fired her.
The guy wanted to go off the reservation on Administration policy on stem cell research and the like. The Administration said no. He said, OK. What is the problem?
B…B…B…BUT CLINTON!
You really overuse that “But Clinton” reply. To the point that it doesn’t even fit the post you’re replying to anymore.
You think?
Here we are talking about an former Surgeon General in the Bush Administration blowing the whistle on the politicization of his office and all Art can say in response is that Clinton once fired a Surgeon General too.
If there’s a better example of the B…B…B…BUT CLINTON kneejerk resoponse I can’t recall it.
Actually we were talking about a former Surgeon General and his complaints about the administration. Art offered up an example of a Surgeon General who gave voice to opinions that opposed her administration and was fired, as an example of the fact that the Surgeon General works for the President, at his pleasure. It wasn’t an attempt to deflect to Clinton. Believe me, I virtually never defend much that Art has to say, but this time, you’re off the mark.
I guess we’ll agree to disagree.
Eric Klapner LOL
.